Thanks to the generous support and participation of our concerned community, we are celebrating our 34th Anniversary honoring Bayport – Blue Point’s top high school seniors with two Memorial Scholarship awards in the amount of $2500 each.
Thirty-three years ago, Michael G. Marchan Jr. had a vision and took it upon himself to begin a scholarship for a deserving high school student in Bayport – Blue Point. He knew a man, Vinny Perri, who was a little league coach for over twenty-five years, and who went about his life quietly just working with young kids and helping them grow and learn through their participation in baseball. This was the person that Michael Marchan decided to honor by creating a scholarship in his name.
Mike Marchan, Jr. was a New York City Fireman; he served in the United States Marines; he was a member of the Bayport Fire Department; he coached little league and was a loving husband, dad and grandfather. He was always approachable and he was always one of the first people to offer aid and assistance to anyone in need. His heart was very big and his willingness to help people was unbridled.
In 2013, we added Jeannine David to our scholarship fund, who lost her battle with cancer in 2012. Jeannine was our first Vinny Perri Memorial Scholarship winner in 1990 and was posthumously inducted into the Bayport-Blue Point Athletic Hall of Fame in 2024.
In 2016, we added our fallen friend, brother and hero, Firefighter Greg Chevalley to our scholarship fund, who passed away in 2015 due to complications from cancer caused by ingesting the air at the World Trade Center following 9/11.
In 2017 we added one of Bayport’s finest, Ed Herting, to our scholarship fund, who passed away earlier that year. Ed was an outspoken supporter of all things Bayport-Blue Point, residing here for over 45 years, serving in the FDNY as well Chief of the Bayport Fire Department.
In 2021, we added Wayne Rogers, Sr. to our scholarship fund for his commitment and dedication to the Vinny Perri Memorial Scholarship over many years.
In 2022, Tom Reid was added to our scholarship fund. Tom was a husband, dad, veteran of the US Army, printer, DJ, publisher, civic association leader and a valuable member of our scholarship committee.
They are all collectively honored by this foundation and its scholarships, they are greatly missed, and will never be forgotten.
Vinny Perri
Mike Marchan
Jeannine David
Greg Chevalley
Ed Herting
Wayne Rogers, Sr.
Tom Reid