The John Welch Classic

To really understand why this tournament matters, it's important to know who John Welch was and what he stood for.

John was all about family, friends, and community. He was the most loving husband, father, friend, brother, and uncle—someone who always showed up when it mattered. He spent his career doing what he loved: teaching, working with the Boston Red Sox, and helping out at LoConte Rink in Medford. He also gave a lot of his time to our parish, always ready to help wherever he could.

John believed that life wasn't about being the best—it was about trying your best. That was his motto, and he lived by it every day. He encouraged everyone around him, especially his kids, nieces, nephews, and students, to do the same. He had a way of making you feel like everything was going to be okay, even in tough times.

In November 2016, everything changed—John was diagnosed with ALS. He faced it with incredible strength and courage, teaching all of us how to live with grace, even when things got hard. During that time, we were introduced to Ron Hoffman, the founder of Compassionate Care ALS (CCALS). Ron came into our lives with so much heart and kindness, asking simply, “How can I help?” He was there for us in ways we never expected, and CCALS supported us through every step of John’s journey.

This golf tournament is our way of honoring John and giving back to CCALS for everything they did—and continue to do—for families like ours. It’s about celebrating John’s spirit and helping others going through the same battle.