Letter to Mr and Mrs Granoff from Scott Nelson

Letter to Mr and Mrs Granoff from Scott Nelson

 
 The following is a recent letter from Scott Nelson, Brown University alumni from 1976 football team, to Mr and Mrs Martin Granoff, who made a $1.4M donation to open the Brown University perpetual scholorship in the name of Chuck.


Dear Mr. and Mrs. Granoff:

As co-captain of Brown's 1976 Football Team and a friend of Charlie Margiotta, I want you to know how very appreciative my teammates and I are for your extraordinarily generous gift to Brown University's scholarship endowment in honor and memory of Charlie. In early September, Charlie had participated in a planning meeting for the 1976 Team's 25th Reunion and Hall of Fame induction, and just prior to September 11th, he personally had called two dozen of his classmates from our team and encouraged them to return to Brown for the Reunion and Hall of Fame celebrations. Needless to say, we all were deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Charlie and so many others, our Reunion in this sense was bittersweet. The large turnout for our celebration, however, provided us with a special opportunity to remember and honor Charlie and also to support his family and fellow firefighters during this difficult time.

On November 6th, I attended Charlie's memorial service at the Church of Saint Rita on Staten Island. The standing-room only crowd and the two hours of eulogies following the Mass were wonderful tributes to a unique individual and true American hero. Whether he was playing football, fighting fires, helping neighbors, being a dad, or organizing youth sporting teams, Charlie poured positive energy, enthusiasm and compassion into every endeavor he undertook. And, as you know, even though he was off duty on September 11th, he voluntarily rushed to the World Trade Center scene and made the ultimate sacrifice in a valiant effort to save so many others.

Those of us who had the pleasure of knowing Charlie will never forget him. At the same time, your extraordinary donation in honor and the memory of Charlie will remind the University community in perpetuity of his heroic spirit, while providing scholarship support for the sons and daughters of police and firefighters from across the nation. Such support over the years will undoubtedly open the doors of a Brown education to many outstanding young people who, like Charlie, will make the most of their Brown experience, while contributing significantly to the University and the broader community beyond college.

I know the Margiotta family is deeply touched by your overwhelming beneficence. Please know the 1976 Brown Football team also is most appreciative of and grateful for this fabulous recognition of our teammate and dear friend.

Sincerely,
Scott A. Nelson



 
 
 

 
 
 Scott A. Nelson