A swing with a smile and a sense of humor without casting blame, making excuses, or complaining is what playing Patchogue-Medford’s home golf course at The Mill Pond is supposed to be about.

That’s part of the secret for its 23-year varsity boys coach David Gervino and his reputation for establishing such an uncanny rapport with his boys embarking upon becoming men. He is known for having an attitude galvanized by inspiring his golfers to take responsibility for their own results, and their striving to improve became infectious 12 years ago when he began coaching Robert Stingo.

This is the time of year when the power of the past should humble and instill pride in its Patchogue-Medford athletic community. Nobody knows that better than Gervino.

For the past five years, the “Rounds For Robbie” outing has been launched at Mill Pond Golf Course as a scholarship and mental health fundraiser in memory of his former golfer, Robert Stingo.

Before presenting Class of 2025 senior student-athletes Ryan Bacon and Aurora Dougherty as this year’s recipients of the prestigious athletic character award and $500 scholarships per student, Gervino stepped to the podium and shared a most favorable impression, flashing back almost 12 years ago to building a most positive relationship with his most resilient athlete. “Robbie was barely tall enough to carry his own bag and had braces on both legs from countless surgeries he endured to combat the effects of the dwarfism he was born with,” Gervino said. “By the time Robbie was a senior, he was in the starting lineup and competed in [the] Suffolk County Golf Championship. Everyone who knew Robbie was better off for it, and he was the epitome of a team player.”

That’s the precise mindset that inspired a most unique union among a quality golf foursome in a way that only Robbie could appreciate. Although the tragic news of his death arrived in the fall of 2020, it didn’t take long for the Underwood family to hatch an idea that Gervino, the Stingo family, and Millpond Golf Course all collaborated on to continue the legacy of the beloved young man in the hearts of the golf and school community. 

Gervino vividly remembered how Robbie’s teammate and dear friend, Blake, and his mother, Dina Underwood, approached him with the vision of starting a memorial golf tournament as a charity event.

With the relentless efforts of retired Pat-Med teachers and Robbie’s most loving parents, Bryan and Lynn, as well as sister Kara, the tradition of this Veterans Day event was born, allowing for the Pat-Med school community to join together over a round of golf and community bonding in honor of Bryan and Lynn Stingo’s son.

“You couldn’t not love everything about Robbie,” Gervino said. “He also had a smile and great sense of humor. He was respectful, caring, and thoughtful. He could make any situation better and more enjoyable. He worked hard in every aspect of his life. As a golfer, Robbie was truly amazing and inspirational. He showed up as a freshman in braces on his legs. A lesser person would never have been able to do that. His determination was remarkable. He worked so hard to overcome so many obstacles.”

Not only has Mill Pond’s annual “Rounds For Robbie” outing continued to afford the Stingo family a means towards keeping their son’s loving spirit alive through golf, but proceeds from this endeavor have created an identity for the culture of what it means to be a Raiders varsity golf member.

Gervino applauded the efforts of the Stingo family by allowing him to select two recipients each year of this most sentimental honor. By bestowing this scholarship upon a boys and girls varsity golfer who has played for multiple seasons, developed a work ethic to the point of emerging as a completely different player by the end of their high school career, and doing it possessing a sense of humor, this is what keeps their coach coming back.

Along with girls varsity golf coach Chris Grieco, Gervino agreed that Dougherty’s consistent positive outlook exemplified Stingo’s demeanor. Considering Bacon was a four-year member of the varsity team and cracked the starting lineup as a senior, Gervino viewed him as “an obvious choice this year because of how hard he worked from freshman year until senior year.”

Because of Gervino’s inspiration, Bacon currently enjoys working at Mill Pond, has taken golf lessons, and has been admitted to Coastal Carolina’s prestigious Golf Management Program, where he will also major in marketing.

“Ryan was so raw and new to the game in the beginning,” Gervino said about his senior. “But everything he was told to do to improve, he willingly did it. He always had a smile and could joke about anything. He accepted any results with an open mind and as an opportunity to improve.  Ryan never blamed his shortcomings on anything else. He was always respectful and has great integrity and sportsmanship. Four years ago, he was not a ‘golfer.’ Now, he’s going to college for golf management.”