This year rather than distributing the funds raised to one individual, the committee has decided that the funds will be distributed to the entity that brought many of us all together, the Purcell Marian Cavalier Football Program. Many of us who knew Guy the best were his brothers on the gridiron. We wore the Crimson and Gold with pride, and lived up to the legend of the Hackberry Assassin with every fiber of our being. Cavalier Football was the vehicle from which many of us jumped into our strong, life-long friendships with Guy. Whether it was lining up beside him on the field, or watching Guy make tackle after tackle from the stands. For many of us, including the many Cavs before us, it is the foundation of many of the things we love so much about Hackberry Street.

What BEARFEST III Was All About

Dearest Friends & Family,

Well, my friends and family, all I can say is thank you. Bearfest III marked our final Bearfest. We always wanted to do at least three, and we did. There is already a ton of talk from other people about continuing Bearfest on a smaller level, but for now, Bearfest as we have known it, has come to an end. If (when) it returns, it will undoubtedly come in a different package.

3 years ago, a small group of us were overcome with Guy’s untimely death, and decided to celebrate his life at least once a year because, quite frankly, we refused to let his life end in vain. We are Purcell people, and he was a Purcell man in every aspect of the word; always aware that there were some things in life that were much larger than he was. Guy believed in certain things and is the “poster boy” for the phrase “don’t talk about it, be about it”.

The week following this past Memorial Day I had the long overdue opportunity to sit and just talk with “mama bear” about Guy, and what it was like for her to have to deal with us as teenagers. The many meals she made for us on Ridge Avenue, the many times she yelled at us for getting in trouble, and amazingly she remembered almost every time we did. Sue Wong (Guy’s police partner in Seattle before his death) was with us also.

Having that talk that day reinforced why I always was so close to him. Simply speaking, we grew up together. It’s probably why when we lost him, I felt like I lost my brother; and probably why some days it’s harder than others to deal with him being gone. And there are 100’s of other people who feel exactly the same way I do. Especially the group of friends we had back in the 1980’s. And it reminded me why Bearfest is so important to a number of us.

Only the group of friends we had in high school could pull off a party like Bearfest. 20 years after we all left high school; it’s really just the greatest testimony to how close we all were back then as friends, and how close we are still today where it matters, in the heart. There was just something incredible about being at Purcell from 1984-1988, and Guy was an important part of those special years..

Every October since Guy was killed, I reflect on the day back in 2006 when Patty Hank (the receptionist at Purcell) came in my office to tell me Guy had been killed, only a day after I’d just received an e-mail from him, and I still get devastated as if it just happened. Shock-anger-sadness-anger-sadness, that was pretty much the gamete of my emotions. Bearfest for me, was therapeutic, and quite honestly, a way to hopefully find peace with everything.

We always wanted to keep Bearfest a private party, making sure it never became some commercialized media circus; and I think we managed to do just that. We wanted Bearfest for the people who knew Guy, who loved him, and for all the people who never had the chance to meet him, but respected the life he lived and the things he stood for. Bearfest was about “Bear”.

Someone once asked me “man, how long you guys gonna try to do this?” I didn’t really understand what he meant by “do this”, but if he meant remembering Guy, my answer is… until the day I die. Even if it’s just me sitting on my deck by myself with a beer and a shot of Jack Daniels, every year around June; I will take a brief moment to reflect on my buddy, and have a shot for Guy Barattieri. I promised Coach Bear that at least once a year, right around June, that no matter what, he and I will always get together to have a toast to the dear friend I lost in Iraq. Not to sound too philosophical, but in all honesty, Bearfest is in the mind, and in the heart. And therefore even though, we won’t be in West Harrison again with Tents and Beer Trucks and Fireworks, Bearfest for me, will never really end. And who’s to say it may never start again one day.

With all that said, and I apologize for being so long-winded, there are a great deal of special “thank you’s “ that we must extend to the people who made Bearfest III a success. There is just no way to sufficiently and appropriately tell everyone who made Bearfest what it was, or how much you meant to the success of Bearfest; but I will take a shot at it.

Special Thanks and Appreciation to…

Vince and Gretchen Lomboy, for once again opening their property and their home to Bearfest and all the things associated with Bearfest. Not just this year, but all 3 years of Bearfest. Vince even spent days building a new fire pit for this year. Also special thanks to Maggie and Grace Lomboy for volunteering yet again this year.

Tony Adkins, who manages our Bearfest bank account and who for years, has kept all Bearfest finances in order. He, along with wife Karen Adkins, and kids have also been consistent volunteers at each Bearfest event.

Coach Bear, who once again secured the tent for our event this year from the good people at Camargo Tent, and who always arrives hours early the day of the event to help set up, and wakes up early the following day to help us clean up the site.

George Fisher of Cavalier Distributing, George, is someone who has been on board with us since day one, and who without him-Bearfest wouldn’t be what it was. Here’s to Bar Harbor Blueberry Ale, Barrelhouse Red legg Ale, and Dogfish 60 Minute Ale!! You brought a lot of happiness to Bearfest III!

Tammy Reasoner, the Director of marketing at Purcell Marian, for all her hard work getting publicity out for Bearfest III through a number of different resources.

Bill Spangler, Vinnie and Gretchen’s next door neighbor who has donated his front yard for parking and camping, and even more graciously donates his electricity every year for Bearfest.

BJ Taylor, who kept all our communications up as the webmaster of our homepage.

The good people at Arts Rental who every year donate at least one tent to Bearfest, no questions asked!

Steve Misleh and Denny Lundy of Reinhart Foods who donated burgers, brats, dogs and buns for this year’s event! Special thanks to Steve for making it all happen.

Coach Koch and Mary Lou Kern at JTM Foods for donating the JTM burgers for this year’s event, just like they did last year.

Kevin Fox and the Kevin Fox Band, who once again did an amazing Job entertaining the crowd on a beautiful afternoon in West Harrison, Indiana. Kevin was a good friend of Guy’s and has been with us since day one.

Dave Occur, our sound guy who provided all the sound equipment for Bearfest, bringing it all the way from Lawrenceburg, Indiana.

Mark Steinher, for providing and transporting the monster grill all the way to West Harrison.

The countless people who sent in donations to help offset the expenses, even though they could not attend the event this year; and to the countless other people I have undoubtedly forgot to thank. There are so many things that happen before Bearfest actually takes place, and so many people who support the cause and the event each year, that there is just no way that I remembered everyone, so I am extending my apologies in advance.

And lastly thanks to all the people who made it out to Bearfest III this year, many of whom I hadn’t seen in years, some I didn’t know at all, but all of whom I felt I was connected to somehow. Thank you everyone, thank you, thank you.

Cliff