Hockey fundraiser to help family of Central student killed in crash
Certain Jerry Martinez would want his loved ones to be living life to the fullest, a Burlington Central alumnus is organizing a Nov. 14 ice hockey tournament in honor of the 16-year-old who died Sept. 24 in a car crash near St. Charles.
"I was really hurt by what happened and wasn't sure what to do. He'd want us to be having fun," said Nate Scherer of Elgin.
The crash occurred a little after noon near St. Charles North High School when Jerry's car slammed into the luxury SUV driven by Victoria Marie Biniak, 35, of South Elgin. Biniak had her 4-year-old daughter, Elisa, in the vehicle with her.
Jerry was taken to Delnor Hospital in Geneva where he was pronounced dead. The Biniaks also were taken to Delnor and treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
The crash and the reason behind it remains under investigation.
Jerry was a third-year defender on Burlington-Central High School's hockey team. He loved school, was famous for wearing tie-dye and for putting a smile on peoples' faces.
Nate and Jerry were defensive partners on the hockey team in 2007, when Nate was a senior. The pair, who lived in the same neighborhood, spent much of their time playing sports and riding dirt bikes.
Nate, now a student at Elgin Community College, works in the pro shop at Leafs Ice Centre in West Dundee.
After he brought up the possibility of a tournament honoring his friend, the rink's owners donated two hours of ice time. Pepsi donated 240 bottles of water.
The "rat hockey" - hockey slang for a pickup game - tournament will take place at 2:30 p.m. Nov. 14 at the Ice Center, 801 Wesemann Drive, West Dundee. Cost is $10 per person and there is no age requirement to play, as long as players show up with full equipment. All proceeds will benefit the Martinez family.
Fans are welcome to come, too, Scherer said.
Checks can be made out to The Jerry J. Martinez III Scholarship Fund
c/o First Community Bank, 165 S. Randall Road, Elgin, 60123.
For details, call (847) 471-1563.
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