Lysander — On Nov. 10, 2005, Bobby Conklin was on his way to hockey practice when he lost control of his car and crashed into a swamp on Hencle Boulevard. Conklin, 17 and a senior at C.W.
Baker High School, was killed. He left behind his parents, Bob and Annette Conklin, a brother, Colin, and countless friends who still miss and remember him a decade later.
Now, some of those friends are lobbying to name an area landmark in his memory. Next Saturday, Nov. 14, Conklin’s friends will hold a fundraiser at the Lysander Ice Arena. They aim to $25,000 to purchase naming rights for Rink No. 1, Baker’s home rink, in hopes of renaming it the Conklin Memorial Rink.
Leah Paige, a close friend of Conklin’s who attended Baker with him, is one of the fundraiser’s main organizers. She remembers him as a “class clown with a warm heart.”
“He was always on the mission to live life to the fullest,” Paige said. “Losing him was one of the hardest things in my life, and it affected so many people. It was a tragedy that created a ripple effect across the state. But the community came together for his family and friends with support and comfort during those tough times.”
Paige is hoping for that same community support now as she and others who loved Conklin acknowledge the 10-year anniversary of his death.
“We felt like we owed him tribute, and what better place to honor him than the Baldwinsville hockey team’s home ice?” she said.
Conklin’s loved ones have started a GoFundMe page to raise the money to purchase the naming rights. Of the $25,000, a little over $1,100 had been raised as of Nov. 7.
The fundraiser will take place from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, at the Lysander Ice Arena, 2725 W. Entry Road in Radisson. It includes an open skate from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., a 50/50 and other raffles from local businesses and drink specials and food at the bar. Admission is $3 at the door; public skate is an additional $7. The event is open to the public. All proceeds will go towards the Bobby Conklin GoFundMe page. For more information on the event, visit Facebook.com/events/154352468251919/.
Additional donations can be made at the Bobby Conklin Memorial GoFundMe page at gofundme.com/ConklinMemorial.
