WANTAGH, NY — The legacy of Detective Jonathan Diller will bring people together on Wednesday night in Wantagh.
Mulcahy’s Pub & Concert Hall is hosting the inaugural Detective Jonathan Diller Scholarship Fundfundraising event.
Diller, of Massapequa Park, was shot and killed while on duty for the NYPD earlier this year during a traffic stop in Far Rockaway.
The $100,000 goal was established for the charity event. Money raised goes directly to fund annual scholarships for tuition at St. Mary’s High School in Manhasset, Diller’s alma mater.
Larry Weinberger of Bellmore, president of MGD Investments, organized the fundraiser. However, Weinberger did not have a personal connection to the Diller family.
“I was moved by the situation,” Weinberger told Patch. “I just waited for the family’s pain to not be as acute as it was when it first happened.”
Weinberger used his connection to Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino to reach out to Diller’s family and “they blessed it.”
The idea for the fundraiser was born out of another tragedy.
“Many years ago, when I grew up in Brooklyn, I lost a friend,” Weinberger told Patch. “We did this kind of thing for him and his high school. It still lives on today, 34 years later.”
Using that template, Weinberger found his way to honor Diller.
“He really deserves to have a legacy and never to be forgotten,” he said.
At the Mulcahy’s event, there will be food and beverages, plus raffle prizes and gift certificates from local businesses, including Bluebird Kitchen, Matteo’s and Carvel.
Admission is $65. Tickets can be purchased on MULS.com.
“A lot of fundraisers have been done for the family, and the family does need to be taken care of, but I wanted the detective Jonathan Diller’s name to always be at the forefront of people’s minds,” Weinberger said.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
