|
Over
the years, we have raised a significant amount of money through
both the Choey Memorial Pentathlon and the Choey Memorial Golf
Outing. The events
keep growing, the amount of money continues to increase, and the
number of people attending these two events climb every year.
The
Joseph H. Kucher Scholarship is given each year to a graduating
senior from Port Jervis High School.
The recipient must show a strong effort in academics,
should be active in extracurricular activities, and have other
interests within the community.
Also, all applicants must submit a single page essay on the
value of family and friends.
The Joseph H. Kucher Scholarship was started in 1995 for the
amount of $250.00. The
scholarship has grown over the years as contributions to the
endowment fund have allowed us to increase the money given each
year. From its humble
beginnings, The Joseph H. Kucher Scholarship is now the 3rd
largest scholarship given at Port Jervis high School.
This year, a graduating senior will be awarded $1000.00/year
for four years of college, a total of $4,000.00.
We would
like to take this time to explain why this is so important to all
of us.
I
met Joe Kucher in 1st grade.
I was having a sneezing fit, as I have been known to do on
occasion, and I didn’t have a tissue.
Joe, being the good little boy, had a handkerchief he let
me use. I proceeded
to blow my nose and then give Joe his handkerchief back.
Joe looked at it, thanked me and put it back into his
pocket. That was one
of Joe’s favorite stories.
There are literally hundreds of stories with Joe as the
focal point.
It
is difficult to describe Joe Kucher, he really was special.
You can try to use adjectives like nice, kind, loyal, hard
working, funny, generous, smart, religious, and loving.
Unfortunately, these words don’t come close to summing up
what this man was to all of us.
There has never been another person I have ever met, read
about, or seen on TV that remotely comes close to what Joe Kucher
was an individual. He
was never without a compliment, a man that had high ideals, an
individual with deep moral values, and a loyal, cherished friend.
Joe
was killed on the way home from a celebration for a friend of ours
who had just graduated from the police academy.
As seemed to always be the case, Joe was the responsible
one. He was the
designated driver so that his girlfriend, his cousin from Europe
on vacation, and his cousin’s friend could enjoy themselves at
the party. Joe and
his car full of friends left late that night, followed by his brother Mike and
Mike’s fiancée Keri in the car behind.
Following in a separate car were Mike’s roommates John
and Joe. Unfortunately,
four miles from the party, a truck driven by a drunk driver,
crossed over into Joe’s lane and hit the car head on.
Mike was the first person at the accident scene.
After getting his brother out of the car, Joe died that
night in Mike’s arms. It
still is a very painful memory for all that knew and loved Joe.
To
the people that knew Joe, these events allow us to keep Joe’s
memory alive. We put
aside our busy schedules and share smiles, laughs, and sometimes
tears remembering the man that meant so much to us.
For those who never had the privilege of meeting Joe, it is
an opportunity to get together with old friends and hopefully make
a few new ones along the way. |
