GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) – A watch once owned by Neil Armstrong — the first man to walk on the moon — has sparked a powerful act of generosity in northeast Wisconsin.
On Thursday, the Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation received a $17,000 donation from Stefan Osdene, a Madison-based watch dealer and owner of Cambridge Golden Antiques. The gift stems from the sale of a rare 18-karat gold Omega Speedmaster that once belonged to Armstrong himself.
Former Packer AJ Dillon, Dillon Family Foundation donates $25K to Boys & Girls Club of Door County
Osdene came across the watch unexpectedly in a coin shop during a visit to Cincinnati. At the time, he didn’t know the full history — only later realizing it was one of the ceremonial watches presented to Apollo astronauts after the 1969 moon landing.
While Armstrong didn’t wear it in space, the watch was a symbolic tribute to his place in history and a token of appreciation from Omega.
“I made a donation based on the sale of my watch,” Osdene said. “I’ve donated several watches over time to this foundation that were sold, then the money benefited the scholarship.”
The Speedmaster sold at RR Auction House in April 2025 for over $2 million, setting a world record for its kind. Instead of keeping the profits, Osdene chose to pay it forward — donating a portion to the LaViolette Foundation, and more to causes selected by Mark Armstrong, Neil’s son.
“So it ended up full circle in Wisconsin,” Osdene said. “Finding great watches, selling them on eBay, meeting Doug [LaViolette] through eBay, and realizing something positive can happen with watches — that they can help other people and impact lives.”
The Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation was established in 1992 after Brian’s sudden death in a swimming accident.
What started as a single scholarship at De Pere High School has grown into a wide-reaching nonprofit supporting students across Eastern Wisconsin, particularly those entering service fields like teaching, nursing, and community work.
“It was established 33 years ago after Brian died,” said Kim Mosteller, the foundation’s executive director. “We started with one scholarship, and it’s grown over the decades.”
Osdene, who has supported the foundation in the past, said it’s the mission — not the memorabilia — that drives him.
Ribbon-cutting ceremony held at Seymour Park to celebrate major improvements
“Doug and his family can turn something so tragic and turn it into something so good,” he said. “They took something gut-wrenching and made it good to benefit other people.”
Thursday’s donation will help fund new scholarships for local students — and continue the legacy of two dreamers: Brian LaViolette and Neil Armstrong. To learn more or donate, visit brianlaviolette.org.
