Fallen Finest's Jonathan Diller will be honored through a scholarship, with the first fundraiser scheduled for Wednesday, eight months after he was approached and killed by two criminals in a parked car in Queens. are.
The new Jonathan Diller Detective Scholarship Fund will help students from the alma mater of an “American hero”, St. Mary's School in Manhasset, Lilly, pursue a career in public safety with the same academic rigor and athleticism as the fallen NYPD detective. This will benefit aspiring students. said the organizer.
“I consider him an American hero of sorts. He made the ultimate sacrifice for his country and will never be forgotten by the NYPD or the St. Mary's family. We… convinced me of that,” Patrick Welsh, Diller's former teacher, former police officer, and the school's athletic director, told the Post.
According to supporters, Diller's widow, Stephanie, broke down in tears when she learned of the initiative.
The first fundraiser for the scholarship begins Wednesday at Markay's Pub and Concert Hall, the tragic married father's favorite drinking hole in Wantagh, Long Island. This is where Diller and Stephanie, now a widow, danced the night before he was brutally murdered. On duty in March.
The goal of this initiative is to raise $100,000 each year to support at least one junior or senior student at St. Mary's for years to come.
Previous raffles held in Mr. Diller's name have resulted in historically record collections, so several students a year may qualify for the scholarship, organizers said.
This scholarship has already raised more than $26,000.
Wednesday's event was an opportunity to honor the slain officer and the young widow and 1-year-old son he left behind in Massapequa Park, Louisiana, supporters said.
“This family has suffered a tragedy that many can relate to. This family has the compassion of so many residents who feel so deeply,” said Joseph Sala, Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor. Dino stated.
“We have been troubled by how this state's laws have made things even more dangerous. So this event and this scholarship is a way to show our support, our passion, our great care and how much it touched the hearts of all of our residents. It’s a great way to show everyone you care,” Saladino said.
The scholarship fund gained momentum this summer, months after a three-year veteran of the department was approached by two suspicious men in a car parked at a Far Rockaway bus stop and shot and killed by the suspects.
Organizer Larry Weinberger used his connections as president of MGD Investments to gather supporters and sponsors and said, “We wanted to start a scholarship fund so that the detective's name would remain forever and be remembered for future generations.'' he said.
Saladino said Diller's widow told him she wanted the money to go to students at St. Mary's University, where Diller graduated in 2010.
“Jonathan always believed in the importance of education and wanted to give it back to the next generation. This scholarship fund will help preserve his legacy and provide new opportunities for deserving high school students. Stefani told the Post in a statement.
At St. Mary's, Diller was known as a hard-working student and team player, said Welsh, who was Diller's head lacrosse coach and law teacher for all four years.
Mr. Wales, who spent 20 years with the NYPD, remembers being fascinated by Mr. Diller's stories of his time on the force, and was not surprised when Mr. Diller himself joined the department after a brief career at the Maritime College. .
“He was a wonderful kid. He was a normal kid who found his way, found his right calling to be a police officer. Unfortunately his life was taken, but that's a bigger issue. '' Wales said.
“Kids on my team, we respect him. They all know about it. They understand. The tentacles are coming out and it's great to see it. [the scholarship is] It will have a big impact,” he said.
“His legacy will continue to grow,” Wales said. “It's going to be great.”
