Like fine wine, the Richard D. “Ricky” Salzillo Memorial Game Dinner gets better with age.

Just ask Jim Boxser, a Warwick resident who took in Sunday’s fundraiser-dinner which was a tribute to the late basketball standout-musician who passed away at the age of 24 back on Feb. 10, 1976 from injuries sustained in an automobile accident on Route 295 during his way home to Johnston.

“I’ve been to a lot of game dinners,” said Boxser, “but this is the best I’ve ever been to. The food is phenomenal.”

Likewise, Warwick residents Chris Raymond, Jamie Channell and Mike Pare and John Torregrossi of North Providence echoed those same sentiments about the 24th annual game dinner which was prepared by Chef Ralph DeFusco of Ralph’s Catering and served by the super staff led by Brianna Messa-Mastronardi.

Upwards of 200 people purchased tickets at $40 each and enjoyed an abundance of specially cooked recipes that began with Game Soup and included Antipasta with Calzones, Pasta with Venison Meatballs and Sausage and Wild Board and Peas.

The smorgasbord concluded with Venison Marsala, Game Hen and Venison Meatloaf with Oven Roasted Potatoes.

In keeping with terrific tradition, the 24th annual dinner which began in 1998 and was held inside the Kelley-Gazzerro VFW Post off Plainfield Street and now makes its home at the Santa Maria Di Prata Club at 31 Walnut Grove in Cranston, featured a multi-gift raffle that featured high-priced prizes like a fully stocked three-shelf wine rack and wood pallet pizza oven, just to name a few.

“The prizes are phenomenal,” assessed Robet Civetti, a District 5 Johnston Town Councilman who along with his brother David Civetti of Dependable Cleaning buys a 10-seat table every year. “There’s no other raffle like this anywhere.”

As Chairman Steve Placella related it’s the extraordinary friendship and generosity of Johnston natives the brothers Fede – Frank and Nick – who own and operate Kingstown Liquors on Post Road in North Kingstown and have secured valuable prizes from their respective and generous distributors that makes this dinner an extraordinary event.

“It’s the raffle that makes this dinner a success,” Placella told an applauding audience as people awaited purchasing tickets. “We appreciate your generosity and through the years we’ve been able to give scholarships in Ricky’s name and make donations to Hasbro Children’s Hospital, FARA, ALS, Needy Veterans and other important non-profits.”

Sunday’s dinner also featured a heartwarming sense of family, as Mason DeChristofaro – Placella’s grandson – again had the honor of calling the winning ticket numbers for the six grand raffle prizes which were valued between $200 and $500.

There was yet another generous act of giving in addition to people purchasing numerous raffle tickets. And that was a special collection and show of thanks to the terrific wait staff that kept the hot food coming and coming all afternoon.

So, the tradition of the Ricky Salzillo Memorial Game Dinner, which Sunday featured excitement and classic camaraderie plus for inside of three hours, is in the books and as Placella and Co-Chair Vin LaFazia emphasized “everyone that comes to this event is always extra, extra generous. We can’t thank you enough for our support and we look forward to seeing everyone back here for the Silver Anniversary dinner.”