From Little League to Lifelong Lessons: Honoring Bumper Donahue's Legacy

For athletic trainer Jon Reidy, ATC, participating in the Bumper Donahue Memorial Golf Tournament was more than a round of golf to benefit Shriners Children's New England; it was a day to honor a Little League coach who taught lasting lessons of encouragement and inclusion.

Earl "Bumper" Donahue was Reidy's Little League baseball coach when Reidy was 8 years old. He vividly remembers Bumper's energy, his booming voice, the gallon bag of sunflower seeds he brought to every game and the high-fives and bear hugs he gave after a solid hit.

"He wasn't your typical Xs and Os kind of coach," Reidy said. "He was the hype guy. He was the guy who said hello to everyone and made sure you felt included. You knew he was happy to see you."

That kind of enthusiasm left a lasting impression on Reidy, so much so that it helped shape his career in sports. "Bumper was the first person who made me feel excited just to be there. It wasn't about being the best player, it was about loving the game and being part of a team," he said. "That mentality stuck with me and carried into other sports and into my career."

According to Bumper's sons, Patrick and Anthony, connecting with others was Bumper's biggest strength.

"My dad had this incredible way of making people feel truly seen," said Patrick. "He gave you his full attention, like you were the only person in the room. That feeling of being valued is what people remember most."

Anthony agreed. "He had a heart of gold. He always listened, helped, and brought humor into any situation."

Bumper passed away unexpectedly in 2009, when Patrick and Anthony were young, leaving behind a legacy of community. That legacy became the foundation for the Bumper Donahue Memorial Golf Tournament, created by family and friends to help fund Patrick and Anthony's education, and carries on to benefit a cause close to Bumper's heart: Shriners Children's New England.

As an above-the-knee amputee himself, Bumper knew firsthand the physical and emotional challenges faced by children with limb differences. His family members had received care at Shriners Children's, and a few of the teams he coached made toy donations over the years, making the connection even more personal.

"Bumper knew the importance of helping children overcome what he had already faced," said Shriners Children's New England Senior Director of Philanthropy Kerri Tichy. "This tournament isn't just a fundraiser. It's a full-circle moment. It honors Bumper's legacy while directly helping kids."

Over the past eight years, the tournament has raised more than $60,000 to support Shriners Children's New England. That funding helps provide many services that families would not otherwise be able to afford.

"More than 67% of our families require financial assistance," Tichy said. "Events like this allow us to take that burden off their shoulders so they can focus entirely on their child's care."

For many participants, the tournament is a day of golf. For Bumper's family, it's a celebration of the values he lived by: joy, kindness, inclusion and making others feel seen. And for Reidy, it was a personal tribute to a man who helped shape not just his swing but his love for sports.

"If Bumper could see this tournament today, I think he'd be proud," said Reidy. "But he'd probably never say it. He wasn't about recognition, he was about doing what he thought was right."

What Bumper may not have realized, though, was the ripple effect of his encouragement, a legacy that continues to grow with each passing year. Every year, new stories surface from former players, friends and strangers whose lives he touched. One such story came full circle when Reidy, years after playing alongside Patrick in their youth, reconnected with him at the tournament.

"He didn't just coach teams, he helped shape people," Patrick said. "And that's a legacy worth celebrating."