HARBORFIELDS' HEROES

Donna Tanzi

Not only are we fortunate in Harborfields to have wonderful giving people that we constantly get help from, but many serve a much wider scope than our little community. This year Huntington Hospital's Donna Tanzi, RN, was awarded the top honor as Long Island's Nurse of Excellence. The award was a recognition of Donna's outstanding leadership and clinical practice. Her career has span 28 years and she is currently Staff Development Educator with specialitiies in both orthopedics and oncology and she is a End of Life Nursing Education Consortium facilitator.

Donna is the founder and president-elect of the Long Island chapter of the Academy of Medical Surgical Nurses. Donna describes her role as a gift that helps others to grow in the nursing profession.

On a personal note, Donna was the first to be there when a diagnosis of life threatening proportion hit our family. On a daily basis she was there and provided support, comfort and friendship that extended well beyond the normal scope both skill wise and time wise. We treasure her as a part of our lives at this point. Join us in celebrating this unusually kind, generous and talented human being.

Photo and some text courtesy of North Shore LIJ Huntington Hospital - Community Health Line

Tony Nussbacher

In recent years wounded men and women returning from war have refocused attention on the physically handicapped.

But our Local Hero, Tony Nussbacher, had given of his time, energy and money to help inspire a group of disabled athletes on Long Island for many years. The “Chariots of Fire” began, as do many causes. A simple question was asked. In 1982, Tony, a special education teacher, was on staff at Smithtown West High School. He and his students were playing a pick-up game of wheelchair hockey in the gym. One of his students, Frank Marmol asked him if they could play a real sport, like other students. Tony found what they were looking for in a national organization that established competitive sports for the disabled athlete. After 25 years Tony, Frankie and dozens of other disabled athletes, are still competing in a sport called “wheelchair soccer”. They competed first as the Seagulls, under the auspices of United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Suffolk, then since 2003 as the Chariots of Fire, a not-for profit organization. Today Tony Nussbacher is still the team’s only head coach and president. Frank led the team to 12 national championships as captain and now a player/coach.

Wheelchair soccer is a sport played in a school size gym and it resembles team handball. It is a fast paced sport combining dribbling, passing, shooting and incorporating various offensive and defensive schemes. Presently the Chariots of Fire are preparing two teams, the Strikers in the “A” Division and the Chariots in the Open Division, for the next National Indoor Wheelchair Soccer Championship. It will be held at Kings Park High School from Saturday November 10th thru Monday November 12th. “Championship Monday”, November 12 (Veterans Day) will feature the crowning of the “A” Division champions.

Last year the Strikers came in second and they are working hard this year to capture the title. The Chariots are the current defending national champions in the Open Division. Ten teams, several hundred disabled athletes and their coaches, from as far away as San Diego, Houston and Atlanta will convene for this exciting contest.

Tony Nussbacher would like to invite everyone to witness this exciting event and to support the Chariots of Fire by making a contribution to help defer the cost of equipment, traveling and uniforms. Tournament sponsorships are available and complete information is available at the Chariots of Fire website: www.ny-chariots.org.

We salute Tony as our Local Hero for his contribution to the welfare of this special group.