For three days beginning October 15 last year, 70 fourth graders competed in the 1st Annual Rory Deutsch Basketball Tournament and raised more than $850 for pediatric brain tumor research. Highland Park resident Rick Siegel, CEO of the Denver-based Apollo Group computer consulting firm, put together the fall tournament with the help of Vern Reich, who heads up the Small Fry basketball program in Highwood, Illinois. At Vern’s suggestion, Siegel named the tournament in Rory’s memory and sought 4th-grade students from all around the Chicago area to participate. Some special features of the event included a 3-point shooting contest for fathers and sons, and the professional announcing skills of on-air personality Mike North, of station 1160 AM, WSCR Radio.

Siegel is planning the 2nd annual tournament for early September 2000. He hopes the earlier date makes it possible for a few NBA players to attend the event. If so, Siegel believes this would attract even more participants than the 70 kids who paid for tickets at the door in 1999 and then bought T-shirts commemorating the event.

“One of the tournament organizers, Mark Bartlestein, is a sports agent with NBA clients,” said Siegel. “If we play early enough in the season, Mark is trying to get a couple of players to come in.”

Hanging currently in the Highwood Recreation Center is a huge commemorative banner that lists all the 1999 teams and features a large picture of Rory and the name of the Rory David Deutsch Foundation.