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September 30, 2010

College roommates get together for Veterans

By TOM WILLIAMS
Sports Columnist


Steve Brady, the former star quarterback at Holy Spirit High School, glanced up at the television monitor during his morning workout. There was his college roommate, a guest on a morning news show.

Brady is now the president and CEO of Ocean City Home Bank and his former roommate at Widener University, the one who was on television, is Phil Martelli, the successful head mens basketball coach at St. Joseph’s University.

“It’s not unusual to see Phil on television,” said Brady, who had started getting back together with his old roommate about 10 years earlier, “but as I listened he was talking about Operation First Response. I was immediately interested in getting involved. I called him right away.”

The result was a deep involvement in the fund-raising efforts of Operation First Response in 2009 by Brady and Ocean City Home Bank. This year, with more time to prepare, they expect the event to be bigger.

Operation First Response (operationfirstresponse.org) helps provide assistance to veterans and their families, as well as those still on active duty.

The Operation First Response-Walk For The Wounded registration starts on Saturday at 10am in front of the Music Pier in Ocean City. The walk itself will begin at 11:30. There will be music and lots more. Everybody who raises $50 or more will receive a free long-sleeve tee shirt. All children who raise $10 or more will receive a wristband for Gillian’s Wonderland Pier that they can use from 1-4pm.

“We put the whole thing together quickly in 2009,” Brady said, “but we’ve had more time to prepare this year. We expect it to be very successful.”

Brady was a senior when Martelli, then a junior, became his roommate. Previously, Brady had roomed with Rick Guerrieri, who was also a star football player at Holy Spirit, and later with Billy “White Shoes” Johnson, who was named to the NFL’s 75th Anniversary All-Time Team, is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and was credited with creating the end zone touchdown celebration while with the Houston Oilers.

“After he finished playing, Billy worked with the Atlanta Falcons,” said Brady. “He is retired now and spends most of his time working with his White Shoes Foundation.”

Martelli was a successful point guard at Widener, setting school records for assists. He is approaching 300 wins at St. Joseph’s, is a four-time Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year and three of his former assistants are now head college coaches. Martelli started out his coaching career as a Widener assistant.

“Phil loved sports,” said Brady. “I could tell he would become a coach. He was the guy who got me reading the Philadelphia Daily News. He’s a true Philly guy. And he has the name recognition and the dedication to really help this cause.”

There are others from the sports community who have offered their support of the cause. People like UConn womens coach Geno Auriemma, former Villanova coach and current CBS Sports analyst Steve Lappas, Temple mens coach Fran Dunphy and former NBA star Chris Ford.

“They all just want to help,” said Brady.

And why not?

Because of Operation First Response, 3,282 wounded heroes and their families have received assistance with mortgage and rent, utilities, vehicle payments and groceries. More than 1,200 wounded heroes and their families have received air transportation. In excess of 1,000 wounded heroes and their families have received ground transportation and lodging. More than 6,500 Operation First Response backpacks have been sent to Combat Support Hospitals in Theatre. Thousands of wounded heroes and their family members have received emotional support.

“It’s very easy to forget about service members once they return home from duty, but for wounded soldiers, the trauma of war does not end with the trip home,” said Brady. “Operation First Response is providing a vital service to these heroes and we hope that our donation, and the appearance of these legendary basketball coaches, helps to raise awareness of this worthwhile organization in Cape May County and throughout Southern New Jersey.”

You can join them and aid Operation First Response on Saturday.


Read more of Tom Williams' columns