by Lex Thomas
A memorial golf tournament will take place on Saturday, August 20, at Cyprian Keyes Golf Club in Boylston, in memory of Ryan Matthew Brunelle, who died on May 12, 2016, of a drug overdose at the age of 27. The son of Sterling residents Marc and Tammy Brunelle, Ryan spent most of his life in Sterling, attended Sterling public schools, and graduated from Wachusett Regional High School in 2007. He later graduated from the Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering.
In addition to keeping their son’s memory alive, the Brunelles want to increase public awareness of the opioid addiction crisis that is growing throughout communities large and small nationwide. “This is an issue that we knew nothing about, but that we’ve learned affects people of all ages,” says Tammy Brunelle. She believes that those living in small, affluent communities may be especially vulnerable.
The tournament is sold out. Proceeds from the event, which will include a raffle, will be donated to Learn to Cope, a non-profit support network for individuals and families dealing with addiction and recovery (learn2cope.org.)
In our next issue, Sterling Meetinghouse News will explore the opioid addiction crisis in central Mass.