For the sixth time, the staff at Overseas Pub and Grill is gearing up to help “part of the family” here in Marathon.
The beneficiary of their upcoming fundraiser on Saturday, March 5 from 11 a.m. until closing time is the family of John Kissick. Kissick is a 16-year Marathon resident, owner of Fazoli Brothers Inc., a swimming pool building business, and a five-year lunch regular at Overseas.
Kissick has undergone treatment for throat cancer over the past two months. In the absence of local options for the radiation and chemotherapy he needs, he and his wife Angelika have made the trek to and from Miami five days per week to receive the proper therapies. John’s illness, combined with his wife’s leave of absence from work to take care of her husband, have taken an obvious personal and financial toll.
“He’s part of our family here at Overseas,” said bartender and event organizer Andy Sharf. “John has become a good friend to all who know him, and you will never meet a more humble and gracious soul,” he wrote in a Facebook post announcing the event.
According to Sharf, the entire Overseas crew was immediately on board after learning about the Kissicks’ challenges. “I always ask, ‘Who’s in?’ and every single one of the bar staff steps forward,” he said. “They always enthusiastically volunteer their time and money for the benefit of those in need. They spend countless hours getting donations and setting up.”
The soon-to-be-christened John Kissick Day will see all bartenders’ tips donated to the Kissick family, along with the proceeds from a 50-50 raffle, coozie sales, and a silent auction with donations from more than 30 local vendors ranging from hotel stays and fishing charters to taxi services and restaurant gift cards. Grilling aficionados can also enter a raffle for a $2,200 extra large Big Green Egg with accessories.
Live music from Tony Manfredi from 3 to 7 p.m., the 79th Street Band from 7 to 11 p.m., and DJ FIJI from 10 p.m. until closing time will round out the day’s events, with the musicians also donating their regular payment to the cause.
Sharf’s initial efforts to promote the event on social media are already paying dividends. “Twice now in the past week, two people came in that we’d never seen before with huge checks,” he said. “They didn’t know me, and they didn’t know John. It was just neighbors helping neighbors. … The great thing about this community is that any time something bad happens, we all come together.”
A brief call with John Kissick told a story of gratitude for the Overseas staff’s generosity. “It was kind of shocking,” he said. “It’s pretty overwhelming that they’re putting all this effort into it, and I can’t thank them enough. It shows that Marathon is a great place to live.”
