We named this event The Cake Eater Classic because Jerry was a true "Ilion Boy."  Cake Eater is the nickname for students from Ilion.  Jerry spent most of his life in Ilion.  He loved the town and was proud to be a businessman in the village . After graduating from high school in 1966, Jerry attended barber school in Syracuse.  Within a few years he opened a barber shop on First Street .  His customers were not only given haircuts but also enjoyed listening to many stories about Ilion and Jerry's youth.  

 In 1983, while continuing his barber business, Jerry began video taping local events.  This, too, turned into a business for Jerry and he soon began Walsh's Video.  For many years Jerry was both a barber and videographer.  Finally, as the demand for his video work increased, he retired from barbering and became a full time videographer.  For many years Jerry captured the memories of families throughout the Mohawk Valley.  His attention to detail and charismatic personality made him very successful in the video business.

Family was also very important to Jerry.  He was married for 38 years to his wife, Carol.  They not only were happily married, but worked together in the video business and always enjoyed being together.  Their sons, Jerry and Chris, were the center of their lives and family times were special times.  Jerry was a wonderful father and was very proud of his sons.  When he became a grandfather, this pride continued and his grandchildren meant the world to him.  Jerry was a hands on grandfather just as he was a hands on father.

We chose a golf tournament in his honor because golfing was something he enjoyed with both friends and family.  Besides golf, he was an avid Yankee fan.  It is ironic that he would end up with Lou Gehrig's Disease. 

As you can see, Jerry led a full and wonderful life.  At age 61, he was certainly too young to die.  It is our hope that through this annual golf event we can help find a cure for this horrible disease that ended his life too soon.  We don't want any other family to experience our sense of loss.