SUMMERVILLE — The Summerville Knights of Columbus Council 6629 held their 21st annual Ted Corcoran Memorial Golf Tournament at Miler Country Club on May 17 to pay tribute to the exceptional initiative and inspiration of a brother Knight whose memory they have kept alive since 1988.
The net proceeds from the event are earmarked for the American Heart Association, according to a press release from the council.
Lyles Cooper, director of corporate relations for the Mid-Atlantic affiliate of the American Heart Association, praised the Knights for their brotherly spirit and charitable effort.
“For the past 22 years, the Knights of Columbus have held a golf tournament in memory of a member who passed away in 1988,” she said. “This year their Ted Corcoran Memorial Golf Tournament drew 80 players consisting of Knights, friends and relatives, thanks to the great preparation of the event and very pleasant weather. All players are commended for the donation of $2,500 which is much appreciated by the AHA.”
Claudia Corcoran said that her husband was not an avid golfer. His passion was family.
“Ted enjoyed time spent with his family — our son Kevin, then age 16, and our daughter Lisa, age 10,” she said. “When friends came over, Ted liked to see them come with their families.” As a past grand knight in Vienna, Va., he was a respected leader, focusing on the Knights’ commitment to family.
Corcoran said she and her husband enjoyed the family and social activities of the Summerville council.
“When Ted was a child he had scarlet fever,” she said. “That affected his heart to the point where he needed a heart transplant in 1985 after an attack made that procedure necessary.”
A donor heart was not found.
“But, I am so pleased that the Knights of the council Ted joined here in Summerville have kept him in mind,” she said. “I think Ted is proud of these men who are keeping his memory alive.”
Jose Mireles, a member and later a grand knight of Council 6629, first met Ted Corcoran at the monthly meetings held in the hall which Corcoran had helped build. Mireles described him as a man with initiative and who was very involved in the order’s charitable activities.
“The entire membership was saddened to learn of his death at the age of 42,” Mireles said. “He had been an inspiration to all of us. We agreed to keep his legacy alive by organizing a yearly golf tournament in his memory and donating the proceeds to the AHA.”
Donations to AHA are reinvested in the Lowcountry, according to Cooper. In 2007, the local office, which covers Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties, raised about $800,000 from the annual Heart Walk, Art and Wine Gala, and Stroke-by-Stroke Golf Classic. The AHA awarded $1.2 million to local researchers and provided numerous programs and community services.
George Crawford, tournament chairman, said it was only appropriate that the Knights pay a tribute to the AHA.
“Next year we hope to obtain 120 participants as in previous years,” Crawford said. “So we definitely look forward to continuing this tradition with the 22nd annual tournament next spring.”