P’ville Fire Dept. to Hold Fundraiser to Launch Scholarship
Members of the Pleasantville Volunteer Fire Department are honoring a fallen member by raising money to create a scholarship in his name.
Leonard “Lenny” Shon, a 23-year department veteran, died in January at 59 years old after battling brain cancer. A lifelong village resident, Pleasantville Fire Department Commissioner John Brooks remembered Shon as a dedicated firefighter who had a great outlook on life.
“He was more or less the attitude coach for the department,” Brooks said. “He was the heart and soul.”
In order to raise money for a scholarship, the department will be holding a fundraiser on Saturday, June 20 at its Washington Avenue firehouse. The event will begin with a silent auction at 3 p.m. featuring a wide array of sports memorabilia. Shon was an avid sports fan, said Brooks, who noted that Shon played football at Pleasantville High School and was part of a team that won 35 consecutive games.
The auction will feature more than 75 items, including signed photographs and baseballs by Hank Aaron and Joe DiMaggio, who played for Shon’s favorite team, the Yankees.
“He was one of those guys who could tell you about a hit that happened in 1966. He remembered everything,” said Brooks of Shon’s fondness for baseball.
The auction is free but the event will also feature a barbeque and concert for $25. The barbeque kicks off at 4 p.m. and will feature a performance at the firehouse by local band Frankenstein’s Baby.
All proceeds will go toward the Lenny Shon Scholarship. Brooks, who said that the department hopes to raise about $10,000 from the event, explained that the scholarship will be awarded to a student who exhibits the characteristics that defined Shon, including athleticism and a good attitude.
Examiner Media – Keeping you informed with professionally-reported local news, features, and sports coverage.
