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Basketball Court Dedicated To Irvington Resident Who Died On Sept. 11

IRVINGTON, N.Y. -- A basketball court in Irvington that memorializes a victim of Sept. 11 got a makeover this past weekend.

A ceremony marks the reopening of the Bobby Speisman Court in Irvington, N.Y.

A ceremony marks the reopening of the Bobby Speisman Court in Irvington, N.Y.

Photo Credit: Westchester Knicks
The The Speisman Basketball Court at Hudson Park was built in memory of a 9/11 victim. It was recently refurbished by the Westchester Knicks.

The The Speisman Basketball Court at Hudson Park was built in memory of a 9/11 victim. It was recently refurbished by the Westchester Knicks.

Photo Credit: Westchester Knicks

For Bobby Speisman who was a passenger on American Airlines flight 777 which was flown into the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001, the best legacy is a basketball court, said Tara Allison, one of his three daughters.

The Speisman family, along with New York Knicks legends John Starks and Larry Johnson were on hand for the grand re-opening ceremony.

“For my dad, basketball was more than a hobby. It was a full-blown obsession. Watching it, talking about it, dreaming about it, but most of all, playing it," Allison said. "I cannot think of a more meaningful, personal and absolutely perfect way to honor my dad’s memory than a beautiful basketball court, on the magnificent Hudson, in the town where he raised his family."

Along with the  efforts of Chase and Irvington, the Westchester Knicks refurbished and repainted the court.

The Speisman Basketball Court at Hudson Park was originally made possible by the Irvington community, Village of Irvington, and friends in Speisman's memory.

The recent project involved resurfacing the existing court, repairing existing cracks, repainting the court, and replacing damaged pole pads. 

“My dad would have been blown away by having someone like John Starks at an event for him," Allison said when her family was photographed with the athlete.

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