‘A life well-lived’

Erling Speer was a successful athlete, businessman and philanthropist, and despite his passing this summer, his legacy will live on.

The American Seniors Golfers Association – a group that represents more than 500 seniors across the country – announced that it has donated $10,000 to The First Tee of The Treasure Coast in Speer’s memory. After his successful venture in developing Mariner Sands Country Club in the late 1970s and Willoughby Golf Club in the late 1980s, Speer, a longtime resident of Stuart, made his mark on local youth as one of the founding members of The First Tee of The Treasure Coast and the Boys & Girls Club of Martin County.

“We are honored to have received this donation in Erling’s memory,” said Carl Mistretta, executive director of The First Tee of The Treasure Coast. “These funds are critical for us to deliver the Life Skills program to our communities and make a positive impact on Martin County students. “The donation was big,” said Mistretta, who noted the larger donations are typically are $500 to $1,000. “It probably funds two programs for a year. That is a serious impact. You are talking about 100 spots. It was a total surprise.”

“During our meetings and trips, Erling would beam when he spoke to his friends and golf colleagues about the work of The First Tee of The Treasure Coast. He was proud of what they did, and we could not think of a more deserving group for which to bestow this Charitable Trust gift.” Ken Auerbach, chairman of the ASGA Charitable Trust

One of his lasting impacts, Mistretta noted, was the partnership that Speer developed between The First Tee chapter and the local Boys & Girls Clubs. Mistretta said when Speer came on board with the First Tee in 2012, he connected the organizations.

“We were essentially working with every Boys & Girls Club in Martin County,” Mistretta said. “We ended up funding a coach (Mary Lois Altman), and her job was to go to the clubs, meet the kids, pick the kids up and bring them to golf course, teach them, give them something to eat and bring them back to the clubs to be picked up by the parents … I don’t know of any other chapter in the country that has done anything like that. That was all because of him and we still do that today.”

“Erling was dedicated to youth development and the children of Martin County,” said Andrew Hunt, president of The First Tee of The Treasure Coast. “He always inspired us to continue to grow and evaluate our programs and impact on the community to continually improve.” The donation will help provide the Life Skills program to more than 500 local youth and expand the First Tee National School Program, which reaches nearly 7,000 students in 14 Treasure Coast elementary schools.

“During our meetings and trips, Erling would beam when he spoke to his friends and golf colleagues about the work of The First Tee of The Treasure Coast,” said Ken Auerbach, chairman of the ASGA Charitable Trust. “He was proud of what they did, and we could not think of a more deserving group for which to bestow this Charitable Trust gift.” Upon hearing the news, Speer’s wife, Susie, reached out to the ASGA Charitable Foundation.

“Erling’s love of golf and his desire to help others was a perfect fit for The First Tee,” Susie Speer said. “This philanthropic donation to that organization will open up opportunities for many young children and honor a man we were all blessed to have known and who made a difference in the lives of many. “There is no greater testament to a life well-lived.” sportscom5@aol.com

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