Making Waves for Sunrise

Richie Kurtzman was a man of the people; he had a unique ability to bring groups together, even if they did not know him. He loved to give back, whether through committee work at the South Huntington Jewish Center supporting Sunrise or by giving away video game samples to the children of family friends (Richie worked in the gaming industry and often had samples in his car). Above all, he was a loving father who would often take his sons on fishing trips to bring them closer together. Twelve years after his passing, those same brothers have created a fishing trip of their own with a similar goal.

For 10 years, Jordan, Sean, and Matt Kurtzman have organized a yearly fishing trip to commemorate their father and fundraise for the Sunrise Association. The idea was to take a day to do what Richie loved most: create community, tell stories, and give back to those in need. According to the brothers, “It started as a small fundraiser for SHJC, and we saw more and more people wanted to come and give back. We realized we should use this to make a real difference.” For them, Sunrise was the perfect place to make that difference. Fast forward to today, and the family has just held their 10th trip, now hosting nearly 65 people.

This tradition has allowed the brothers to honor Richie and help heal the family following his passing. According to Matt, “It’s been very hard on our mother, and the fact that we bring the family together each year means the world to her—it keeps us together.” Now parents themselves, the brothers try each day to keep their father’s memory alive both in the way they live and the values they instill in their own children, who have begun to get involved in the fishing trip. When asked what they’ve learned from the experience, they answered, “Come up with an idea and go for it. Having a special day for our father is what we wanted to achieve, and we’ve done that.”

Next summer, the family will set sail once again for their 11th year, and the spirit of their father is more alive than ever.