Red Wings Come to Town for a Cause

Robert Livernois has changed many lives in the classroom and next month he hopes to use some of his hockey skills to raise funds and improve the lives of those who are battling progressive supranuclear palsy.

A St. Clair Shores native who taught in the South Lake Schools and is now the superintendent of Warren Consolidated Schools, Livernois is the one of the main organizers of a charity hockey game between the Detroit Red Wings Alumni and the Team GTJ/David Livernois' All-Stars.

The game at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 5 will bring together family, friends, former students and hockey fans to raise funds for the David Livernois Fund, which raises money to support the programs and services of CurePSP-Society for Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP).

The fund was established after Livernois' father, David, died in 2008 after a nearly five-year battle with progressive supranuclear palsy.

The first sign David Livernois was suffering from PSP was in Dec. 2003 when he accidentally fell from a small stepladder while putting up Christmas lights in the front yard of his home.

"It was about six months later as summer came around, he just wasn’t himself," Livernois said. "He did not want to garden, play golf, etc. ... things that he used to love doing."

In the months that followed, Livernois noted that his father became more lethargic and did not want to do much. He became progressively worse and had issues with balance as well as difficulty walking. It eventually led to an inability to swallow and care for himself.

As he fought the disease in late 2007, Livernois' eldest daughter Hannah came up with the idea to start a foundation to raise money for a cure. The local foundation partnered with the national foundation Cure PSP and began raising funds.

Although David Livernois lost his battle against PSP in December 2008, the David Livernois Fund continues in his honor.

Last year three former English students of Livernois—Brandon, Blake and Kyle Johnson—brought up the prospect of playing in an alumni game to raise money for the fund.

Former Red Wing Shawn Burr, who is a good friend of Livernois, along with the company owned by his former students helped support and organize the event.

Brandon Johnson, president of GTJ Consulting, LLC, a property maintenance company, began the foundation two years ago to give back to the community.

"Anytime we are able to help anyone it is very fulfilling," said Johnson, whose brothers are also executives in the company. "Taking it a step further, (Livernois) has been a longtime mentor and his father was a very special person."

Johnson, who admitted that he is excited about playing his hockey heroes, said the game will be enjoyable for the fans.

"We want to try to get as many people in the community to watch hockey. It is real competitive," he said.

As Johnson and others began to sell tickets, Livernois was touched by the efforts of his former students.

"Their generosity has simply been overwhelming," Livernois said. "As a teacher, I often wondered if I made a difference in the lives of students and if the Johnson brothers are a measurement of it, then I have done very well.  They are three of the most genuine and respectful young men you will ever meet."

Tickets are $10 each and can be purchased at www.gtjfoundation.org,
20000 Stephens; 21912 Harper;
Wolverine Lawn Equipment 26530 Harper; s 21722 Harper;
22205 Greater Mack. People can also call the GTJ office at (586) 293-9600.