By Jerry Lee Staten Island Advance
WESTERLEIGH — The fifth annual Lt. Chuck Margiotta FDNY Memorial Brains Brawn Bravery Motorcycle event, held in June, was another huge success.
Over 300 bikers rode, many from Chuck’s brother Mike Margiotta‘s buddies in the Rolling Thunder riding club, while another 200 people supported the event. The initiative has found an extremely comfortable home at Monsignor Farrell High School in Oakwood.
The event at the school features a party atmosphere with music, food (supplied graciously by numerous sponsors) and friends renewing old friendships while remembering the 20-year veteran who was one of Staten Island’s September 11 hero firefighters and a motorcycle enthusiast.
The Margiotta family resides in Meiers Corners while Chuck settled in Westerleigh with his family. The Brown University graduate was a fixture in St. Rita’s sports programs. His dad, Charlie, renamed his winter touch tackle league in his honor.
But most importantly, The Lt. Chuck Margiotta Memorial Event continued to raise money for scholarships for students with a financial need hoping to attend Farrell (where Chuck starred in football) and in most cases, play some sport.
“Financial need is the first priority. The second is we’re looking for kids who exhibit a lot of what my brother was,” said Mike Margiotta. “I’m not looking for a kid to have a 96 average. I want a kid to be someone when I ask about them, they’ll tell me he’s a good kid.”
This year’s recipient of the scholarship is Our Lady Queen of Peace graduate Sean Torres Jr.
Torres’ family was displaced from the New Dorp Beach area by Hurricane Sandy, and is temporarily living on the North Shore. Torres’ father, Sean Sr., is a Marine veteran and a member of the Staten Island Marine Corps League.
Sean Jr. played CYO baseball throughout grammar school, twice making all-star teams, which played a game at the Richmond County Bank Ballpark in St. George where the Staten Island Yankees play during the summer months.
He has also run track, winning several medals for his efforts. Torres is expected to be a member of the Farrell cross country team as he begins his freshman year, which he prepared for by attending an upstate training camp. He also has plans to try out for the Lions’ baseball team.
Torres is also a fine student and intends to continue his involvement in volunteer groups. His long-term goal is to be an attorney.
“I am very proud that my brother Chuck’s name, with this scholarship, continues to serve the community as he did during his life,” said Mike Margiotta.
