Gina Elens thought it would an appropriate, small tribute to her dad.
It's turned into something bigger.
Elens originally bought 14 caps for the members of two age-group rowing teams which include the grandchildren of her father, Sandy Greeley, who was synoymous with rowing in Portugal Cove. Greeley, the Royal St. John's Regatta Hall of Famer, died in January of this year at the age of 76..
The dedication on the caps read "In Memory of Sandy Greeley."
But while the intention was that the hats would be limited to the members on the two youth teams, they proved to be so popular with rowers and others associated the Regatta that Elens has ordered 10 dozen more hats to be imprinted by Ultagraphics so as to meet the demand..
Five of Greeley’s grandchildren are preparing to row in the St. John’s regatta this year. They are Gina's daughter, Samanatha Elens ,and Jessica Greeley of the Pyramid Construction team, Dennis Greeley of the Kids Campus male squirt entry; Bradley White of the Wade’s Excavating senior men’s team and Samantha Hynes of the Harvey’s Home Heating senior women’s crew. As well, Sandy Greeley’s two sons are coxswains — Kevin with Pyramix Construction and Robert with Kids Campus. Kevin Greeley is also part of the Wade’s Excavating team.
