I had a chance to talk with Kevin Reiss, the Bishop Maginn High School teacher who had to bury his son this week at the school’s open house.

Kevin is a soft-spoken, thoughtful and very good man.

He is coping, he says and is looking forward to the start of the new school year next week.

He asked once again for me to thank the good people who helped raise the $8,000 he needed to bury his son Milan, who died at the age of 22 from complications from  Muscular Dystrophy.

He is also grateful that his younger son got a new Sony Play Station 4 to distract and engage him. That was my gift.

Kevin is stricken at the loss of his son but is also eager to get into the school year, he loves teaching. He can’t hide the sadness in his eyes, but his graciousness and empathy for the students we met was striking.

Kevin and I sat alone in his classroom and talked in between visits from curious and eager students. One of his passions is the basketball league he formed in Albany to keep kids off the street and promote teamwork and leadership and practice. It’s called the Upstate Wolfpack.

I asked Kevin if he might be interested in joining with me to propose that he somehow merge the basketball program he runs into the athletic program at Bishop Maginn. I suggested we meet with Principal Mike Tolan and talk about it. He and Mike said they’d both love to meet and see if there might be a way to benefit the school and the Wolfpack.

We’ll see what happens, I’ll keep people posted. I wish I’d met Kevin under better circumstances, but I felt a real connection with him and am glad to know him. I can sort of see a juiced-up basketball team at Bishop Maginn using their beautiful gym and spreading the school’s message around the region.

Some of the Wolfpack members already attend the school. It costs $400 a year for kids to join the Wolfpack and Kevin doesn’t have enough money to pay all the fees of the kids who can’t afford to pay. He’s lost money getting it going.

Perhaps the school team would be free. We’ll see.
It might be a long shot, or maybe an idea that could just work.

In any case, Kevin and I will stay in touch, he’s someone well worth knowing. Next week, he begins his new job teaching global history and serving as school Disciplinarian and Academic Counselor. A  big job.

I’m sorry I never met Milan, but thanks again for helping the family bury their much-loved son and brother. Godspeed, Milan