Jersey boys hang together, and that bond only intensifies when both belong to the Trinity-Pawling brotherhood. Varsity hockey captain Tyler Fogu ’22 hails from Bayonne, New Jersey, and he learned of a HALT ALS fundraiser at Codey Arena in West Orange, New Jersey in November. “It was a hockey game with former NHL players, teammates, friends, and celebrities who all know Chris Tschupp ’90, and they came together to support his cause. I decided to create a similar event here at Trinity-Pawling this winter.” That evolved into Tyler’s Senior Independent Project. “Chris was a standout athlete at Trinity-Pawling and a fellow New Jersey guy, so I wanted to do whatever I could to help him out.”
Standout athlete indeed. Named an All-American prep school hockey player in 1990, the left-winger from Toms River, New Jersey was drafted to the Calgary Flames that same year. He delayed his professional hockey career for a few years to play at Notre Dame. However, the NHL lockout in 1994-95 altered his plans further, and Chris spent two years in the East Coast Hockey League.
What happened in 1996 is the stuff of fairy tales. Chris left hockey and spent the next 20 years as a world-famous model working for all the big names: Calvin Klein, Versace, Ralph Lauren, Armani, Rolex, Land Rover. The list goes on and on. Then came an acting career along with writing for television and film.
What happened in 2019 is the stuff of nightmares. Chris was diagnosed with ALS (aka Lou Gehrig’s disease); doctors gave him two to five years to live. But anyone who knows Chris Tschupp knows he’s a fighter, and he has spent the last three years battling the odds and fighting the as-yet incurable disease. He has committed to experimental therapies and is determined to raise awareness and funds to combat ALS.
Here on campus, Tyler Fogu reached out to the HALT ALS organization in early winter who helped him orchestrate an event held on Saturday, February 19, as the Trinity-Pawling icemen faced (and trounced) Hotchkiss. A number of Chris’s classmates showed up, including Pat Cook, Wayne Conlan, and Tommy Seitz. “Mr. Foster and Coach Gillman arranged for special red jerseys with ‘Tschupp’ on the back,” Tyler explained. “Our players wore the jerseys, and people could buy a jersey as well. HALT ALS staged a silent auction and had sports memorabilia for sale, with funds going to support the organization.”
“Before the puck drop, we wheeled Chris out onto the ice during the national anthem. He was really moved. During the game, we could see him smiling like crazy and giving us fist pumps. Chris and I have communicated through emails since the event, and he was really appreciative of what we did. I guess I’ve learned through Chris that you need to live each day like it’s your last.”
As for Chris Tschupp, he’s looking forward to returning to campus later this spring to attend a lacrosse game and mini-reunion organized by his brothers in the classes of 1990 and 1991. So if you see a smiling gentleman in a wheelchair proudly wearing his Trinity-Pawling gear, stop by and give him a fist bump. Whether you’re from the Garden State or not.
by Maria Buteux Reade
For more information about Chris Tschupp, or to donate to his cause, visit GoFundMe/Fight with Chris Tschupp to Halt ALS.