Libertyville District 70 to Officially Retire Tony Borcia's Jersey Number

For the first time in its history, Libertyville Elementary District 70 will retire a jersey number next month.

The No. 7 basketball jersey of Tony Borcia, who was killed in a boating accident last summer, will officially be retired during a special ceremony March 6. The ceremony will be held at 5:30 p.m. at Butterfield School, where Borcia would have been a fifth-grader.

The ceremony will be held during a basketball tournament at the school.

"The tournament is part of the school district's intramural basketball session, where fourth and fifth grade boy and girl teams from the four elementary schools play against one another," according to information provided by the district. The tournament will start at 3:15 p.m.

"Tip Off for Tony" t-shirts will be sold, with proceeds going toward a memorial contribution in Borcia's memory.

Tentative details of the courtside ceremony call for an introduction by physical education teacher Pat Krech, followed by a special cheer for Borcia by the school cheerleaders, said District Spokeswoman Robin Smith Kollman. Then, Borcia's family will be introduced, and a slideshow will be shown. The school choir is expected to sing "When I Close My Eyes" by Jim Papoulis, and then Borcia's jersey No. 7 will be retired. Fifth grade teacher Amy Roberts will talk about memorial donations, Kollman said, and the choir will sing again.

The ceremony will be followed by the fifth grade boys Butterfield Green versus Butterfield Gold basketball game.