The Independent Group Home Living Program (IGHL, headquartered in East Moriches) honored Jerry Ahern as its 2002 "Golfer of the Year" at the 10th Annual IGHL Golf Classic at the Westhampton Country Club in Westhampton Beach this past week.

"I know from personal experience with my brother as one of their group home residents that the services provided by IGHL are outstanding and impact the lives of thousands of children and adults with special needs across Long Island," Ahern said. "The Golf Classic is an important source of funds for IGHL and I put all of my efforts behind it to make it successful. So much more can be done to assist developmentally disabled citizens lead happy and productive lives."

IGHL is one of the foremost nonprofit agencies for some 1300 developmentally disabled people on Long Island. IGHL, (established almost 25 years ago by a group of concerned parents in the aftermath of the Staten Island/Willowbrook scandal exposed by journalist Geraldo Rivera) offers a variety of treatment-therapeutic-training programs, a network of some 40 group residences throughout Suffolk County, and a specialized transportation system.

Jerry Ahern, who is a resident of Farmingdale, has a long association with a number of charitable causes. He has been honored as Man of the Year by the American Heart Association, Boys Town of Italy, and the Cooley's Anemia Foundation-Nassau Chapter. He is an active member of the Long Island Heart Council; Association of Equipment Distributors; Metropolitan Equipment Distributors; Nassau-Suffolk Contractors Association; Suffolk County Highway Superintendents' Association; New York Athletic Club; the Huntington Country Club; and the Cooley's Anemia Foundation.

Ahern started his professional career 55 years ago in the Parts Department of Edward Ehrbar, Inc., which sells and leases heavy-duty construction equipment and specialty equipment for construction projects. Mr. Ahern is currently chairman of the board of the company. Three of his sons work at Edward Ehrbar, Inc., which is based in Farmingdale. Ahern married his wife, Tess, in 1949, and they have a total of eight children and 20 grandchildren.