The former Mahwah High School Student Council President went into Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) at 20-years-old — two months after fracturing his spine in a car accident — and died three days later when he went into cardiac arrest.
The approximately $17,000 raised by 30 teams and 200 supporters during the Sunday morning tournament will be split evenly between the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the Dan Zolotorofe Mahwah High School Scholarship Fund.
"Having all of the people who knew him and loved him together was really nice," said Zolotorofe's sister, Alli Muser, who organized the event. Her father, David Zolotorofe, served as president of the JDRF Northern New Jersey and Rockland County chapters.
Among players and supporters were Zolotorofe's childhood friends, TKE fraternity brothers from the University of Maryland, camp friends and more.
The best parts of the day for Muser was hearing attendees' cherished moments spent with her brother.
"As his friends are getting older graduated from college and moved on it's nice to have something to bring them back together," she said.
"My brother loved all sports but basketball was probably his favorite," Muser said. "It was something he would've enjoyed — we thought that it was a good way to honor him in doing something that would've made him happy to be a part of."MORE INFO: The DZ Foundation
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