In the heart of our community, where stories of resilience, hope, and loss can intertwine, Joseph’s story of his brother Vinnie’s journey with liver disease is one he wants everyone to hear. After facing the challenges of liver disease, Joseph transformed his brother’s personal battle into an event aiming to remember Vinnie and to support others in the fight against liver disease.
At 48 years old, Vinnie was a healthy father of two boys, Dante and Nico. Married for over twenty years to his high school sweetheart Rita, Vinnie grew up in a family of four – a close knit Italian family where relationships meant everything and time spent together was part of who they are. Close from a young age, Joseph looked up to Vinnie, admiring his older brother who was bright, warm, always there for his family, and a happy guy who everyone loved.
In the fall of 2022, as a man in his late forties, Vinnie headed off to the Dominican on vacation. After receiving a call that something was wrong with Vinnie while on his trip, Joseph acted quickly to organize trip details to bring his brother back home. Arriving jaundiced and swollen, Joseph spent three days convincing his brother that he needed to see a doctor after returning. Vinnie was checked into a hospital in Toronto to receive testing which would reveal that his liver was in a state of failure. This testing also confirmed that Vinnie was positive for viral hepatitis A. While Vinnie’s family considered him a social drinker, none considered his alcohol use excessive. After being treated at Sunnybrook for seven weeks, Vinnie was told that his liver wasn’t strong enough to recover.
On November 26, 2022, the Curcio family lost a great man, brother, father, husband, and friend. To keep his brother’s vibrant memory alive not just within their family but their entire community, his brother Joseph started Vinnie’s Memorial Golf Tournament. This memorial event recognizes the need for increased awareness and support for liver health. Additionally raising funds for Liver Canada, this event unites individuals passionate about making a difference in the realm of liver health and providing hope to the 1 in 4 Canadians affected by liver diseases.
For more information on liver disease, visit this page. To register for Vinnie’s Memorial Golf Tournament, head to the link or donate directly to Liver Canada here.
