_________ Oceanside/island park ________
HERALD April 4, 2024
VoL. 59 No. 15
Becoming brain health experts
Easter weekend on the beach
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APRIL 4 - 10, 2024
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JCC to host Parkinson’s Wellness Fair By KEPHERD DANIEL kdaniel@liherald.com
Courtesy Andy Funk
John Klee and Andy Funk with the USTA Eastern mixed doubles team at the national tournament in Arizona.
Tennis teammates come full circle
Oceanside High alumni compete in national tourney By KEPHERD DANIEL kdaniel@liherald.com
Andy Funk, a 57-year-old Oceanside resident, made clear his unwavering passion for the game of tennis when he competed with his longtime friend and fellow Oceanside High School alumnus John Klee, 55, at the USTA League Mixed 55 and Over National Invitational tournament in Scottsdale, Arizona, March 22-24. Funk, a litigation attorney and former tennis star at Oceanside High, had made a remarkable journey back to competitive tennis after a 30-year hiatus from the sport, and a bout with cancer. Funk competed in 55-and-over mixed doubles in Scottsdale, partnering with Long Beach
resident Shanon Blue, who captained the Long Island Region team of the U.S. Tennis Association’s Eastern Section. Teams began play at the local level, and the winners advanced to play those from other regions at sectional championships, which took place last summer in Schenectady. The winners of the sectionals advanced to the tournament in Arizona. Funk and Klee’s team advanced to the national tournament after going undefeated in the sectionals last June. But a month after they advanced, Funk found out that he had head and neck cancer, and had to undergo 35 rounds of radiation and seven rounds of chemotherapy. He wound up losing 30 pounds, but made it through the treatment and made the trip to Scottsdale, where players from 14 disConTinUEd on pAgE 10
The Friedberg JCC in Oceanside is gearing up to host its first Parkinson’s Wellness Fair on April 16, helping to provide a beacon of light for individuals and families navigating the complexities of the disease. The fair, scheduled to run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., will provide patients dealing with Parkinson’s disease, as well as caregivers and healthcare professionals, with a comprehensive lineup of interactive workshops and networking opportunities. Organized by Gloria Lebeaux, JCC’s director of social work services, the event will feature a panel of esteemed speakers, including neurologists, movement disorder specialists and speech-language pathologists, who will give insights into the latest advancements in Parkinson’s research, treatment options and strate gies for enhancing quality of life. Parkinson’s disease is a chronic degenerative disorder that affects the central nervous system, causing problems with movement, mental health, sleep, pain, and other health issues. Parkinson’s usually occurs in older people, with the risk increasing with age, and people
usually develop the disease around age 60 or older. Among the featured speakers will be Dr. Fiona Gupta, a neurologist and movement disorders specialist who has been dedicated to improving the lives of Parkinson’s patients. With more than 16 years of experience in neurology and a specialization in Parkinson’s disease, Gupta’s work revolves around multidisciplinary care aimed at helping patients live well with movement disorders. In addition to a practice in New York City, she opened an office in Oceanside in January, through New York Neurology Associates, to serve patients in the Long Island area. “It has been a wonderful opportunity to see my Oceanside office and all of the Long Island presence grow,” she said. “I’m a big believer in that patients shouldn’t have to travel far to get a high-quality, good level (of care).” Gupta said she believes in providing personalized, holistic care, and expressed hope that those who attend the wellness fair will benefit greatly. “I hope they can come away with a deeper understanding as to living well with Parkinson’s disease,” she said, “come away ConTinUEd on pAgE 11