If you’ve won a golf trophy in Northeast Ohio at any time over the last 70 years, there is great chance that a “GINO’S” sticker sits on the bottom of that hardware.
Gino P. Zavarella, the man who originally started Gino’s Awards way back in 1950, passed away on Tuesday, March 10that the age of 92.
Through the hard work of Gino and his son, their highly-successful Zavarella family business will continue its trajectory. But the world has lost a selfless man. A genuine man. A great man.
People who stopped into his expansive shop on the border of Cleveland and Warrensville Heights to pick up a plaque or trophy knew they were also coming in for a story, a conversation. Sitting and talking with Gino was a treat, as he had a great outlook on life and loved to talk about you, not himself.
“I first came to know Gino back when I was still an assistant at Lakewood,” said Robb Schulze, CEO of the Northern Ohio Golf Association. “Golf writer George Sweda did a story in the Plain Dealer on the three left-handed assistants at Lakewood. A few days after it ran, without anyone asking, Gino sent each of us a plaque etched with that story and our photo. It was a great gift, totally unexpected.”
Those types of gifts marked the true nature of Gino. Yes, he was a successful businessman, turning a small engraving business into a national awards and jewelry company. But he was extremely generous with his success, donating trophies and awards to a number of junior golf events, and to many other worthwhile endeavors in and out of sports.
But it was more than just business donations. Once Gino took a personal interest in you, the gift of conversation often turned into gifts about your interests. Books, puzzles, other things that he enjoyed, Gino always wanted to share.
For many years, Gino ran a charity golf outing, a pro-am to benefit the Boys Town of Italy. He ran it along side NOGA Hall of Fame member Eddie Preisler. The event was played at both Walden and Acacia, and the two of them would recruit tour pros to attend, bolstering the money raised for Boys Town. That event and the charity it generated was a source of pride for Gino.
And because the property he owned for his business had several buildings on it, Gino was the landlord of the Northern Ohio PGA Section Offices in Warrensville Heights for 18 years, too.
For all of his ties to the game of golf, Gino was a made an Honorary Member of the Northern Ohio PGA, a designations both sides cherished.
“He will be deeply missed,” said NOPGA Executive Director David Griffith. “He was one of those rare members of our community who positively impacted every life. Meet him once and you had a lifelong friend.”
Gino loved to sit with his many visitors swapping stories about life experiences. As time passed, those sessions became more and more important to him. But the world moves fast, and every conversation has to end at some point. When his guests would start saying their good byes, Gino would always wrap up a visit in the same way.
“Okay, babe, see you later,” Gino would say, smiling and shaking your hand as you left.
Indeed, we will see you later, Gino. For a long time to come.
Through your name on the bottom of our trophies.
And likely on the walls of the Hall of Fame.