By: Kenneth L R. Patchen

Reprinted from the Pioneer Press Newspaper

September 9, 1999

Tragedy continues to inspire others

Memories of two Highland Park children continue to inspire many good works, to nourish the people and community they left behind and to help children who are born in the future.

The tragic coincidence of the separate deaths, within five weeks of each other, Rory to brain cancer and Danny Cunniff to leukemia, has inspired the community and their friends.

The adult philanthropy is focused on the Charita-Ball at 7 p.m. Sept. 18 in the Grand Ballroom of Navy Pier in Chicago. Children have been collecting money through pledge walks and dime collections at Halloween.

Charita-Ball has raised a million dollars in three years to finance medical research on childhood brain tumors, such as brain, stem gliomas, and other diseases. In addition, this year, funds are to be donated to the Danny's Team Chapter of the Leukemia Research Foundation.

Charita-Ball was created by Allen Sutker, president of VisionTek Corporation, and Brian Abrahams, also of VisionTek.

Sutker said he wanted to create an enjoyable philanthropy as well as to teach people about giving money away to help others. The hometown evidence suggests both goals are coming along very nicely.

This year's Charita-Ball has a Rio-style carnival theme with Latin music, casino games and a fireworks display.

"I think this year's (event) will be fantastic," said Sutker.

The funds will make a difference for pediatric cancer and leukemia research. The evening is sponsored not only by VisionTek, but also Gateway Computers, American Airlines, Fitigues, DFG Foods, LLC and Hartford Computer Group, Inc.

Latin music and dancing will be provided by Orchestras of the Americas. These musicians have played at the Olympics and the last Inaugural Gala. The $75 tickets are available through the Charita-Ball Hotline, 847 675-5658, or web site, charita-balI.com.

Youth events
The events undertaken by children in Highland Park are more low-key.

There are the Rory David Deutsch Award, Wolters Field Pledge Walk, Dimes for Danny collection at Halloween and the steady, consistent sales of Beanie Babies at The Karyn Collection.

Each event serves as a continuing memorial and community education experience to benefit the medical research remaining to be done.

Kindergartner Diana Schalk and third-grader Jake Schneider each received the Rory Award last June at Indian Trail Elementary School. The award recognizes good citizenship and is conveyed in Deutsch's memory. Schalk drew two children holding hands titled, "I'm sharing a swing with my friend." Schneider wrote an essay, "What you as a student can do to be a good citizen."

Principal Veronica Patt said the theme of the illustration and essay is about good citizenship. It is a way to perpetuate Rory's qualities of being a loving and accepting person. Names of the award's winners are engraved on a plaque to be placed outside a room within the learning center.

"It's a room where the learning center director meets with each class during the week," Patt said. It is a room decorated with an outer space theme, because of Deutsch's interest in astronomy. Construction of the room was funded by his family.

Rory Award
The Rory Award was established by Barry Bakal who wanted to help the children remember their very special classmate. "It's going to be an annual award," he said.

A donation to the Rory David Deutsch Foundation is made by Bakal on behalf of the winners of the award.

Last June, more than 150 of Rory's Indian Trail Elementary School classmates took in a fund-raising walk around Highland Park High School's Wolters Field. "They are supporting those in need and developing a sense of community spirit at the same time."

They raised $5,000.

The Karyn Collection, at 1438 Old Skokie Road, Highland Park, donates $2 from the sale of each Beanie Babie sold at the store and from their web site (tkcgifts.com) to the Rory David Deutsch Foundation. Last year, they distributed the Beanie Babie Lion 'Roary' as a take home gift for people at the Charita-Ball.

"I would guess we're now over $11,000," said Marc Levy. "We sell a lot of Beanie Babies."

"We're involved with it this year," he said. People who purchase specialized children's gifts, personalized items, and furnishings at their store also can help by the purchase of the Beanie Babies. Levy said he wanted to create something positive with the Beanie Babies to honor their memories of his friends' son. "I'm real happy we could do that."

"We're going to be doing Dimes for Danny again,"' said Jackie Chilow. Her two sons, Alex and Daniel, were close friends of Danny Cunniff.

Highland Park children will trick or treat with cans in October to collect donations. The money they raise is donated to the Danny's Team Chapter of the Leukemia Research Foundation.

Last year's event was a good start. "It was the most wonderful thing because, (Danny's friends) were doing it."

The effort to understand and cure diseases is not the only legacy to emerge from the death of Danny Cunniff. There is, of course, the room at the learning center at Indian Trail Elementary School. And there is Danny Cunniff Park.

Link help
State Sen. Terry Link, D-30, of Highwood, was able to help the Highland Park District obtain $450,000 of state park grant funding. The Cunniff Family donated $650,000. The combined funds were used to reconfigure the park's athletic fields and upgrade the amenities.

"It allowed us to do everything," said Park Commissioner Michael Fisher. "It's going to be another gem in Highland Park."

The district reconfigured the area of the south soccer field to create a new practice field and a regulation soccer field. "(Danny Cunniff Park) is going to be the premier field on the North Shore," Fisher said. Another soccer field will be at the north end of the park, facilities will be built in a prairie architecture style, and new lights will be purchased to focus on the athletic fields and to minimize spill-over light into nearby neighborhoods.

"We're very touched and very enthused by the generous gift of the Cunniff Family. "It is a wonderful tribute to a talented and wonderful child who left us much too soon," Fisher said.

Despite too short lives, both young Cunniff and Deutsch have left behind vivid positive memories of themselves as people who were interesting, warm, and generous.

"Rory was a tremendous lover of the planets and stars," said family friend Barry Bakal.

"He was just a marvelous little boy," said the principal of his school, Veronica Patt. She described him as being a loving and accepting person.

Patt said Rory was very close to his classmates, and they were close to him. "They drew strength from one anther being together," she said.

Danny Cunniff was described in equally glowing terms. "He was wise beyond his years," said family friend Amy Bazelon.

"Excellent sportsmanship. I've heard this from so many people. Coaches. Teachers," she said. "He was a very bright and energizing kid."

Jackie Chilow's sons, Alex and David, were best friends with Danny Cunniff.

"He was always upbeat," she said. "My kids won't forget him."

Adults who are involved in Charita-Ball are teaching children who knew both Rory David Deutsch and Danny Cunniff how to create hope from the loss of their close friends by means of the energy and fun of philanthropy.