Sometimes memories can live in our heads or can live in the acts we do to remember those lost.

Many locals are familiar with the story of Sloatsburger Jason Hruscik, who died suddenly in his sleep some six years ago now. Jason’s passing shocked his friends and family. Hruscik was young and healthy, a former runner for Suffern High School who taught at P.S. 85 in the Bronx and appeared to be just getting started in life.

The family was asked at the time about donating Jason’s organs, and that seemingly simple act lives on today.

Jason’s mother, Kathleen Hruscik, now celebrates her son’s life by helping to organize what will this year be the Jason M. Hruscik 6th Annual Memorial Softball Tournament and Vendor Fair. Proceeds for the event benefit the New York Organ Donor Network, with funds also helping out the Bronx school where Jason taught, Public School 85.

Scheduled for Saturday, June 28 at the Sloatsburg Community Fields, the event is an all-day celebration, featuring softball, food, music from local DJ Alex Machado, a surrounding vendor fair, with lots of activities for kids and families. Two key Sloatsburg teams include Characters Bar and Restaurant and Haywards Deli & Market — there will be ten teams in all that will participate in a day of double elimination softball to crown a tourney champ.

“We’ve planned a beautiful opening ceremony balloon release,” said Kathleen Hruscik, “where spectators will release a balloon in memory of someone that they love and lost.” The launch goes off at 9 a.m. sharp on Saturday morning and will feature the release of some 135 colorful balloons in memory of loved ones (the balloons are latex and break down naturally).

Photo courtesy of JasonFund.com.

Hruscik said that the local singing duo of Mary and Brianna Ferraro will sing Phillip Phillip’s Gone, Gone, Gone as a tribute to Jason.

“At the end of their song, their tribute to Jason, we’re going to ask that everyone release their balloon in honor of someone they love,” said Hruscik, who called the who event an affirmation of life in honor of her son. Hruscik said that the tournament features many people whose lives have been changed by an organ transplant. One of them is Lauren Shields, a heart transplant, will throw out the honorary first pitch to the winner of last year’s tournament to start the day’s softball competition.

Shields, a Rockland County resident, had a NY law named after her in 2012, Lauren’s Law, that has a mandatory organ donor registration question on NY driver’s license applications.

Hruscik said that the annual tournament is not only a testament to the good things Jason accomplished in his short life, but a celebration of the joy and love that brings everyone involved together.

The Jason M. Hruscik 6th Annual Memorial Softball Tournament and Vendor Fair is scheduled to take place Saturday, June 28 at the Sloatsburg Community Fields. The balloon release kicks off the day at 9 a.m. and the softball tournament and vendor fair last throughout the day.