Caleb Maeir was known by his friends and family as a dedicated friend, inspiring role model, and terrific athlete. In August, the Skokie Park District will honor his memory by renaming its most utilized baseball field, located in Laramie Park – “Caleb Field”. The ceremony will take place at 6:00 pm on August 13th.
Caleb lived the majority of his life in Skokie, attending pre-school, elementary and high school in the village. He was an avid sports player, with a special love for baseball. In 2015, Caleb’s cancer diagnosis spurred friends, family, and the greater Skokie community to mobilize in support, forming “Team Caleb”. Over the next two and a half years, Team Caleb raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for cancer research and various charities across the United States and in Israel. In December 2017, Caleb passed away at the age of 19.
The request to rename the field was issued by community members at the Skokie Park District Board of Park Commissioners’ February meeting. Close friend of Caleb’s family, Ezra Jaffe, referred to the Park District’s criteria for naming parks: “In cases where individuals have provided exceptional contributions and/or service to the District, the Board may, at its discretion, officially name a facility or area within a park, or the Park itself, after an individual or group of people.”
In-person and video testimonials made by former coaches, teachers, relatives, and close friends at the meeting described Caleb as an inspirational young man who exhibited the true meanings of sportsmanship and dedication to his team. “Any baseball player with even half the heart of Caleb Maeir will surely succeed,” said Elisha Rosenblum, Caleb’s former teacher. “His bravery inspired his friends and people all over the world to keep on fighting.”
The request for Caleb Field was unanimously approved at the Commissioners’ July board meeting. The project will include a plaque and full baseball scoreboard donning the field’s new name.
“To have this field named in Caleb’s memory is really something I can’t put into words,” said David Maeir, Caleb’s father. “I am so thankful to everyone who assisted in this process. I know that Caleb will be looking down at that pitcher’s mound every single game and I just hope that some of his incredible qualities rub off on each person who uses the field.”
The dedication of Caleb Field will take place August 13th at 6 pm at Laramie Park in Skokie (Niles Center Road north of Touhy). The unveiling of a dedication plaque will be followed by softball games and refreshments. The ceremony will be hosted jointly by the Skokie Park District and Team Caleb, and is open to the entire community. For more information about Caleb Field and Team Caleb contact Ezra Jaffe at [email protected].
Team Caleb was founded in 2015 to show support for Caleb Maeir during his two and a half year battle with cancer. Since its inception, the group has raised several hundred thousand dollars for charities across the United States and in Israel. Inspired by Caleb’s passion for sports, Team Caleb is currently raising funds to purchase sporting equipment for children in underprivileged communities. For more information and to donate, email [email protected].
