Two Years Later and People Still Remember

Most of you know the story of DH's uncle who was murdered coming home from work 2 years ago. Well, we did not know about this but I found this on the newsday website and thought that I would share. It is so wonderful to see that people still remember.

Nassau Baseball Insider: A Touching dedication at Carey

John Punis picked up the phone about a year ago hoping for a bargain, and ended up getting more than even he could have imagined.

The contractor's son, John Punis Jr., the starting leftfielder for Carey's baseball team, had come to him saying that the Seahawks' dugout was in disrepair and in need of a major overhaul. Coach Marc Hedquist was hoping for about $8,000 to replace the cheap metal benches, but the younger Punis had far loftier ideas.

While on junior varsity, Punis had met and befriended a starter by the name of Brian Gottlieb. They had practiced together and Punis remembered Gottlieb's kindness and dedication to the sport. And Punis, like most everyone in Garden City, also remembered the story: How one night in early 2005, the Gottlieb family was devastated by the murder of James Gottlieb, Brian's father, who was killed during a robbery.

It had then been more than two years since the murder and the trail that followed, but there was still time to do something for the family. They would try to get dugouts - real dugouts, not metal benches cooking in the sun - and they would dedicate them to Gottlieb, a long-time Garden City Little League coach.

Punis, the vice president of a construction company, said he would use his connections and see what he could do. When the dust settled, Carey High School had $40,000 dugouts, courtesy of a community that wanted some good to come out of the tragedy.

The players and coaches unloaded the trucks and teachers painted the walls. Salesmen with no building experience picked up hammers when they were on site.

Hedquist, who has been in the school district for seven years, said he was taken aback.

"There have been several tragedies in the area, and you'll see 1,000 people showing up to the wake," he said. "It's a tight-knit community, and this was an example of that."

Because of the Little League season, it would be months before the builders could break ground. But, in September of last year, construction on the dugouts began. By December the dugouts - home and away - were completed and painted with the Carey Seahawks logo. On March 29, they were dedicated in a pre-game ceremony with the Gottliebs, wife, Elizabeth and children, James, Brian and Alicia. They threw out the first pitch and a plaque was installed in the home dugout during the second inning of the game.

"I was really astounded [when I first heard]," Elizabeth Gottlieb said. "It's so nice to know that they still remember. There's hundreds and hundreds of people they could have dedicated it to and they dedicated it to him."

Her husband, she said, coached Little League for close to 13 years and both her sons were on the Carey team. When he died, she said, it was supposed to be a big year - he was about to celebrate his 50th birthday and the couple, their 25th wedding anniversary. And then there was baseball: Brian had been injured as a junior, but in his final season, he had a career year, going 7-0 before graduating.

"To see [my husband's] face on the dugout and to know how much it meant to him, was amazing," she said. "To know that people had it in their hearts to do this, it's beautiful."

Re: Two Years Later and People Still Remember

There are amazing people in this world. What a wonderful thing they did

Re: Two Years Later and People Still Remember

Re: Two Years Later and People Still Remember

I thought it was really nice too. He was such a good man.

Re: Two Years Later and People Still Remember

That was so nice of them to do!!

Re: Two Years Later and People Still Remember

Wow, what a nice thing to do. Just goes to show there *are* still some great people in this world.

Re: Two Years Later and People Still Remember

I could not believe it when I read it. I read the article to DH and he was so quiet. I really misses him.

Re: Two Years Later and People Still Remember

What an awesome thing to do! I'm sorry for your loss

Re: Two Years Later and People Still Remember

Posted by Phyl

What an awesome thing to do! I'm sorry for your loss

Re: Two Years Later and People Still Remember

That was a very nice thing to do!!

Re: Two Years Later and People Still Remember

That is so nice of them!!!

Re: Two Years Later and People Still Remember

That was wonderful!!!!!!

Re: Two Years Later and People Still Remember

that was so amazing

Re: Two Years Later and People Still Remember

A very nice tribute.

Re: Two Years Later and People Still Remember

Wow, that is really wonderful....

Re: Two Years Later and People Still Remember

So sweet!

Re: Two Years Later and People Still Remember

what a wonderful dedication!

Re: Two Years Later and People Still Remember

this is so nice

Re: Two Years Later and People Still Remember

Isn't it wonderful to know that good people really do exist in this world?

Re: Two Years Later and People Still Remember

so nice

Re: Two Years Later and People Still Remember

Thanks everyone. I spoke to my MIL about this, this morning and she told me that DH's aunt was given flowers, his little cousin was given a signed ball by the whole Carey team and the 2 boys throughout the first pitch.