Benefit set for sons of Philly basketball official DeMayo

LAST JUNE the Daily News chronicled the story of longtime basketball official Joe DeMayo, a Northeast Philadelphia native, and the efforts of his colleagues to raise money to help his sons Michael and Joe Jr. in their battle with pediatric kidney disease.

Now a benefit is being held by the family's friends in the community. It will take place Nov. 16 from 8 p.m. to midnight at the Local 692 Sprinkler Fitters Hall on McNulty Road in Parkwood. Tickets for the beef and beer are $40. The organizers, who are also soliciting auction items, encourage those that can't attend to support the cause by making any donation they can.

For more information, Lou DeCree can be reached at 215-620-2270 or at loudecree@comcast.net. Or you can contact George Geiss at Hlinesman@aol.com.

DeCree met DeMayo when they played against each other years ago in the Del-Val semipro league. They lost contact until they began coaching together at Boyle Playground, where DeMayo was the director of recreation (now retired). Their relationship is such that when DeCree heard about the situation, he knew something had to be done.

"When I first called Joe he was like, 'I'd rather not,' " DeCree recalled. "But he was always the guy who would attend things and help out when other people needed it. So now it was our turn to be there for them. We wouldn't take no for an answer. He wanted to talk with [his wife] Dolores. And the next morning he said, 'OK, go for it.'

"So we put together a committee, and it's been nothing but positive. The Big 5 coaches have all donated something. John Chaney even signed a basketball. Things are coming in. We've printed 1,000 tickets. The bank account will be open all year, for anything that anyone can contribute . . .

"But the main thing we're looking for is two kidneys. That's what it's all about. They don't need clothes or money. They need one kidney each. That's the biggest thing. Hopefully that can happen. It's unfortunate that someone has to die to donate a kidney, but you can't take your organs with you. God forbid something has to happen. It's not nice to talk about, that someone has to die so someone else can live longer."

Joe was the donor for Michael's first transplant, 23 years ago. Michael is now undergoing dialysis three times a week as he awaits a third transplant. Joe Jr., who at 32 is 5 years older, went into complete organ failure in April and is trying to find a place on the national donor list. Dolores and their other two children are already trying to see if they'd be a match.

"I really didn't know [Dolores] had this many friends," Joe joked. "But seriously, it's the only rewarding thing about it. To tell the truth, I'd trade places with anybody in a second. I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy. Without this rally and support . . . it shows my kids that people are there for you. They see this outpouring, they know it's for them and their well being.

"I could tell you straight up that Louie would get something rolling. That's just the way he is. But it's not just him. It's been so many people. I don't know how we can ever thank them, because I don't know if I can ever properly express what this truly means. It's something else."