John Cronin doesn't sit on the sidelines, not even on the day he's the guest of honor.
This past Monday, September 14, John Cronin, co-founder and Chief Happiness Officer of John's Crazy Socks and the Wahooo Market, was named Man of the Year at the 4th Annual Courage Classic, presented by the Marty Lyons Foundation Long Island Chapter and the Denis Barry Foundation at Indian Hills Country Club in Northport.
John spent the morning doing what he does best: greeting people. As golfers arrived for registration and breakfast, John welcomed them with a big smile. When the shotgun start sent everyone out onto the course, John followed, spending the day going from hole to hole, cheering on every golfer he could find.
The real moment came that evening. At dinner, Marty Lyons, the Foundation's co-founder and a former New York Jets defensive lineman, stood up to introduce the man of the hour. He described John simply: someone who puts a smile on people's faces and shows that no obstacle can hold anyone back.
Then he handed John the award.
John thanked Marty for the honor, then did what he always does, turned the spotlight outward. He shared that he was accepting this award alongside his colleagues, the people who work so hard every day and make John's Crazy Socks what it is. He also thanked his father and business partner, Mark, for giving him the confidence and the strength to lead the company they built together.
Mark joined John at the microphone, and the two of them told the story of John's Crazy Socks, how a father and son turned an idea into a mission-driven business. The room gave them a standing ovation.
Why This One Meant So Much
John had been looking forward to this day for a while. "I am so excited for this day!" he said ahead of the event. "I love what the Marty Lyons Foundation does because it brings happiness to children who need it most."
That's not a passing connection. The Marty Lyons Foundation grants wishes to children ages 3 to 17 who are living with terminal or life-threatening illnesses and it doesn't stop at one wish. It's one of the only organizations of its kind that will grant a second wish to a child who needs it.
The Foundation's own origin traces back to grief turned into purpose. In March 1982, Marty Lyons lived through the extremes of life in a matter of days: the birth of his first son, the sudden loss of his father, and the death of a young boy he mentored. Out of that, he and a small group of six people on Long Island including his Jets teammate Kenny Schroy. started an organization built on granting wishes. Today it has grown to 11 chapters across 14 states. As of January 2026, the Foundation has granted more than 8,800 wishes and raised over $45 million.
Marty put it simply when asked about this year's honoree: "In the way he spreads happiness and cares for other people, John is an ideal honoree for the Marty Lyons Foundation."
It's easy to see why the two missions fit together. John's Crazy Socks was built on the idea that when people refuse to accept the limits others put on them and choose to spread happiness instead, real things happen. The Marty Lyons Foundation was built on a similar belief, that even in the hardest circumstances, joy can still be delivered, wish by wish.
John has supported the Foundation for years, including through its annual Draft Night fundraiser, long before this honor came along. This time, the spotlight was on him and his colleagues, his father, and a room full of golfers made sure he knew exactly where he belonged.
As John says: Follow your heart. Follow your dreams. Work hard. Show
