Murph

It's Sunday night, and I am winding down from an emotional week and weekend.

I spent the week in Philadelphia attending a truly memorable business conference that one of my clients stages each year. It's called ThinkAbout, and as advertised, they left us with much to think about. The added benefit was attending the conference with good friends, Brett Flenniken, Bob Geho and Dave Cook. We had a blast and learned lots about how to better market our businesses and serve our clients.

ThinkAbout events are staged each year by Strategic Horizons - see www.strategichorizons.com. I encourage you to check out their website.

We drove home Friday and on our way we stopped at the crash site of Flight 93 - see www.honorflight93.org. It was an absolutely beautiful day, much like 9.11.2001.

When we got home I went immediately to the Brecksville High School football game and saw Janice and all the kids. The Bees got pounded again, but later found out that St. Ignatius beat Mentor handily to extend their record to 4-0.

Saturday was really busy. It started with me taking Jackson to his JV soccer game vs. Mentor. Ignatius won 1-0 and Jackson was in goal. Season-to-date - Jackson has not given up any goals. He is playing well and growing in his confidence.

I left Mentor and headed to my old man baseball game in Berea. We were playing in the semi-finals vs. the best team in the league. We fought hard and came up short 9-4.

Left Berea, raced home to shower and then back over to the west side for a Homecoming dinner for Jackson and his friends and their dates. It was very nice and all the kids looked handsome and beautiful. We took the kids downtown to drop them off for the dance at Ignatius. I was hoping to see Halle and her date - she was also going with an Ignatius boy. She wasn't there and no parents were hanging out there, so I left to go home. As I was driving down Carnegie Avenue past Jacobs Field and CSU I got a call from Jackson. He was hysterical on the phone, crying. I knew something terrible had happened and immediately thought something had happened to Halle. Jackson finally clear his thoughts and told me that Dan Murphy was in an accident. Daniel lives across the street from us and is a classmate of Jackson's. What Jackson said next was very hard to hear. He said that Daniel was in an accident and was killed. I immediately went back to Ignatius to find my son. We embraced and cried together in each other's arms. It was an unbelievable scene. Kids were still filing into the dance, word was spreading and many kids were now heading over to the chapel. I stayed wanting to see my daughter and tell her what happened. Halle arrived and I told her. She was overcome with emotion. I hugged a bunch of kids and wanted to head home to see Dan's parents, Paul and Marcia. I called Janice and broke the news to her. As the events were unfolding it was hard to comprehend. The 9 mile drive from Ignatius home was very difficult. So many thoughts and memories racing through my head. My heart was broke as I thought of dear Daniel. Dan was like a third son to me. He shared my passion for sports. He rooted hard for St. Igantius, Notre Dame and the Chicago White Sox. His Dad, Paul, was from Chicago's south side. Dan loved NCAA hoops and loved to come over to watch Notre Dame, Dayton, Xavier, Boston College, Marguette, etc... Dan loved his Catholic schools. Dan and Jack loved to play one-on-one in our back yard. Jack posted some great shots of Daniel on Facebook - see Facebook and request Jackson as your friend.

So many thoughts about Daniel, here are a few:

> I coached Daniel on a travel baseball team. Dan wasn't the star player, but no one wore the Wildcat uniform more proudly than Murph. Dan gave me everything he had and loved being on that team.

> Before joining the Ignatius crew team and getting in tip-top shape, Dan loved to eat ... eat our food. I remember one summer my kids complaining that Dan was eating us out of the house. I think I remember defending Daniel, saying he was a growing boy.

> I remember taking Dan to a few Indians games and knowing how much he loved going to games, just like I did as a boy.

> I remember Jack and Dan coming in the house to guzzle some drinks and hearing all the details on who won the hoops game. Dan loved Jackson and Jackson loved Daniel. We were so blessed to have him right across the street for the past four years.

> I remember both my brothers, Pat and Doug, really like Daniel. Murph was one of their favorites, too.

> I remember taking Jack and Dan to the Ignatius/Ed's tournament hockey game last spring. After the game, we were supposed to go to my niece's birthday party. We didn't arrive at the party until 11:00 a.m. as the game went to 7 OT's. We had a blast. Daniel loved St. Ignatius.

> The last two times I saw Daniel were classic Murph moments. We high-fived each other at the epic Ignatius Glenville football game a few weeks ago as Ignatius miraculously won that game. He was pumped. I last saw Dan on our way to church last Sunday. He was getting the paper and I rolled down my window. We were both hurting after the Buckeyes lost to USC, Dan doubly hurting as his beloved Irish lost to Michigan.

Daniel was a beautiful boy. Paul and Marcia are beautiful parents that raised a fine young man. And, Julia and Elizabeth are dear girls.

Today many came to the neighborhood to show their love. There were lots of tears and lots of hugs. I miss Daniel and will always remember how he touched my family.

I love you, Daniel.