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PITTSTON — It’s been a little over four-years since the loss of Dr. Jennifer Sidari, but the love of her family and community continues, and was evident Sunday afternoon the fifth annual Dr. Jen’s Hope Memorial Ride & Block Party at Cooper’s Banquet Facility.
Sidari was a newly degreed physician in 2013 from the charter class of The Commonwealth Medical College in Scranton when she tragically passed away just days before her pediatrics residency was to begin at Geisinger Hospital in Danville.
Jennifer’s parents, Pete and Patty Sidari, rolled up their sleeves shortly after Jennifer’s death to create a foundation in her name. The Sidaris knew how important Jennifer’s mission was to give back to the community, in particular to help children.
Over the past five years, Dr. Jen’s Hope Foundation has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars, and this year’s recipients of $5,000 each are The Children’s Advocacy of Scranton and Pediatric Health Clinic – Care and Concern Ministries, Pittston.
The day’s activities included an afternoon motorcycle/car rally, food, raffles and an evening of live music featuring Sweet Pepper & The Long Hots. Approximately 100 motorcycles participated in the run.
“The foundation as a whole is nearing — including med school — $400,000 to local charities,” Pete Sidari said.
The outpouring of support and love from the community has humbled Patty Sidari. “Just the other night, Pete and I were watching TV when the doorbell rang. He went to see who was at the door to find nobody there. He looked down and on the porch was a 40-inch flat-screen TV, a Penn State chair in a bag and other items that someone donated anonymously.”
“Obviously something of this magnitude could not be done on our own,” Patty said. “The Wyoming Valley Motorcycle Club, Paul Cooper for his generous donation of his facility, the volunteers and many more that loved Jen” have been involved.
Marise Garofalo, vice president for Institutional Advancement at the Medical College, started at the medical school just prior to Jennifer’s graduation.
“In those few short month, she stood out above just about the entire class,” Garofalo said. “When the media wanted to speak to a student from the charter class, we often used Jen because she was the poster child of what the school represented.”
Jennifer’s close friend from the medical school, Dr. Kristen Mussari, made the trip to the ride and block party, as she does each year from Pittsburgh. Prior to Jennifer’s passing, she was a bridesmaid in Mussari’s wedding.
“This event is extremely important because it’s basically trying to fulfill a lot of goals that Jen had; helping people, helping children, helping charitable organization,” Mussari said. “I think she’d be proud of it.”
“She’d be turning red. There’s no question she’d be turning red if Jen knew all this love and affection of the event was for her,” her father said.
