LE ROY — In the present day would have been John Driscoll’s birthday.
He sadly handed away Jan. 18, two days earlier than he turned 60, leaving an enormous gap within the coronary heart of the group, as his former college students and colleagues attest.
“Mr. Driscoll, he was my 4th grade trainer and in addition my favourite trainer. I keep in mind him all the time speaking about his favourite factor to do, using his bike,” wrote Dominic Smith on a web-based tribute wall.
“One other few issues that made him an amazing man and trainer had been that he would all the time hand out Starburst on a regular basis, and would all the time maintain calm in a tough time,” Smith continued. “Like when he saved considered one of my finest pals life by giving him the Heimlich maneuver to get a Life Savers out of my pals throat. He was all the time very joyful and useful with homework and with faculty work. Mr. Driscoll I hope you might be doing OK up there, I do know you can be missed.”
Born and raised in Le Roy, Driscoll graduated from Le Roy Excessive Faculty in 1981. He furthered his schooling by incomes levels at Genesee Group School, SUNY Brockport, and Roberts Wesleyan.
At Roberts Wesleyan, Driscoll obtained his masters diploma in schooling, a level which gave him the chance to work in his dream profession as an elementary faculty trainer.
For the previous 15 years Driscoll taught at Wolcott Avenue Faculty in Le Roy, receiving a “Golden Apple” award in 2019.
“Mr. Driscoll leaves a robust legacy together with his household, Le Roy CSD/group, and Part V Soccer. We are going to all tremendously miss his power and love for his college students, household, and pals,” Le Roy Superintendent Merritt Holly wrote in an e-mail to households on the faculty Wednesday night.
Holly stated Le Roy counselors can be found in each buildings because the group helps one another throughout the tough time.
Driscoll had been identified with a uncommon type of most cancers on April 29. Earlier than he received sick, he might be seen every weekend at Mass and every morning might be discovered on his spin bike praying. When Driscoll was too sick to attend church, he would take part in Mass on TV and would do his every day prayers on his Payments blanket at residence and in hospital beds.
“What a tragic time for your entire group on the passing of this very loving and caring man. I taught John in my English class a really very long time in the past, and labored with him as a colleague when he got here to instructing later in life. He was an instance of fine will and caring and religion to us all,” Patrick Crowe wrote on Driscoll’s on-line tribute wall. “I by no means noticed him with no smile. Even when he would come to me with a union query at college, he was all the time smiling. As a scholar I used to be impressed by his drive and power. As a trainer he had a dedication and outlook that impressed all of these round him. And nobody might query his braveness which he confirmed clearly to all of the final days of his life. The lives of these he touched are higher for having identified him. There isn’t a better tribute to any particular person than that.”
Driscoll touched every particular person he got here in touch with by his heat and sort spirit. He shall be missed by his many 4th and sixth grade college students, his co-workers at Wolcott Avenue Faculty, his referee pals, his rafting pals, and shut family and friends in and across the Le Roy group.
As a testomony to his character, the 2023 Le Roy Little League season has been devoted in his honor.
Jeremy Warner, president of Le Roy Little League, stated yearly Le Roy Little League does a season in dedication to somebody. This 12 months it was introduced up per week in the past to honor Driscoll.
“All of us thought it was a good suggestion. That was determined final week,” Warner stated. “One of many board members is definitely a trainer, so she was capable of go to his home final week when he was nonetheless alive and current him with the dignity. Which he was ecstatic about.”
Warner stated he lived subsequent to Driscoll for 10 years, and he was an total nice man. The 2 used to speak sports activities rather a lot.
“It would undoubtedly be tough (now that Driscoll has handed),” Warner stated. “He was an enormous affect on loads of children. I do know loads of 4th, fifth and sixth graders presently, speaking with mother and father and such, are fairly upset.”
Driscoll was additionally a RCCFO soccer referee, and a raft information at Letchworth State Park. In his 32 years as a highschool soccer referee, he earned referee of the 12 months together with a lifetime membership.
Kevin Kretschmer, proprietor of Journey Calls Outfitters the place Driscoll labored as a raft information, stated Driscoll was a tremendous particular person.
“I’ve discovered through the years that — I’m blessed with an unimaginable employees, however academics make phenomenal raft guides. They’re used to coping with individuals and children,” he stated. “John definitely was in that class. He was a really kind-hearted particular person.”
Kretschmer stated he knew Driscoll by Le Roy Central Faculty considerably previous to him making use of to be a raft information for Journey Calls. Nonetheless, after Driscoll began working for Journey Calls, Kretschmer received to know him higher.
He stated that Driscoll wore his religion on his sleeve every single day and demonstrated an unconditional Christ-like like to everybody he interacted with.
After visiting Driscoll final week, Kretschmer received permission from Driscoll’s household to publish on Fb informing individuals his birthday was developing and Driscoll’s time was quick.
“I used to be simply overwhelmed by the quantity of responses we received,” Kretschmer stated. Round midday on Thursday, the publish was seen by 38,000 individuals and 775 individuals commented leaving tributes to Driscoll. Driscoll’s spouse, Catherine, instructed Kretschmer the household was very touched by the outpouring of help and love from the group.
A number of guides for Journey Calls have handed away just lately, and Kretschmer stated the corporate has picket plaques which he orders and places up with their names on them. Driscoll’s plaque was simply ordered Wednesday.
Driscoll is survived by his finest good friend and spouse of 32 years, Kerry; his daughter, Alanna; his son, Ryan; his mom, Catherine; his brother, Jimmy (Judy); a number of in-laws; his nieces and nephews; uncle; aunt and cousins.
He was predeceased by his father, James; and his sister, Patty.
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