TRIBUTE Denney game set Wednesday

The basketball contest's format features younger lawyers taking on veterans.
By BILL SULLIVAN
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- How often have we lost a loved one and tried in vain to find a fitting memorial? How do you make sure the memory of a person lives on after death has made its last call?
When Attorney John Denney died of cancer in 1995 at age 41, a group of his contemporaries decided to undertake a unique but fitting memorial for the Chaney High School graduate.
Since the group of lawyers had met on a regular basis for some pickup basketball at the local YMCA, the John Denney Memorial Basketball game became a yearly function.
The seventh John Denney Memorial game will be played at the Jewish Community Center on Gypsy Lane Wednesday at 6 p.m.
"The game is played in honor of John," said Attorney Sam Amendolara who has participated in the first six games. "He meant so much to the legal community."
Lawyers vs. lawyers: The initial game sent a team of lawyers against the Mahoning County Sheriff deputies, but the format now has lawyers over age 35 playing against younger attorneys.
"We had played the sheriff deputies before and John played, so the guys wanted to get together and play them," Atty. Mark Belinky said.
"He left a little girl behind and we wanted to do something for her."
The game serves as an education fund raiser for Sarah Denney who is now a junior at Canfield High School. Money is earmarked for her college education.
"One of the special memories we have of John was playing basketball so we made this his memorial," Amendolara said.
The older lawyers lead the series 4-1.
Friends: Basketball afforded the group of lawyers a way of blowing off steam and meeting other members of the local Bar Association.
"It was special in that it cemented our friendship with John at the Y," Belinky said. "We became closer friends through sports."
Belinky said Denney was a consummate sportsman and would take himself out of a game in which he was playing poorly.
Belinky chuckled that trait is a rarity among basketball players, especially lawyers.
At first Denney's widow, Nancy, was taken back at the memorial.
"Nancy is really an unassuming person, like John was," Belinky said. "She was humbled and surprised."
She takes in the game yearly, along with several members of his family.
"She understood how deeply we loved him and immensely deeply saddened by his loss," Belinky said.
Belinky will continue to organize the game until Sarah graduates from high school.
Donations can be sent to the Mahoning County Bar Foundation, 29 E. Front St., Youngstown 44503.