GAMES – Crest Resident Austin Neri Honors Deceased Neighbor with 5K Run

Austin Neri was a toddler when his parents, Tracy and Robert, moved to Wildwood Crest. The young family soon came to know and adore their fun-loving Farragut Avenue neighbor and beach newspaper salesman, John J. Calabro.
Today Neri is a 17-year-old second-year Crest lifeguard. Two weeks ago he orchestrated “The Paperboy Run” in honor of Calabro, who tragically took his own life on Sept. 29, 2011.
Neri is entering his senior year as member of the crew team at St. Augustine Prep. The Richland school requires juniors to develop, organize and present a community service project by early September of their senior year. Neri chose to honor his late neighbor and good friend.
“I did it in his memory and for his widow,” said Neri. “They were married on the beach. We rowed out to sea to spread his ashes after he passed away. John loved the beach and everyone at the beach loved him.”
Neri said Calabro lived by a simple phrase: “You’re not here for a long time, you’re here for a good time.”
Neri said Calabro “was always happy and always smiling” which made his suicide all the more puzzling for those close to him.
Organizing “The Paperboy Run” was an eye-opening experience for Neri, an avid surfer and rower. He had the best of intentions but soon found out how much administrative work is required to pull off a successful charity endeavor.
“I am very grateful for how it turned out,” he said. “I didn’t realize that so much would be involved in getting the run going.”
Neri grappled with permits and insurance issues and was fortunate to receive outstanding cooperation from his hometown beach patrol and police force.
“It sure taught me a lot about leadership,” said Neri. “I learned about working under pressure and juggling lots of things. I had to command a team of volunteers and I truly learned a lesson in leadership.”
Despite his on-the-job education, Neri’s event drew 70 participants who donated $20 each to participate. All of the $2,775 in proceeds went to “Caring for Kids,” a Court House-based organization which assists families in finding fulfillment through foster care, and domestic and international adoption.
The top three male finishers, all members of the North Wildwood Beach Patrol, earned a medal. The trio included Greg Thomas in 20 minutes, Vinny Deritis is 20:29 and John Livingstone in 20:57. The top female competitor was Wildwood Crest Beach Patrol member Grace Lederer in 23:20. She was followed by Palermo resident Pam Pacifico in 27:04 and Liz Estrellado of Williamstown in 29:58.
Each participant received a Lehigh Valley Dairy goodie bag, including a race T-shirt. Event sponsors included the Borough of Wildwood Crest, the Crest Beach Patrol, Pacific Western Sales, The Hoffman Agency Inc., The Adventurer, Wildwood Beach Patrol Alumni, St. Paul Ave. Waveriders, Paige A. Calabro, Dianna Warner, Maria L. Guerin, J. Byrne Agency and The Kayak Fishing Store.
Other sponsors were The Kobielnik Family, Fabietti Hale Hammerstedt and Powers, Ruth Bowman, The Ladies’ Room Consignment Boutique Collaborations Consignment, Fitzpatrick’s Crest Tavern, The Doo Wop Diner, Cabrera Realty, Atlantis Realty, Road ID, Oceanside Realty, Crest Savings Bank, and The North Wildwood Shirt Shop.
“The weather held out, thank God,” said Neri. “I’m pretty surprised how well it went. To get 70 people for a charity event that came together a little bit late was excellent. I put this together in under a month so I am very grateful.”
Among the volunteers helping to orchestrate the race was Neri’s 14-year-old sister, Daria.
Neri is preparing a portfolio of the event to hand in at St. Augustine by Sept. 15. He’ll give a written and oral presentation with a Power Point slideshow to a committee of faculty members.
“Next year I’ll be a lot more prepared and I’ll know what to deal with in a more timely fashion,” said Neri. “It’ll be a lot easier the next time around because I now know what needs to be taken care of when.”
Neri, Paige Calabro and all of John J. Calabro’s friends and neighbors remain mystified about his death 11 months ago but they have chosen to remember him in the loving and generous way in which he lived.
“He impacted me since my early childhood,” said Neri. “He encouraged me to become a lifeguard and I’m very thankful for that. He was a part of our family. And the morning of the race, we saw a double rainbow.”
Reach Rossi at joerossi61@comcast.net