The Detective Jonathan Diller Scholarship Fund, established in the memory of the late NYPD Detective Jonathan Diller, held its inaugural kick-off fundraising event at Mulcahy’s Pub & Concert Hall (at 3232 Railroad Ave. in Wantagh, NY) on Wednesday, November 20th, 2024. The event lasted from 6:30 p.m. through 10:30 p.m.
The fundraiser drew in approximately 500 people, including Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder, Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino, and representatives from the New York Police Department (NYPD), Nassau County Police Department (NCPD), Suffolk County Police department (SCPD), and other elected officials. The Pipes & Drums of The Emerald Society of the New York City Police Department performed, as did the Joe Saladino Band. A total of approximately $70 thousand dollars was raised to directly fund annual scholarships for tuition for students at Diller’s former high school, St. Mary’s, located in Manhasset, NY.
NYPD Detective Diller lost his life in the line of duty earlier this year on March 25, when he was murdered during a traffic stop in Far Rockaway, Queens.
The event featured food, drinks, raffle prizes, live auctions, and entertainment. Nearly 50 local businesses sponsored or donated money or prizes to the fundraising effort. John Theissen ran live auction. John Murray, the proprietor of Mulchay’s, offered a special rate for use of the venue.
Raffle prizes included gift certificates and other items from a wide variety of establishments that included Bluebird Kitchen, Matteo's, Danny's Chinese, Great South Bay Music Festival, Seven Beach Lane, Kwong Ming, Saltano's, North Fork Doughnut Co., The Good Life, Dark Horse, Tap Room, American Beauty, Vin's Bake House, Carvel, Bacaro Italian Tavern, Zona Restaurant, Umberto's, Gino's Tuscany, Smoking Al's, Tavlin Market, Rejuvenate Spa, Patrizia's, Vincent's Steak House, Mercato Kitchen & Cocktails, Anthony's Kitchen & Cocktails, Laser Plus, Voodoo Crab, Calda, All American Burger, Taco Joe's, as well as VIP tickets to the Billy Joel Exhibit at the Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame.
The fund was organized and established by Larry Weinberger, President of MGD Investments, who gathered supporters and sponsors.
“Detective Diller’s dedication to police work, and his love of being a police officer, was apparent to all who knew him,” Weinberger said. “This fund will create a never-ending legacy for Detective Diller, as every year the high school Jonathan attended, St. Mary’s, will select a student(s) in need of support pursuing their education and career goals.”
Jonathan Diller’s wife Stephanie supports the effort and was there to thank everyone who attended. She spoke about what St. Mary’s meant to her late husband and her hopes for this scholarship to give students the opportunity to follow in his footsteps.
“Jonathan always talked so fondly about his time there and he always was involved in sports and was very active, and that’s what made him into the person he was,” said Stephanie. “I want the scholarship to go to someone who is just like Jonathan and to have that experience and to continue for people to become like him. We need more of Jonathan in the world.”