Golfers will be hitting the links at Cranberry this afternoon in memory of the perpetually kind Catherine Fay Spencley.
Today is the 11th annual Fay Day golf tournament, which was started by Fay’s husband and is carried on by Fay’s daughter Kristin Spencley and Kristin’s husband Bob Madigan.
The money raised through the annual charity golf tournament gets put into a bursary fund. Each year, the Spencley’s deliver a bursary to a student at Collingwood Collegiate Institute and one at Jean Vanier Catholic High School. The students are chosen by the school, and must meet the criteria set by the Spencleys. They chose to dedicate the bursary to an “underdog kind of kid,” who likes animals, is going into a trade and needs help to get there.
“She loved animals, and she loved underdog type kids,” said Kristin. “I think she was one herself.”
Fay was born and raised in Collingwood and her husband and children still live in town. The Spencleys owned and operated Ace Cabs. Fay Spencley loved hockey, and, while she didn’t enjoy the game of golf, the annual tournament has become a successful tradition, raising money in her honour. She died in 2003 of a sudden heart attack, she was 44 years old.
“My dad … wanted to do something to give back to what she loved most,” said Kristin.
While Madigan didn’t meet Fay, he has gotten to know her through stories his wife, father-in-law, and brother-in-law tell.
“She was one of those people who looked out for the unprotected,” said Madigan.
While today’s golf tournament is full, the Spencley family will accept donations in Fay’s name to the scholarship fund. Call 705-606-8471 or 705-606-1924 to donate.
