By Zach Brazilller
Two and a half years after he tragically collapsed and died playing a game of pick-up basketball at Farmingdale State College, of Long Island, Dominic Murray hasn’t been forgotten.
In fact, the memory of the former Monsignor McClancy student and player, who died at the age of 17 of an enlarged heart, has been kept alive by friends, former teammates and teachers. He was be remembered Saturday with the Dom Heart 21 Classic Day at the Queens Catholic school.
The Dominic A. Murray 21 Memorial Foundation and McClancy will host a heart awareness day and basketball games featuring local CYO and AAU teams at the school, at 71-06 31st Ave. in East Elmhurst. There will be a special “Reunion” game with Murray’s former McClancy teammates taking on his childhood teammates returning to pay homage to their fallen friend.
Championship games were held at Farmingdale State College Sunday.
Doors opened at 8 a.m. Potentially lifesaving information on Sudden Cardiac Arrest, Free Hands Only CPR training and free health and wellness screenings were offered. There was also entertainment, fun activities for the entire family, food, raffles, contests and give-a-ways.
At noon, the foundation presented awards to community leaders for their commitment to shed light on SCA in the community. State Sen. Jose Peralta (D-East Elmhurst), state Assemblyman Jeffrion Aubry (D-Corona), Assemblyman Michael DenDekker (D-Jackson Heights) and City Councilwoman Julissa Ferreras (D-East Elmhurst) will be recognized. At 2 p.m., the foundation donated automated external defibrillators to youth-serving organizations in the district.
Dominic Murray was a happy, energetic, seemingly healthy 17-year-old when he went into sudden cardiac arrest and collapsed on the basketball court at SUNY Farmingdale State College during an open gym pick-up game in October 2009.
Dominic’s mother, Melinda, founded the Dominic A. Murray 21 Memorial Foundation, a nonprofit named for Dominic, in 2010. The foundation’s mission is “to promote sports heath, education and safety.” Its goal is to help prevent sudden cardiac arrest in young athletes.
