The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Sea of Blue flows for fallen officer
Mentor Rocks honors Mazany, fundraisers continue
Gene and Lisa Zacharyasz have been able to assist many in the law enforcement field and their families via their Berea-based business, Luna Team Shop, by providing apparel for the Sea of Blue Foundation.
The foundation got its start in December of 2014, with a rally in Downtown Cleveland that attracted more than 5,000 people in support of local police.
Since then, Gene said the business has donated more than $23,000 to officers in need or their families all over the
nation using part of the proceeds from Sea of Blue Tshirts, including tribute designs for Ohio State Trooper Kenneth Velez, Cleveland officer David Fahey, and Westerville police officers Anthony Morelli and Eric Joering — all killed in the line of duty.
“My brother is a police officer, and we have many friends that are in law enforcement,” he said. “I hope we never get ‘that call’ that those families have received.
‘We have been fortunate to meet some of these families. When we tell them how many shirts were sold, to how many states, all the comments we received and how many lives were touched by their tragedy, their appreciation is priceless.”
The company was called for help again after the
June 24 hit-and-run death of Mentor Police officer Mathew Mazany.
As of midday June 26, more than 600 orders from six states had come in for the Sea of Blue Mazany memorial T-shirts. About half the price of the $17.99 shirts goes to surviving family members through the foundation.
A limited supply of shirts will be available for purchase from 6 to 9 p.m., June 27 at Willoughby Brewing Company, 4057 Erie St. Shirts also can be obtained at the Luna Team Shop store, 113 Front St., Berea, as well as online.
Meanwhile, Mentor city leaders took the opportunity to honor Mazany June 26 at the Mentor Rocks concert at Mentor Civic Amphitheater. A brief remembrance and moment of silence were held just prior to the 7 p.m. show.
Donations were accepted throughout the evening at A memorial was placed outside Mentor Municipal Center for Patrolman Mathew Mazany.
the beverage sales stations, and all donations will go directly to Mazany’s surviving family members.
Those attending the concert — of Pearl Jam tribute band Ten — were asked to wear blue.
“This (was) an opportunity to share a moment of tribute with thousands of our community members — in person, not just on Facebook,” said Mentor Community
Relations Administrator Ante Logarusic. “We continue to mourn and yet, we all understand that life does move on.”
Other fundraisers underway for Mazany’s family include the Mathew Mazany Memorial Fund on GoFundMe, and donations are being accepted at any Fifth Third Bank.
Mazany, 41, was struck by a car at about 1 a.m. on Route 2 just east of Route 306. He was standing outside another officer’s cruiser after responding backup to a traffic stop involving a vehicle equipment violation and subsequent discovery of an arrest warrant for a passenger in that vehicle.
Brian A. Anthony, 24, of Kirtland, pleaded not guilty June 25 to charges of leaving the scene of an accident and tampering with evidence in connection the crash. He turned himself in to police at about 9 a.m., June 24, at Mentor Lagoons Marina on the advice of his father, a retired firefighter.
A preliminary hearing is set for 9:15 a.m., July 2, in Mentor Municipal Court. The third-degree felony charges each carry up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. No bond was set.
Additional charges and funeral arrangements are pending.