'Inlet2Inlet' 5th Annual Beach Cleanup Celebrates Life Of Cory Hubbard

Community Corner

'Inlet2Inlet' 5th Annual Beach Cleanup Celebrates Life Of Cory Hubbard The event, which carries on Cory Hubbard's light, also raises funds for Dana Barrett, an East Quogue woman paralyzed in a diving accident.

— Everyone who knew Cory Hubbard will forever remember his bright smile and passion for life.

Cory, a Westhampton Beach athlete and adventurer who was just 22 when he struck and killed by a drunk driver 10 years ago while away at college in Maryland, leaves a legacy of love that continues to shine. And his parents Holly and Ralph, as well as his brother Kyle, have joined hands and hearts to ensure that his spirit lives on, helping others in need in the community through the Live Your Cor Foundation.

To that end, Inlet2Inlet, a local not-for-profit organization, which is focused on preserving and restoring coastal ecosystems while fundraising for local causes, presents the 5th Annual Inlet2Inlet Beach Cleanup & Fall Fair this weekend.

The event takes place on Sunday, October 23 from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m on the Great Lawn in Westhampton Beach and on Dune Road..

Funds raised at the event will also benefit Dana Barrett of East Quogue who was paralyzed in a diving accident in 2019.

"Join us for a day of unity, fun, and making a positive impact as Live Your Cor, Dana Barrett Strong, and Relic team up for this annual event," organizers said.

Participants will be assigned to clean more than 15 miles of coastal beaches, from Hampton Bays to West Hampton Dunes. Registration begins at 11 a.m. on the Great Lawn, followed by the trash weigh-in at 3 p.m., and the Fall Fair from noon to 5 p.m.

Guests can enjoy live music, raffles, and food trucks, plus local craft beer from Westhampton Brewery. The Fall Fair will feature local artists, vendors, and fun for the whole family, including an inflatable obstacle course, pumpkin painting, face painting, a dunk tank, and carnival games.

Raffle baskets, a silent auction, and foundation merchandise will be available to support the causes.

The funds raised will support various initiatives, including beach cleanups, educational outreach, and habitat restoration projects.

"As a community-driven organization, Inlet2Inlet aims to inspire local action in preserving the vital ecosystems that protect both our natural environment and our economy. The collaboration between the Live Your Cor Foundation and Dana Barrett Strong ensures that the memory of Cory Hubbard and Dana Barrett live on through positive action," organizers said.

For additional details and registration information,.

Days after they heard the most heartbreaking news any parent could ever have to bear, Cory Hubbard's mother and father reflected on his beautiful life .

"He was a very special boy," his mother, Holly Hubbard, said. "He was fun, easygoing, the life of the party. He always seemed to have a smile, and was always joking."

"He was put here to make people's lives better, to give love and take love. That was his role, God's mission for him. And we're so lucky to have had him," his father Ralph Hubbard said.

Their son, Hubbard said, loved to travel and enjoyed family trips to national parks across the country, including Zion and Bryce National Parks, the Rocky Mountains and the Bandelier Monument in New Mexico, exploring the mesas where pueblo cliff dwellers once lived.

"We were touring these ancient civilizations in the United States and he was this little kid, climbing on rocks," his dad remembered.

The young man took his penchant for travel and pursued it as a young college student, seeing Alaska, and spending a semester in Australia and traveling to New Zealand, his father said.

"He said it was the trip of a lifetime," Hubbard remembered, his voice breaking with grief. "He was his inquisitive self. He always loved to travel."

Scores of friends shared their memories of their son, an athlete, a scholar, and a kind-hearted young man who touched the lives of so many.

"His college roommates were interviewed and said he was a peacekeeper," Holly Hubbard said. "He was the one always keeping everyone in check, as a lacrosse goalie, the one that gave everyone support on the field."

The Hubbards said they and their eldest son wanted to thank the community for the tremendous outpouring of love they've received in the 10 years since unthinkable loss.

"We are just blown away, by the amount of support and kindness. Everyone wants to do something. It's unbelievable. It's just a shame it has to come in the face of tragedy," she said.

Through sports, including lacrosse, football and wrestling, and through REACH, a program he pursued with the Westhampton Presbyterian Church, Cory "was quick to make friends," Hubbard said. "One girl told us that even though she'd only met him once, she'd never forget him."

Growing up in Westhampton Beach, Hubbard excelled on high school sports teams including lacrosse, wrestling and football.

Friends were heartbroken at the tragic news. "Cory was always full of a never-ending energy," said Joanna DeLeon. "He was blessed with a light that could shine for eternity. His smile made you smile, and his laugh made you laugh. He brought joy to people's lives — and I will always remember him that way."