Charity Run Honorees

This year we honor a number of amazing members of the community:
Peggy and Bernie Baldinger
Helen Brown
Bob Golden
Noreen Thompson

Race in Their Name: about Charity Run Honorees

We Are Who We Are Because of Our People

This year we will honor five amazing members of the HeartShare and Buckley’s/Kennedy’s community who are no longer with us.

For the 43rd year we will take to the streets of Breezy in the name of those featured below.

Peggy (Buckley) and Bernie Baldinger were the sister and brother-in-law of Jimmy and Kathleen Buckley. They spent countless joy-filled hours with friends and family at golf outings, holiday parties, and family celebrations at Buckley’s and Kennedy’s. The annual charity run was a favorite event and they would be so honored to be part of it this year.  

Bob Golden was a Board member of HeartShare Human Services for 35 years serving for a time as First Vice Chair. He was a man of deep faith and gave tirelessly to many charitable causes of which Catholic Charities and HeartShare Human Services were closest to his heart. He loved everything Irish and was a proud member of The Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick, The Emerald Association of Long Island, The Ancient Order of Hibernians and The Saint Patrick Society of Brooklyn. 

Bob was a devoted supporter of the Buckley’s-Kennedy’s Run and Buckley’s Memorial Golf Outing every year. He always loved to attend the Family Fun Day Picnic and you could always expect to see him hanging out under the HeartShare tent smoking a cigar.   

For all his accolades, Bob was a humble man. His family and his faith were his main priorities. He is so deeply missed by his wife, Maureen Moore and his children, Katie and Bobby Golden and all those whose lives he touched along the way. 

Helen Brown was born and raised in Brooklyn. She was married to her true love Gerard for 54 amazing years and together they raised 6 children with proud Brooklyn roots. Her wonderful family and Christian faith were all that mattered.  Nothing was more important than spending time with her kids, their spouses and her 7 grandchildren. Going on vacations with the entire family each year, were the memories she cherished the most. 

Helen had a heart of gold. She truly enjoyed volunteering, always ready, willing and able to donate her time and talents. Whether it be the Jim Buckley Golf Outing or Good Shephard Church one of the highlights was always the Buckley’s-Kennedy’s Charity run. Seeing all the familiar faces, catching up with old friends and making new ones. It was a day she would not have missed. Helen would feel so proud being honored in this way. 

She lived her life to the fullest. 

Noreen Thompson was born on March 8, 1944 in Brooklyn, New York. Noreen met her husband at the beach in Riis Park and married on August 28, 1965. They built a life together, worked hard and raised the three children.  

By far, Noreen’s greatest joys in life were her grandchildren: Kyle, Erin, Ian, Colin, Nola, Finnegan, Celeste, Lauren and Sean. Each child had a special bond with Grandma. Her face would light up every time she was with them. She absolutely loved spending quality time with each one of her 9 grandchildren. She was proud of her three children, proud of her nine grandchildren, proud of her Irish heritage, and proud to be a Brooklynite.  

Noreen was also proud to be the first waitress at Buckley’s Restaurant. Her entire family followed in her footsteps and worked there throughout their lives. So many great friendships and memories were made at Buckley’s. 

Noreen and Kathleen Buckley had a bond like no other. They were like sisters who truly cared for one another. People referred to them as Thelma and Louise, they had many adventures over their 50 plus years of friendship including trips to Florida, the Hamptons and the infamous trip to Yankee Stadium.