Leavitt event’s proceeds grow Tourney aids cancer research

ORONO – There are certain things you can count on when summer enters the month of August and Penobscot Valley Country Club hosts the annual Bud and Barbara Leavitt Memorial Golf Tournament.

People like Donn Fendler, Alden Leavitt and Oakley Goodall will be among the players hitting the links; everyone involved in the fundraiser will have fun; money will be raised for cancer research, and the weather will be great.

The 14th annual Leavitt Memorial delivered on those constants and more as both the charity tournament field and money raised dwarfed last year’s totals.

This year’s tourney drew 108 golfers – 16 more than last year – and organizers expected to raise $25,000-30,000. The final fund-raising tally won’t be known until Tuesday or Wednesday since the event also includes a benefit auction held later Monday. Even on the low end, it should be at least $8,000 more than last year’s total.

Rick O’Connor, Northeast region vice-president for Unicel and a Leavitt Memorial committee member, said he and fellow organizers learned a valuable lesson last year.

“I’ve been doing this a long time and yes, it is a lot easier the more often you do it, but just when you think you’ve got it all nailed down, you realize if you’re not as vigilant as you can be, the numbers go down,” O’Connor said. “So we’ve redoubled our efforts at lining up sponsors and participants.”

Fellow Leavitt committee members include Stephanie Cossette, Ryann Tash, Kelli Hurley and Ed Armstrong.

Former NEWS executive sports editor Bud Leavitt and wife Barbara died of cancer – Barbara in 1990 and Bud in 1994. The tourney raises money for the Jimmy Fund, the fundraising arm of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.

“It’s important to note that just because Dana-Farber is in Boston, that doesn’t mean Maine people don’t benefit,” O’Connor said. “It’s not all going to Massachusetts. All people in New England benefit.”

That’s what brings people like Fendler, author of “Lost on a Mountain in Maine,” back year after year.

“I think I’ve done this for 12 years now. Bud Leavitt got me to come out once and I’ve been coming ever since,” said Fendler. “I don’t play as much as I used to, but I never fail to miss this. I circle this on my calendar every year. Fishing is my real passion now. I just got a nice five-pound smallmouth at Pierce Pond the other day.”

Goodall, former CEO of Parsons Corporation in Pennsylvania, also makes it a point to play in the tourney each year, even though he has to drive 11 hours (one way) to get here from his home in Denver, Pa.

“It’s not only a tradition and fun to play in. I’ve had many people who worked for me, developed cancer and died at a young age,” said Goodall, who’s now retired. “Any time I get a chance to support cancer fundraising, I do it. I started a tournament with my own company in Pennsylvania and this year, we’re giving $100,000.”

Gov. John E. Baldacci was on the greens – and in the sand – to support the charity event.

“Bud and Barbara Leavitt were very close friends of my father and mother and our family and Bud, after Barbara passed away, spent an awful lot of time with us,” Baldacci said. “Both Barbara and my father had cancer, and we know the importance of cancer research and Dana Farber. In a lot of fronts, it’s very personal for us and we feel very strongly about this issue.”

The tourney’s importance to Bangor’s Alden Leavitt, Bud’s cousin, can’t be more obvious.

“This is my 70th year playing here and I think I’ve played this tournament 13 times,” Leavitt said. “It combines two things that are nearest and dearest to me: golf and cancer research.”

University of Maine men’s hockey coach Tim Whitehead also has a personal interest in supporting the tournament.

“My college roommate’s wife passed away from cancer and my mother-in-law [Debbie Smith] is a breast cancer survivor the last 20 years,” said Whitehead, who ran the putting contest and also served as the auctioneer. “The key is everybody contributes and works toward finding better treatments and eventually a cure.”

Whitehead said he could talk fast, if need be, at the auction.

“Oh sure, and if they don’t put up enough money, I’ll send them to the penalty box for two minutes for shallow pockets,” he said with a chuckle.