Memorial Golf Tournament to Aid Ill Cousin of Beloved Bar Manager

The overwhelming sentiment about Jeannie LeFrancis was that she would stop at nothing to help someone else. She was selfless, caring and always there for others.

So an upcoming golf outing, the first-ever Jeannie LeFrancis Memorial Tournament to benefit one of her relatives currently fighting leukemia, is something she likely would have organized herself – without any notice of her name, of course.

LeFrancis was tragically killed in a single-car crash on Camp Washington Road Thanksgiving Day morning in 2013. LeFrancis, the bar manager at Valley Restaurant & Pub, had left after a late shift and was driving alone at the time of the crash, police said.

Police received a call at 4:28 a.m. from a passerby who said the car had struck a tree. LeFrancis was pronounced dead at the scene. She was 55.

The familiar face at one of the town’s most popular businesses drew tremendous mourning from the community. Now, seven months later, LeFrancis’ memory is being used to help someone else.

The first-ever Jeannie LeFrancis Memorial Golf Tournament is set for Monday, July 28 at Black Oak Golf Course on Bartley Road, and all proceeds from the event will be given to namesake’s cousin Anya, 8, who is battling leukemia. 

Residents can be part of the event in a number of ways, including sponsoring a hole with a family name or business. Silent auction donations are also being sought, and no item is too big or too small, the organizing committee said. Anyone interested in sponsoring a hole for $50 can email Beth Ort at beth586512@verizon.net or swing into Valley Restaurant to pick up the form. All forms must be filled out and submitted no later than July 21.

Anyone interested in donating items to the silent auction can contact Denise Sabo at mccroned15@comcast.net or Beverly Weber at bweber09@verizon.net. 

All player spots for the golf outing have been sold out.

Valley Restaurant, where LeFancis worked for more than a decade, will also host a memorial party for LeFrancis at 7 p.m. on July 28. A buffet and raffle prizes will be available and all are invited to attend.