Oscar Gorbet remembered for his MDA fundraising, smiling personality

Although many are mourning the loss of Oscar Gorbet, he will be remembered in a shining light by the hundreds of adults and children he impacted through his charitable work across Livingston County. Gorbet, from Pontiac, passed away on Nov. 23 at his home with his family by his side.

Gorbet will be remembered for tireless volunteer work with various groups and organizations in Livingston County. Gorbet could be seen at Fairbury Speedway on Saturday nights with his bucket in hand collecting donations for MDA. Known for his kindness and selflessness, Gorbet would walk the speedway from the time the gates open and until the checkered flag waved for the final race, as race teams, officials and fans would drop their money into his bucket.

In his 12 years of working for “Oscar’s Kids,” he was responsible for raising more than $176,000.

Christopher Rhoads of Rhoads Racing Promotion was an ardent supporter of Oscar and his fundraising drive. Traveling with his racing simulator at various festivals and tracks, Rhoads would place a bucket nearby for everyone to drop their change. Rhoads found inspiration in seeing Oscar walking from the front stretch to the backstretch at Fairbury.

“I always said Oscar adopted all of us as part of his cause when he invited me to join him for a fundraising event he did at Casey’s in my first year of promotions,” recalled Rhoads. “It was an honor to be trusted with one of his buckets each week when we were at the race track.

“Oscar was the largest individual donor to the area MDA camp. I will always remember at the end of a race night, he would come to the backstretch and I would dump my bucket into his. No matter how much or how little it was, he would say that every bit counts.”

Fairbury track champion Mike Spatola was a big supporter of the MDA and fondly remembers Oscar always smiling and loved to put a smile on others.

“Oscar radiated joy,” Spatola said. “He loved the kids at MDA so much and loved to bring joy to them. To Oscar, it wasn’t about how big the check was, it was being able to see first-hand what his contributions were able to do.

“I was able to go to the camp with Oscar one year and he was so happy to be there and see the kids enjoying themselves. That one week at camp they can be kids and not think about their sickness is what Oscar did it all for. He inspired me to help others and taught me that some of my worst days really are not bad at all. I am going to miss his fist bumps as soon as I pull into the track, our conversations, the phone calls, and hugs in victory lane.”

Boy Scout Troop #1870 will carry on Oscar’s commitment to raising funds for the Muscular Dystrophy Association at the Fairbury Speedway during the 2023 race season. Christopher Rhoads will continue to carry one of Oscar’s buckets wherever he has his racing simulator set up or donations can be sent to MDA.org.