BY TALI ISRAELI
Staff Writer
MARLBORO — Randi Glassman, a Marlboro High School student, recently organized a walk-a-thon in memory of her late employer Gary Berg.
Berg was 36 when he lost a 16-month battle with brain cancer on Sept. 23, 2004. He was the owner of Gary’s Name Brand Shoes in the A&P shopping center at Route 520 and Route 79.
Randi said the shoe store was one of the oldest retail businesses in Marlboro, having been passed down to Berg from his parents, Carol and Stephen.
The walk-a-thon was held on May 15 at the Marlboro Recreation Com-munity Center and raised $5,000 for the Tumor Immunotherapy Program at Columbia University, New York. Randi said about 150 people, including friends and family of herself and Berg, participated in the walk.
“He had a tight group of friends,” Randi said.
Businesses including Bagel World of Manalapan and Marlboro, Bagel Talk of Marlboro, Wawa of Manalapan and Sorento’s of Avenel donated to the cause as well.
Randi said she began working at Gary’s in March 2003 after her family had been a customer of Berg’s since she was a child. She said the road to organizing the walk-a-thon wasn’t easy, but she did it for her boss, who she said was a great man.
“Gary was known throughout Marlboro as a terrific salesman and a one-of-a-kind individual,” Randi said.
She recalled times when Berg would bring his guitar to the store and play for customers, as well as how personable he was with children who came into his store. He was frequently accompanied to work by his dog, Monty, who roamed the store making friends with all who entered.
Berg was the author of a book which chronicled his experiences as the owner of an independent retail operation.
In the weeks leading up to a new school year, Gary’s was a whirlwind of activity as youngsters and their parents packed the store in search of the latest fashions in footwear.
Randi said that when Berg died she believed the situation was so tragic that she had to do something to make it better.
She said it was heartbreaking to see her boss of such a young age die, so she planned the walk in his honor. Randi said she also did it for Berg’s parents, who thanked her at the event for her support.