Keeping a spirit alive
There is an old African proverb that says, “It takes a village to raise a child.” Since the tragic death of Jefferson-Morgan High School graduate Barry Sisler, an entire area has come together to not only help raise his three sons, but also secure their educational futures. Sisler passed away on October 24, 2004 from complications which stemmed from a paralyzing car accident that he suffered in August of 2003. In life, Sisler, who was born and raised in Rices Landing, was a certified public accountant and an ardent believer in the power of education.
To honor Sisler’s memory and to attempt to ensure his sons’, Thomas (13), William (11) and Robert (6), college futures, friends and family of Barry Sisler have held a golf tournament in his memory at Carmichaels Golf Course.
This year’s outing will be held on July 28.
Scott Elliott, Sisler’s best friend and main organizer of the event, said he feels that this is a very appropriate way to honor his memory.
“He was a great guy and a great friend to everybody,” Elliott said. “He was very focused on education, had multiple degrees and was still going to school when he was in his late 30s. So this seemed like the best and most logical way to keep the legacy going in his name.”
This is the third year for the tournament and it has already shown noticeable growth. In its first year, the event saw 17 foursomes compete. Last year, the number grew to 24. Elliott believes there will be at least 24 and likely more this year.
“We’ve had tremendous feedback,” Elliott said. “Everybody has really enjoyed it and said it was one of the better outings they’ve ever been in.”
After the success of the inaugural event, Elliott and others involved with the event decided to further spread the impact of the outing. This past May, recent Jefferson-Morgan graduate Jarrod Moskola received the first Barry Sisler Memorial Scholarship.
The scholarship will be awarded to one Jefferson-Morgan student every year who is planning on attending Sisler’s college alma mater, California University of Pennsylvania.
“I think he would be very humbled by the whole thing,” Elliott said. “He was a fairly quiet, laid back guy. He would be very honored that education for both his kids and students graduating from our alma mater can continue in his name.”
California wasn’t just the starting point to Sisler’s career as a certified public accountant either. It was where he met the only thing more important to him than education, his wife, Karen.
“I’m just so glad that we gave it to a senior that is going to California because my husband got two degrees there,” Karen Sisler said. “That’s where we met. We were both getting our masters and fell in love there, so it means very much to both of us.”
While money for the education of Sisler’s sons is the most noticeable aspect of the outing, Barry’s sister Melanie, who currently resides in Virginia, feels that seeing so many people fondly remembering her sibling is important to her nephews.
“People told stories to the boys and that meant the most,” Melanie Sisler said. “It’s made them realize that respect and friendship are the most important and that’s what people thought about their dad.”
While the tournament continues to grow, those who are most closely involved with the event find it almost funny how an outing of this size would clash with Sisler’s way of carrying himself. “He didn’t like people making a fuss,” Melanie said. “He was very shy, but he would love this because it’s all about home. He loved Jefferson-Morgan and loved California. He never felt that you had to go to somewhere big to be a success.”
Ironically, Sisler was not a very avid golfer. However, towards the end of his life, Sisler had begun to take up the game.
According to his wife, he tackled the game like he did everything else, with class and to the fullest of his abilities, even if his skills didn’t always match up to his preparation.
“He always wanted to look good when he went out to that first tee,” Karen said. “He had just taken up golf and was enjoying it so much. He did everything 100 percent. He had to have the right clubs and the right balls, but after that it went down hill, but he loved it.”
While the money that the event raises each year goes a long way in helping out Karen and the three boys, she is also very thankful for all the assistance that her husband’s friends and family has provided her since his passing. “Scott [Elliott] does so, so much,” Karen said. “Not only does he do things for the tournament, but he also does so much for me. Barry’s close friend, Mike Rizzo, has three kids of his own so I can bounce father questions off of him. The number of people that are willing to contribute in his name; it’s amazing to me.”
Obviously, running an event that has expanded as much as the Barry Sisler Memorial Golf Outing has takes a lot of work and a lot of people behind the scenes. Elliott was very appreciative of the contributions of businesses like the Dry Tavern Giant Eagle, Brodak’s in Carmichaels and Dry Tavern True Value have provided.
He also wanted to extend a special thank you to Jerry McCombs of Carmichaels as someone who has really made an effort to help with the outing both in getting a large number of golfers and also with some additional fundraising.
Their efforts, along with those of many others, have not only helped to keep the memory of one of their alone alive and well, but it has also helped keep his dear love of education alive in his sons.
“I know he would be very honored and very humbled that people were embracing his family,” Melanie said. “Taking care of his boys and taking care of his family were what he was all about.”