Hall of Fame Donates $1,550 to Stricken Track Star

BY JAMIE KEMPTON

The Rockland County Sports Hall of Fame raised $1,550 for former Clarkstown North track standout Mike Rogan during the third annual Rockland Sports Hall of Fame Night on July 31 at Provident Bank Park in Pomona. The Hall of Fame partnered with the Rockland Road Runners in sponsoring the fundraiser at the Can-Am baseball game pitting the host Rockland Boulders against the archrival New Jersey Jackals.

Rogan is a Rockland Track Hall of Fame inductee and ex-Clarkstown North and Notre Dame track star who suffered a traumatic brain injury in July 2013. He fell down two flights of stairs at his home in Indiana and suffered severe facial and skull fractures. He has shown improvement but faces a long road to recovery and continues to follow a rigorous rehabilitation program.

An emergency-room physician who has worked in medical research, Rogan lost his job after the accident and will be hard-pressed to return to the medical field. He had gotten engaged just weeks before the catastrophic injury and has a 12-year-old son from a previous marriage. The Boulders game fundraiser was part of an effort to assist Rogan with his mounting medical and living expenses.

More than 60 people purchased tickets to attend the fundraiser, held in the Short Porch patio area. A percentage of each ticket was earmarked for Rogan in addition to donations contributed by the Hall of Fame and individuals from the Clarkstown North and Rockland sports realms.

“In light of Mike Rogan’s unfortunate circumstances, we felt it was appropriate to show our support for him while at the same time bringing the Rockland athletic community together to enjoy an outdoor summertime event with fellow sports-minded folks,” said Pete Scheibner, Chairman of the Rockland Sports Hall of Fame. “This is the third year we’ve held an outing at a Boulders game but the first time we’ve dedicated the proceeds to a cause. We expect to continue this tradition next summer.”

While at Clarkstown North, Rogan won the state indoor title at 1,000 meters, ran the third-fastest time in the country for that event in 1986 (2:29.59), and swept the 5,000-, 1,500- and 800-meter races at the spring County championships. He still holds the Notre Dame school record for the indoor 1,500 meters (3:47.64) and ran the equivalent of a 4:02 mile outdoors.

An on-field presentation was held before the game recognizing the Hall of Fame, with Hall of Fame Treasurer Pete Castellano throwing out the first pitch. Rockland Sports Hall of Famer John Flaherty, a part-owner of the team, stopped by the outing to lend his support. The Boulders lost the game to the Jackals, 6-3, in a battle between the top two teams in the Can-Am League.