Members of the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Department and the Jamestown High School varsity football team gathered at Strider Field on Tuesday afternoon to support corrections officer and Dunkirk native Tom Slate, who is battling health concerns. P-J photo by Scott Kindberg

Corrections officers from the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Department made their way to the turf at Strider Field on the city’s south side Tuesday afternoon. Present and accounted for were members of “Team Us” — Matthew Stuczynski, Kira DiDomenico, Dewayne Vanderwork, Jennifer Schuler and their boss, Sheriff Jim Quattrone.

Not in attendance, but certainly there in spirit, were fellow “team” members — officers Thomas Gilmore, Nick Loverme, Max Murray, Louis Habig, Bob Burrell, Steven Hoyt, Joshua Platt, Matt Coe, Bradley Kosierb and Tanner Delahoy, and sergeant Dale Cornell.

The men and women in blue had company in the form of the Jamestown High School varsity football team and its coaching staff. But the photo opportunity had nothing to do with the Red Raiders’ Section VI Class A semifinal against Williamsville South later this week. Rather, it was all about supporting Dunkirk resident Thomas Slate, who was diagnosed with amyloidosis in September. A 15-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Department, he also served in the U.S. Army for 25 years, including during Desert Storm.

“He’s stubborn, he’s a fighter,” said DiDomenico, who works the same shift with Slate. “He was sick, but he never blinked an eye about it. … As a co-worker, he’s just got your back, he’s a team player, he’s selfless.”

Many of those characteristics also apply to Vanderwork, who was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic renal cancer in 2019, but is back to work.

“Cancer couldn’t have picked more stubborn people,” DiDomenico said. “Here’s the thing. Dewayne was a (JHS) football (player and coach) and Tom was a drill sergeant (in the army), so when you talk about calm, cool and collected, these guys (are that way) more than anybody I’ve ever seen. … You know when they’re there, they have your back, they never budge, they never panic. They’re both just totally calm all the time. They’re leaders, both of them.”

A lifelong Jamestown resident, Vanderwork remains connected with the Red Raiders’ high school program where he was a fullback/linebacker 30 years ago.

“A lot of the players know Dewayne because he coaches West Side (in the Jamestown Area Midget Football League),” Jamestown varsity head coach Tom Langworthy said. ” … He also helped coach the freshmen for one year, and those kids are on the varsity now so they have a relationship with him. He’s a great guy.”

For the last three years, in fact, a scholarship in Vanderwork’s name — called “Gridiron Heart” — has been presented to a JHS senior in recognition of “relentless work ethic, umatched love for the game, commitment, character, teamwork and dedication.” Those qualities, friends and colleagues say, are the same core values Vanderwork shows every day, both on the field and while serving his community.

The community will have a chance to help Slate from noon to 5 p.m. Nov. 13 when a benefit is held at the Cassadaga Legion. The afternoon will include a chicken barbecue and several raffles and a Chinese auction. DiDomenico said that Slate plans to return some of the proceeds from the 50-50 to the scholarship fund created to honor his friend and co-worker, Vanderwork.

“I think the lesson the kids learned is that the team is important to the community,” said Langworthy, who noted his team is wearing bracelets that read “Slate Strong” and “Building an Army.” “It’s a big responsibility, because you have to do things the right way. It’s something we can take away from it by just paying it forward, because here’s a guy in need and he’s donating the money that comes in to another cause.”