2 Butler County families unite over Ford Mustang, charity efforts
Two families in Butler County who each had their own tragedies are united by three shared passions: community, charity and a car.
Helen Comperatore, the wife of the late Corey Comperatore, alongside their daughters Allyson and Kaylee, will be riding in a 1992 Ford Mustang LX convertible in a parade in Saxonburg on Saturday, July 12.
The Comperatores will join the community in the parade, a motorcycle cruise leading from Buffalo Township to Russellton and more marking the anniversary of the Buffalo Township firefighter’s death. Corey Comperatore was killed by gunfire at the rally for then-candidate President Donald Trump at the Butler Farm Show grounds on July 13, 2024.
After Corey Comperatore’s death, his family received an outpouring of support from the community. Now, one year later, the events the family helped to organize will benefit causes dear to his heart, such as religious endeavors and supporting first responders.
The car the Comperatores will ride in on Saturday is a third-generation Ford Mustang, also known as a Fox body Mustang, which was Corey Comperatore’s favorite car. However, the specific 1992 Mustang the Comperatores will use has a its own history in the community.
The story behind the car began in 2007, when Butler County native Walt Widenhofer bought the car on eBay to restore. He and his son, Tom Widenhofer, were living in Punta Gorda, Fla., at the time.
Just a few months prior, in November 2006, Tom Widenhofer was diagnosed with pleomorphic xastrocytoma, a rare form of brain cancer that affects the brain, spine and areas with spinal fluid. He was 14.
The day after his diagnosis, he underwent his first surgery. By the time the car was purchased, he had undergone a second surgery and completed six weeks of chemotherapy treatment.
After the Mustang was bought, Shawn Wolfe, a resident of Meridian and Walt Widenhofer’s best friend, got involved. Wolfe’s hobby is restoring cars, so when he was asked by the Widenhofers to paint the car, he decided he could do more.
He began to make calls to mutual friends and formed a team dedicated to the Mustang’s restoration. All in all, more than 30 people — combined with part donations from the former Butler County Ford and other businesses — managed to restore it in less than four weeks.
During his battle, Tom Widenhofer found ways to give back to the people who supported him. He was a spokesman for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital fundraising events like Champions for Hope, “Up ‘Till Dawn” and the Pittsburgh Marathon.
Outside of St. Jude, he worked with First Descents, Relay for Life and Big Sky Kids Adventure Camp. He is also recognized as a founding member of Outdoor Experience 4 All, a nonprofit that looks to bring children with life-threatening illnesses on a big-game hunt.
In 2008, Tom Widenhofer was the first child to be given a hunting trip, which Outdoor Experience 4 All attributes as its starting point. Walt Widenhofer said that to this day, the organization’s board of directors leaves his son a chair at its meetings.
In 2012, Tom Widenhofer lost his six-year battle with cancer at age 19. He left the car to his younger brother, Tanner, who still owns it today.
The Widenhofer family continues to volunteer and give back to the community. They have continued their work with Outdoor Experience 4 All and St. Jude, and Tom Widenhofer’s siblings volunteer for Big Sky Kids Adventure Camp.
“I was inspired by my older brother and mom. They were both involved in these groups,” Tori Widenhofer said.
Recently, Walt Widenhofer got in touch with Helen Comperatore and agreed that the family could use the Mustang in the parade. He said there was no hesitation in helping the Comperatores in any way he could.
“We were honored to even be thought of,” Walt Widenhofer said. “It’ll help me to reflect on my son and help to keep his legacy alive.”
Widenhofer said he knew he’d have to give the car some touch-ups before it was ready. Suddenly, he found himself reaching out to old friends, some of which, like Wolfe, had worked on the car back in 2007.
By Monday, the car was ready for the parade as Helen Comperatore met with Walt Widenhofer and his daughter, Tori, to see the car in person. Helen Comperatore made a Facebook post talking about her interaction with the Widenhofers.
“When he asked when I would like to meet, I suggested today,” she said in her Monday post. “Coincidentally, today marked the anniversary of his son’s passing. I expressed that it was meant to be, and I felt honored to use their car.”
Walt Widenhofer said he recommended Tori Widenhofer drive. By Thursday, she had already done a practice drive of the route.
“It’s a good way to be a part of our community and support someone in that community who needs it,” Tori Widenhofer said.
Both the Comperatores and Widenhofers appreciated the community’s support during their moments of tragedy and have found charitable means of giving back to their support systems.
Since that first trip in 2008, Outdoor Experience 4 All expanded the number of children it was taking on its annual trip. For the 2018 trip, attendance reached about 300. In 2019, Walt Widenhofer worked with Outdoor Experience 4 All and the Butler County Sheriff’s Office to locate a local child eligible for the program.
“It was great getting to watch them grow from just taking Tom into taking hundreds of kids a year,” Walt Widenhofer said.
After Corey Comperatore’s death, his wife and daughters also wanted to give back to the community that supported them. That’s the purpose of the event — Corey’s Cruise — which follows the Saxonburg events.
Corey’s Cruise is a memorial motorcycle ride and concert organized to celebrate Corey Comperatore’s life. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Corey Comperatore Foundation, a nonprofit in his honor. The foundation donates to different organizations and movements which Corey Comperatore supported during his life, such as churches and fire departments in the area.
“I just cannot get over how kind and giving this community has been this past year,” Helen Comperatore said. “I mean, everybody has come out to offer help. They find me on Facebook and just, even if it’s just an offer of condolences, but they just offer anything.”
Saturday’s parade will start at 9 a.m. at the Saxonburg Memorial Presbyterian Church and proceed straight west on West Main Street toward the South Butler Community Library.
It will feature Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, people dressed as Washington and Emily Roebling and bagpipers playing “Amazing Grace.” Small American flags will be handed out for attendees to wave.
Once arriving, the Comperatores will present a bronze statue of a boy and a girl reading books to the library donated in Corey Comperatore’s memory.
Race car driver and motivational speaker Karen Salvaggio will speak on dreaming and achieving big. Karate black belt holder Amy Giles will perform a session on self-defense.
Registration for the motorcycle ride is available Saturday at Freeport Area High School, 625 S. Pike Road, Buffalo Township. Registration opens at 7 a.m., a blessing of the bikes will be performed at 10:45 a.m. and the ride will begin at 11 a.m. The events ends at No-Offseason Sports in Russlleton.
“I cannot even say in words how blessed I am,” Helen Comperatore said. “It’s just been amazing. I’m so glad that I live in this county because I couldn’t ask for better.”
