Noteable Events

Brinkerhoff Memorial - May 28, 2007
Lieutenant Governor of NY Attends Brinkerhoff Fundraising Event at Catskill Mountain Christian Center

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing”. So wrote Edmund Burke, a British Parliamentarian of the 18th century. Those words echoed through a community church in Margaretville, at a Benefit Walk and Fundraising Event for the family of slain New York State Trooper David C. Brinkerhoff . “What we are doing this evening is an important response to the tragic incident that thrust our community into the national spotlight” said event organizer, Pastor Bob Engelhardt.

The event was endorsed by the New York State Troopers Foundation and attended by a number of state and local dignitaries, most notably New York State Lieutenant Governor David Paterson and New York State Deputy Secretary Michael Balboni. Other notables in attendance were Assemblyman Cliff Crouch and wife Barbara; Michael Russo, Director of the 20th Congressional District under Kirsten Gillibrand, New York State Trooper Foundation President Rachael Mincher and NYS Troopers Troop C Commander Major Kevin Molinari. New York State Troopers Matthew Gambosi and Sgt. Timothy Pidgeon both of whom played critical roles in the April tragedy were also present.

Others in attendance were Margaretville Mayor Bill Stanton, Middletown Justice Glen George, himself a retired New York State Trooper, local retired Troopers Charles Gehrer, Jim Boyer and Lynn Bradley; Deputy Director of Emergency Services for Delaware County Steve Finch, Margaretville Fire Department officer Allen Gavette, several other Troopers and local constable Steve Williamson.

Well over one hundred people participated in the benefit walk which began at 6:00 pm at the site of the farmhouse shooting and proceeded two miles down route 30 into the Village of Margaretville, concluding at the Catskill Mountain Christian Center Chapel on Main Street. The walk was led by a Trooper car driven by Trooper Gambosi, whose life was saved by his bullet-proof vest upon first encountering gunman Travis Trim last April.

Following the walk, the benefit event started at 7:00 pm and included remarks by dignitaries, several musical selections including a bag pipe rendition of Amazing Grace, a video presentation and a fundraising appeal. There were approximately 250 in attendance, and an initial $10,000 was raised toward the trust fund. Speakers were, in order of appearance, Assemblyman Clifford Crouch, Rachael Mincher, Mike Russo, Justice Glen George, Mayor Bill Stanton, Secretary Michael Balboni, Lieutenant Governor David Paterson, Nancy Engelhardt and Pastor Bob Engelhardt.

Lieutenant Governor Paterson had these words to share “I personally needed to be here; thank you for coming together. What we need most at this time is each other’s presence--the ability to see each other and feel each other, which will help us to a path of inevitable healing.” He went on to say “I’d also like to honor all of you whose names did not get called tonight; those of you not representing a government or agency; those of you who took the time out this beautiful day on Memorial Day weekend, when there are so many things you could be doing, but you came here in the true spirit of memorialization to honor this great man, David Brinkerhoff.”

Deputy Secretary Michael Balboni recalled being present in Margaretville on April 25th. “Elliot Spitzer and I were on the phone for about seven hours that day,” he said, “and when I told him I was coming here tonight, he asked me to wish you well.” He concluded his comments by saying, “While other communities may let a tragedy like this define that community, you are defining how you respond and that will be your legacy to this incident.”

Middletown Justice Glen George, himself a retired New York State Trooper, shared these thoughts, “The gathering and support from this greater community can only be expressed in one word: outstanding. Teach your children, and your children’s children, that police officers are friends to whom they can turn to for help, whenever needed. I am proud to have been a member of the New York State Police; I’ve had the opportunity to meet men and women, committed to serve in their everyday life, as a social worker, father confessor, to those who seek their counsel and their advice; a benefactor to all in need”.

Pastor Engelhardt introduced his wife Nancy, whose father was, and five brothers currently are law enforcement professionals. “All my life I have been surrounded by law enforcement; I have been raised to honor and respect the law and the people who stand behind those titles and badges, and I have taught these principles to our five children.” She closed with remarks being directed, in particular, to New York State Trooper Gambosi, “With all my heart as a mom, a sister, a daughter, a wife, I thank you.” This was followed by thunderous applause and a standing ovation for Trooper Gambosi.

During the appeal, Pastor Engelhardt said “Our outpouring of sacrificial giving is a statement that we will not let our community bury this tragedy in the archives of our past without first rising up and answering this evil with good”. He then went on to paraphrase some lines from Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg address: “It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us, that from the spilled blood of this brave servant we take increased devotion to the cause for which he gave the last full measure of devotion…that we here highly resolve that David Brinkerhoff did not die in vain…that our community, here under God, shall have a new birth of appreciation for the principles of life, liberty, law and order, from this day forward.”

Your contributions to the Isabella Grace Brinkerhoff Foundation Trust can be submitted directly to New York State Troopers Foundation, 3 Airport Park Blvd., Latham, NY 11210. Checks should be made payable to the Isabella Grace Brinkerhoff Trust.