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When Jeremy Bannon began working in the kitchen at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, he had a typical entry-level job. Although he had been cooking in restaurants for years, he was not experienced enough to be allowed to work the grill.
Then came the night that the kitchen was short-staffed and overwhelmed by a packed house, and Jeremy was pressed into service cooking fancy steaks.
It could have ended in disaster – or at least in disgruntled customers. But "not one steak came back to the kitchen," according to his mother, Linda, and Jeremy quickly made the leap to chef.
He had a way with food and a gift for preparing it, and he loved to cook.
"I used to weigh 40 pounds more when he cooked at home," said his dad, Dennis.
On his days off, Jeremy often would cook at soup kitchens and homeless shelters.
What bothered him about working in restaurants, however, was the amount of food waste. Because of health regulations that prohibit restaurants from serving leftovers, he saw uneaten food discarded as a daily routine.
"He hated when they threw out the food at the end of the night," recalled his mother.
Jeremy found this absurd, and told his parents so. He began concocting a plan to collect restaurant extras and donate them to shelters and food pantries.
But he never got to carry out his plan. In March 2011, while walking home from work along Robious Road in Midlothian, Jeremy was hit by a car and killed.
High-energy event
Three months after his death, Jeremy's parents organized the inaugural Jeremy's Game as a celebration of his life.
For Dennis, who has been playing hockey since the age of five, gathering hockey friends for a night on the ice to pay tribute to his son – and using the proceeds to benefit Feedmore and other food banks – was a no-brainer.
"What better way to honor him?" his parents agreed.
Only a handful of spectators were in attendance for that first game. But at the ninth annual event, held June 8 at SkateNation Plus in Short Pump, the stands were packed. Attendance was estimated at more than 900.
Dennis Bannon reported afterwards that players, sponsors and fans all had positive comments, and several sponsors already have committed to next year's game. Father Rossi from St. Peter's Church told Bannon that he was "very impressed with the high energy and atmosphere."
Since that first Jeremy’s Game in 2011, the event has evolved into the Hockey Fights Hunger campaign, which funds feeding programs and provides food donations to food banks across Virginia. Two years ago, for instance, Hockey Fights Hunger collected "tons" of food at an event in Jamaica, Virginia, said Linda Bannon. The organization also sponsors regular food drives in memory of Jeremy at St. Peter's.
Pre-game ceremonies, as always, included the playing of the Canadian and American national anthems, as well as highlighting the Irish flag and anthem at center ice.
"Jeremy was very proud of his Irish heritage," his mother said.
The game also serves as a forum for honoring veterans, law enforcement officers, and others in the community who have passed away, and for presenting awards in their memory. This year's game was dedicated to the memory of 34-year-old Major Robert S. Gooch IV, and to Kerin Thomas Fleig, age 19.
The Jeremy Bannon Memorial Award, given to the person who most exemplifies Jeremy's credo of service to others, was presented to Morris Murphy. The Berke Bates Memorial Hero Award was presented to Deputy Quinn Pasi and K9 Bane of the Powhatan County Sheriff's Department.
'I'm doing your mask'
Among the players were veterans of AHL and NHL teams from far and wide, as well as pros from former Richmond teams such as the Renegades and Riverdogs.
Norm Dann, who drove up from Florida with his wife to play in the game, is a long-time friend of Dennis Bannon. Dann, who initiated the USA Hockey adult program and has been named USA Hockey Iron Man of the Year, played for only one period after driving all that way. But players and spectators were impressed just the same – considering Dann turns 82 in August.
Another friend of Jeremy's dad, who did not attend but whose letter was printed in the game program, is hockey great Vladislav Tretiak. The Russian and American met while playing against each other as teens – a game which the U.S. won 1-0 thanks to Dennis' 72 saves in goal.
Friends ever since, the Bannons traveled to Moscow not long ago to celebrate Jeremy's life and legacy with Tretiak. His letter, translated for the program, reads in part: "For those of us who were honored to have known [Jeremy], we are saddened by his death, but rejoice in what he was able to accomplish in his short life."
Jeremy's parents also cherish a special piece of Dennis' uniform that he wears when he plays. His headgear (pictured at top) features Jeremy's picture, and his friend Frank Cipra – "one of the best mask painters for the NHL," according to Linda – made it as a tribute to Jeremy.
"Frank and Dennis met at Detroit Red Wings camp when the kids were little," Linda says. "Every year we'd go back to camp, so Frank knew Jeremy growing up. And when Jeremy died, he said, 'I'm doing your mask.'
"It took him weeks."
Trick-or-treating for Africa
During breaks and after the game, Linda and Dennis Bannon reminisced and told stories about their son.
"He was six foot seven [inches]," Linda said of Jeremy. "He would come home from work with marks on his forehead from bumping into the ventilation hood."
In addition to his love for cooking, Jeremy had a passion for animals. Once, on a trip with his girlfriend, he stopped his car to rescue an abused puppy.
"He took it to the vet and spent $600 out of his pocket on that dog," said his dad, noting that the dog is now 14 and lives with the Bannons. "Jeremy was also one of the youngest people ever to become a certified trainer of assistance animals. [He qualified] while he was still in junior high."
"He was one of those people who was constantly going out of his way to help people – friends and strangers," Dennis Bannon said of his son. "He truly wanted to help his fellow man."
When Jeremy was seven or eight years old, Dennis recalled, "We were hearing about the famine in Africa. Jeremy came home from trick-or-treating on Halloween with a bucket of change. He gave it to us and said, 'Send it to Africa.'
"Jeremy was always saying, 'No one should ever go hungry.'"
Today, "No one should go hungry" is the motto of Jeremy's Game.
For details about Jeremy's Game and Hockey Fights Hunger, visit jeremysgame.org or facebook.com/hockeyfightshunger/.
