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By Donna Roberts
North Adams Transcript
CHESHIRE -- It was one week before his 13th birthday, when
Quinn Connally was struck in the back of the neck with a
hockey puck and killed during a routine practice drill.
More than two years later, his parents, Stephen and Ann,
and sister, Tess, 13, are coping with his sudden and tragic
death the best way they know how -- by continuing his memory
through the sport he loved.
The Quinn Legacy Foundation has raised approximately $400,000
since his death in December 2000 toward construction of the
Quinn Connally Memorial Sports Facility, an estimated $8
million project. The plans include a 2,500-seat arena, complete
with two hockey rinks that will meet Olympic and National
Hockey League regulations, a community center, pro shop,
and a tutor/mentoring center.
The facility is scheduled to be built on 20 acres of land
on the south side of Dan Fox Drive in Pittsfield, donated
by the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce and Del Alba Realty.
It will be used for hockey games and tournaments, figure
skating, speed skating, corporate and community gatherings,
after-school programs, academic tutoring, and entertainment
events.
Such an endeavor is a long-term commitment, one that Stephen
and Ann have made their life's mission now.
"It's a trade-off. Sometimes all this work gets you
through the day," Ann said. "Other times, just
writing his name 12 times for mailings reminds us that he's
gone. There will always be a hole in our hearts."
The first true legacy of Quinn's, said Ann, was the donation
of his organs to seven different recipients from Massachusetts,
Connecticut, and Kentucky. When doctors determined he was
brain dead, both parents turned to each other and, being
designated organ donors themselves, decided to donate his.
Within 36 hours, the hospital found people to receive Quinn's
heart, liver, pancreas, two kidneys, and both corneas.
"When you lose a loved one, you want to find any way
you can to keep them alive for you," Ann said. "Quinn
is a part of each of them -- he lives on."
But because Quinn had such a passion for hockey, something
Ann said he "lived, ate, and breathed," his parents
knew they had to do something along the lines of his favorite
sport.
"A good friend asked me one day, 'So when are you going
to open Quinn's rink?'" said Stephen. "After a
while I thought, why can't I?"
This began the numerous phone calls and scheduled events
that have occurred over the last two years, including hockey
tournaments, annual skate-a-thons, a Bruins alumni game,
a sports memorabilia auction, various dinners, motorcycle
raffles, and the Doo-Wah Gang variety show. Stephen said
the next event they are trying to develop is a comedy show
slated for June.
Local businesses have also been instrumental in the fund-raising
efforts, including Greylock Credit Union, USA Hockey, Berkshire
Life Insurance Co., the Sheriff's Department of Berkshire
County, the Chamber of Commerce, and MassDevelopment, a state
organization, with predevelopment assistance.
"We haven't officially gone through the design plan,
but we're in negotiations," said Stephen. "Optimistically,
we'd like to put the golden shovel in the ground late this
spring, and have the first sheet of ice functional for a
September time frame."
The Connallys said this rink will fill a niche in Berkshire
County, in that it will include educational aspects as well.
When Quinn was in second grade, he was found to be dyslexic,
a problem he helped to overcome through the self-esteem and
confidence he received playing sports, said Ann.
"We'd like to have seminars on learning disabilities,
and create a support system online or even have a facility
for dyslexic kids," she said. "We'd also like to
have a steady sanctuary for kids to do homework before practice,
things like that."
Although hockey was his first love, Quinn also played baseball,
soccer, and any other sport he could pick up, said Stephen.
"I've played a lot of Ping-Pong in my life, and when
we first bought a table, he couldn't figure out why he couldn't
beat me," said Stephen, laughing. "He kept saying
he was going to beat me, and eventually he did."
Ann said she could remember Quinn helping Tess, his younger
sister, while they went rollerblading.
"I can see him kneeling in front of her, buckling her
skates," she said. "He always made sure she had
her helmet on, and her knee pads, always making sure she
was safe."
With only these memories of their son to hold onto, both
Ann and Stephen said it was difficult to make sense of his
death, something they will struggle with throughout their
lives.
"We're beginning to live by the saying that everything
happens for a reason," said Ann.
"You just don't always know what that reason is," added
Stephen.
Both parents said they find strength in their daughter,
who has her own belief about her brother's death.
"Just recently, she told me that no matter where he
was that day, whether skiing or playing somewhere else, he
would have died because it was his time," said Ann.
"We're clinging to the idea that he died while he was
doing something he loved," said Stephen. "He found
his 'thing' at a young age. I know some adults who still
haven't."
"He had found his happiness," said Ann. "We
feel lucky that he did."
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