The Masons of the Matinecock Lodge in Oyster Bay presented one of their members with a check for $4,000 to help with expenses incurred when he donated half his liver to his infant daughter.

One year ago, on Oct. 10, 1997, James Rizzitello was operated on and his daughter, Marissa Ann, was given half his kidney. His daughter was born with biliary atresia: the bile ducts in her kidney were damaged. As a result she couldn't clean out her blood and needed a transplant.

"It grows back. It's the only organ that does," said Mr. Rizzitello, who was relating the medical information. "Before, I knew nothing. Now I know everything," he said. "After eight weeks it grows back."

His only reminder of the surgery is his scar. "It's the longest incision. It runs down my chest with a second incision perpendicular to that. When I stretch I'm sore." he said.

Mr. Rizzitello, a Ronkonkoma resident, was out of work for five months after the surgery. "He wasn't going to bring it up to the lodge," said his friend Mike Fontanetta of Malverne. He was the mason who informed the group of the need.

A Major Effort

Al Ludlam a Mason for 43 years took on the job. He, with the help of Bert Yberg, secretary of the Matinecock Masonic Lodge, sent letters to their members.

Mr. Ludlam said, "I made up a letter that was mailed out to the about 150 to 200 members of the lodge, that have retired and moved all across the United States.

"One of those members - Mr. Scott Porter, now of California, got the letter and as soon as he read it, he called me. He asked what the initial cost of the dinner was and I estimated it at $300. He said, 'I would like to underwrite it in honor of my wife who just died, (three months before,) of liver cancer.'

"Then I started to get other donations. On a good dinner, I can raise $3000, this one far surpassed my expectations. Masons from all over the US sent donations. There are about 200 members, still alive, not active and about 50 active members.

"But they have been inducted into the Masonic ritual. I got notes from people saying "I now live in North Carolina, but I would like to be a part of it.' That's what Masonry is all about, helping your fellow man. That's

why I joined years ago. It stands for everything that is good in life."

Mr. Ludlam said there was a tremendous downpour on the night of the dinner, but "They came out. They know if I do it, it will be a good dinner. I enjoy doing it. When it's something you enjoy, you do it well," he said.

"I couldn't be more thrilled. But, only through the help of all the people involved, was it a success. Florence and I worked on the project, but without the help of others, it is just not going to work!"

Lots of Help Was Needed

He credited the help of Mrs. Susan Warren and Mrs. Barbara Aasheim who helped them in the kitchen of the Community United Methodist Church of East Norwich. "In dinners I have done before, they did salads. They saw we needed help. They're not affiliated with the Masons, but they came at 3:30 p.m and stayed till 9 p.m. They helped in every way, which I thought was tremendous."

Mr. Ludlam also had help in making the preparations for the dinner and in serving it. The other helpers were: Carl Jackson, Bill Thompson and Louis Thompson, Jim Petrie, Mr. and Mrs. Ted Haarke, Frank Sant'Angelo, Richard Downing and Randy Daub. They helped prepare, serve and clean up after the dinner.

The funds are for the James Rizzitello family whose brand new baby was born with a malfunctioning liver, said Mr. Ludlam. She was put on a waiting list for a donor, but she came to the point that she couldn't wait. She was in the Children's Hospital in Philadelphia. That was when her dad gave her a part of his liver. The problem for him is that he is a New York City police officer, and his medical coverage ran out. Mr. Ludlam said the medical procedures "put him $300,000 in hock. I was asked what can we do for the worthy person. As they know, I am a fund-raiser."

Many People to Thank

Mr. Ludlam said, "Everyone worked, some more than others. But it was one of the most heart warming things. Barbara Aasheim and Susan Warren were the greatest. They showed compassion. That's what life is all about," he said.

"Linda Gier made all the cakes we served as dessert. Anything she makes is absolutely delicious. She made different sheet cakes. She is a gourmet cook. She wouldn't let us pay her for the materials.

"Mason Larry Entenmann donated all the salad greens, potatoes and vegetables from his business, Vegetable Power. He is a past master of the lodge.

"Altogether it was a great effort and a wonderful thing to get done. Something we can do that shows that we care.

Those words were echoed by Ed Yberg, Worshipful:. Master:. of the Matinecock Lodge when he said "It was something we were glad to do. That's what masonry is all about. We try to respond as best we can."

Al Ludlam was unable to attend the meeting when the check was presented to Mr. Rizzitello. He was at a reunion in Nashville, Tennessee for one of the ships he was on in WWII, that he had previously arranged. "I wanted to be there to see some old buddies," he said.

Today, Marissa Ann Rizzitello is doing fine. "She eats with both hands, like there's no tomorrow for her. She's a real Rizzitello," said "uncle" Mike Fontanetta.