Connor Laverty’s legacy will live on.
The Somers Point native and former student of Bishop McHugh Regional Catholic School, Cape May Court House, was known as a fierce competitor on the basketball court. He’s also remembered fondly by family and friends for his kind heart.
“He was big on telling people that were important to him that he loved them,” said longtime girlfriend and high school sweetheart Victoria McHugh. “He always showed grace to other people.”
Laverty died in January just a few days short of his 26th birthday after a six-month battle with lymphoma and a rare immune deficiency disorder called Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, known better as HLH. True to form, Laverty always assumed he would win despite a stage 4 diagnosis combined with a potentially fatal syndrome.
“We didn’t have that at the forefront of our minds ever,” McHugh said. “For Christmas, a month before he passed away, he bought us Phillies tickets. He had every intention of being here, and we all had hope and faith that he would make it through. He just had that perspective. He had this peace of God about him. With a diagnosis like that, you’d think he’d be scared, but he was very even-keeled.”
Laverty’s confidence, along with his athleticism, made him one of the best basketball players to ever suit up at Ocean City High School and Widener University, as he was a 1,000-point scorer at both schools.
As a senior at Widener, Laverty was named the 2019-20 Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth Player of the Year when he averaged a team-high 14.1 points per game before graduating with a bachelor’s degree in history. He had aspirations of becoming a head basketball coach someday after serving as an assistant at Widener for two years.
“He was interested in history, but his main passion was basketball,” McHugh said. “He just wanted to be a college basketball coach more than anything.”
A beloved family member, boyfriend, friend, athlete and community member, Laverty will be honored with a scholarship in his name thanks to a foundation started by his parents, Tim and Trish Laverty, brother Ryan, sister Brenna, McHugh, and close friends Noah Gillian and Sean Jamison – all of whom serve on the Connor Laverty Foundation’s board.
The Bishop McHugh school also honored Laverty by renaming its Spirit Award, presented annually to an eighth-grade boy and girl.
“Connor could talk to anyone and made friends easily,” Trish Laverty wrote in the obituary. “He loved his family and was very protective of them. He loved and cherished his high school sweetheart and soulmate, Victoria McHugh. He loved God, and his faith continued to grow over time. Connor was a natural leader, and his positivity and resilience were just two of his best qualities. He made everyone around him better.
“He taught us all how to live with grace, patience, perseverance and gratitude. The best way to honor Connor and keep him close is to live these qualities every day.”
The Connor Laverty Foundation collected donations and has organized a 3-on-3 basketball tournament in Connor’s name to be held inside Ocean City High School on Aug. 3. The cost of a team of up to six players is a flat entry fee of $120. Co-ed teams are welcome. The money raised will fund scholarships in Laverty’s name and will be given to student athletes who exemplify Connor’s spirit.
The 3-on-3 basketball tournament will certainly bring about some friendly faces. Older brother Ryan will be playing. So will his buddies Gillian and Jamison, along with many others from Bishop McHugh, Ocean City High School, Widener University and beyond.
“His funeral was packed,” McHugh said. “There were literally like 400 people there. I was shaking when I read my eulogy. But to see people show up in droves is pretty amazing.
It really warms my heart to see the people that got to experience him and know him and hear the things they have to say about him. He’s my favorite topic. People think it must be so hard to talk about him. No. I love talking about him.”
The tournament is taking registrations until July 28, although it may take late sign-ups with a small late fee if there is room. Sign-ups can be made at https://tinyurl.com/mtbty6sh.
Anyone wishing to donate to the Connor Laverty Foundation can do so via Venmo to @CLavMemorialFund or to the Connor Laverty Memorial Foundation at 7 Laurel Ridge Road, Ocean View, NJ, 08230.
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