I met Dana Quigley recently at The Misquamicut Club in Watch Hill, RI. He was there for the Help Hope Live Charity Golf Tournament to benefit the Southeast Traumatic Brain Injury Fund in honor of his son, Devon Quigley, 26, who suffered a traumatic brain injury last December in an automobile accident. Dana is known as the ‘Ironman’ for his streak of 278 consecutive golf tournaments between 1997 and 2005 while playing the Champions Tour. Dana played on the PGA Tour for three years between 1978 and 1982 earning just over $92,000 but caught fire after joining the Champions Tour. He has earned $14,821,241 and currently ranks 4th on the all time Champions Tour money list.
I stood on the practice range with two New England Golf Hall of Famers Dana Quigley and Paul Parajeckas and Jason Parajeckas, 26, winner of the 2010 NEPGA New England Open, who is in the early stages of his competitive golf career. What we talked about had little to do with golf and more to do with faith, courage and conviction in the face of tragedy. The conversation was also about the generosity, caring and warmth of complete strangers and the love men show for each other in times of crisis.
NEGM: It has to be a great feeling to know you have so much support for Devon and his recovery.
Dana: Phil, (Phil Korteski is General Manager of The Misquamicut Club), did all of this, soup to nuts and he doesn’t even know Devon. I had nothing to do with putting this together. Phil is responsible for the entire thing. It is fantastic and gratifying to feel such love and support for our family. Phil, who also works at the Dye Preserve Club in Jupiter, Florida upon hearing of Devon’s accident and injuries decided he wanted to see if he could do something for him at The Masquamicut Club so he sought approval, got it and here we are. Again, Phil has never met Devon. That is absolutely amazing!
NEGM: How is Devon doing?
Dana: He seems to be moving in the right direction, but his recovery is going to take years and years. We just moved him to a neurological facility in central Florida. The facility is a long term facility specializing in long term neurological rehabilitation. We hope it will agree with him. The doctors don’t tell us he’s improving at all. We don’t see it that way. He answers questions with his eyes so we know his brain is working even though his motor skills aren’t hooked up to his brain yet. My ex wife, Devon’s mother, has literally been with him 24/7 and sees everything. We have a lot of faith God is going to do it for us and take care of him.
NEGM: Paul, how long have you and Dana known each other?
P.Parajeckas: We’ve been friends for at least 40 years. We used to compete against each other. I learned how to compete from Dana. Actually I caddied for him in his first two Champions Tour events when he started his career out there. Dana’s strength and belief in the Lord is an inspiration to all of us. Dana won’t tell you this but I will. He reads every single one of the “CaringBridge” posts and emails that come into Devon’s site. He doesn’t answer them, but I know he reads every single one of them. Dana, how many hits has Devon’s page had?
Dana: As of this morning, (May 17th), we’ve had 199,420 hits. We’re going to pass 200,000 hits today. The number of people praying for Devon is amazing and a tremendous source of strength for us. I have never seen anything like it. People that don’t know Devon or our family are sending us prayers and good wishes through his web page. I actually had a guy come up to me in Houston recently and tell me he that he has never prayed so hard or so often for someone he doesn’t even know. I mean people come up to me everywhere I go to tell me how Devon has given them strength and they are praying for him.
NEGM: Jason, you and Devon have grown up together and actually turned pro together after college, right?
J.Parajeckas: Yes. Even though we grew up together, I started playing golf as a youngster while Devon didn’t take it up until he was probably 16. He picked it up fast. We both played college golf. Devon played for URI and I played for UCONN. Shortly after graduation we turned professional at the same time. We’re like family. The fact that Devon survived the accident has been nothing less than inspirational for me personally. I mean it has changed my life in so many ways.
I realized as I chatted with Dana, Paul and Jason how important friendship is. How faith makes us stronger. How much we all need each other to strengthen our resolve, particularly in times of such tragic circumstances and how golf is so much more than just a game. The sun was truly shining on The Misquamicut Club in Watch Hill that day. $37,000 was raised in Devon Quigley’s name for the Southeast Traumatic Brain Injury Fund. A special acknowledgement to Misquamicut’s General Manager Phil Koretski, Assistant Manager Tom Finocchiaro, Head Professional Jim Corrigan, Assistant Professional Matt Doyle and the entire staff for such a successful event. If you would like to follow Devon Quigley’s progress, send thoughts, share a story or make a donation go to caringbridge.org/visit/devonquigley.
Steve Riggs is a retired teaching professional with over 30 years experience working with students around the U.S. and Caribbean. Steve is a member of the GWAA (Golf Writers Association of America) and Producer/Host of the myNEGM Lesson Tee Show streaming live each Wednesday from 10:05-11am ET at wnri.com
