This is a tough one.
Kerry Snow passed 12 days ago at the age of 66.
There were 85 students in our 1973 graduating class.
Those "kids" and many who read this essay have reached that period in life where we have experienced loss.
In an era when sometimes it seems there is so much conflict, anger, uncomfortable debate, arguments, lack of compassion and understanding- we all share the pain of loss.
Parents, siblings, relatives, friends, neighbors, wife/husband- the list seems to grow almost daily.
There is no philosophical message or a standard timed response and recovery. There's no fair or unfair. We can only feel and there is no book of rules.
I've written a countless number of these essays- many different subjects, but the two-part reason is almost always the same.
It is very therapeutic for me to write and recall the memories of growing up in the Eldred area. It's been almost 40 years since I've resided within four or five hundred miles from home, but the balance of my closest friends are still there or nearby.
Secondly, I'd like to think that my writings can maybe show the amount of good thoughts and respect that I have for a particular person, group of people, an event or place.
Kerry has now brought all that out in me.
This is a tough one.
I wrote a story a year or so ago, "The Greatest Game Ever Played." That may have been a bit of hyperbole, but for a bunch of kids and some on-lookers, it was a game we will always remember. All the guys we played basketball and football with for years and seemingly all of a sudden, we are playing against them, Eldred vs. Otto in Babe Ruth Baseball. Kerry gave up only two hits, but one was a HR to Lenny Oszustowicz, the only run of the game.
Below: Kerry beat Williamsport West-End in Babe Ruth All Stars. We won our second game vs. Wellsboro and needed just one more win for the district crown, but West End came back and beat us twice.
Below- Four "baseball moms" at the Babe Ruth Tourney. Seated, left to right- Mrs. Snow, Mrs Oszustowicz and Mrs Pransky. Standing- Mrs. Miller and somehow, a West End supporter snuck in to the picture. I can't recall many athletic contests that Dolores Snow, Charlotte Oszustowicz, Helen Pransky and Rita Miller did not attend.
O-E football, Kerry's junior year as he and Mike Miller bring the Terrors from 14 points down to a 22-22 tie vs. Allegany. Kerry throws two touchdown passes to Mike in the second half.
Sophomore year (1970). Left to right: Kerry, Mike Miller, Dale Goodell, Lenny O and Jim Pransky. We were all defensive backs with Dale (Sr) and the rest of us sophomores.
Kerry's junior season and a loss to Bradford Central Christian as BCC went 8-0 after this win. Mark Barnard, Oszustowicz and Snow are O-E defenders. Kerry broke his collarbone in this game-missing the final contest of the season,
October '81- Kerry with the collarbone injury and me with a broken leg.
Two senior starters, Ned Van Epps and Kerry Snow. Seeing Ned, makes me remember our cafeteria lunch room with Ned and I sitting across from each other for, oh maybe-300 lunches. Lots of pizza, sloppy joes and corn dogs through the years. Kerry, Len, Jerome Wolcott, Jeff Holly and four or five other guys joined us every school day,
Below: Tim Medeiros, 6'5", 225 pounds.
Some of the key members of the 1972-73 Otto-Eldred Football Team.
Kerry, his senior year, was selected to the Big 30 team. Somewhat unusual that a future Division 1, Little All-American wasn't the QB on the team, but BCC had some great teams during this era and some outstanding players
Kerry, on the far right, at the Alfred University Basketball Camp. He was named the top defensive player in camp.
Named to the second team were John Russell and Roger Reed (Coudersport), Gary Price (Austin), Gary Smith and Mike Dodge (Smethport), Clair Hawver (Port Allegany) and Bill Vassalo (Emporium)
1972-73 O-E basketball. Below: A win on the road vs. Smethport. We were a district playoff team.
I added some clippings from our American Legion baseball years (16-18 yrs old) We were coached by Ed Harrington and we had three memorable years, winning the league our second year and then the district title over Warren, two games to one. Kerry pitched every "big" game and won every "big game" that season.
A big win over Coudersport. O-E certainly had the talent to break some long scoring runs; Miller an 80 yard kickoff return to start the game, John Hepfer, 36 yard run and Kerry scored on two runs of 40 and 73 yards.
Border Conference All-Stars: Mike Barnard, Don Wilcox, Mike Miller, Tim Medeiros, Jeff Holly and Kerry Snow. BCC had 7 selections with Portville and Smethport also having multiple picks.
Below: I don't think we had a track and field team until our senior year. I'm not even certain that Kerry had ever seen a javelin, let alone throw one until track practice began. Here's some of the McKean County track meet results with Kerry winning the javelin and finishing third in the discus. Mike Miller finished second in the 100 and 220 behind Bradford's Steve Housler, widely known as an excellent football player.
1971-72 O-E basketball. Kerry was second in scoring behind Jerome Wolcott (Elmira College Basketball). Jerome and Kerry (both juniors) were also first team selections on the North Tier All Star team. Jeff Lloyd and Bill Leonard were named to the first team squad along with Jeff Dann and my ex-little league all star catcher, John Frank of Austin
Left to right, below: Frank, Lloyd, Dann, Wolcott, Leonard and Snow.
It should not be forgotten that Kerry was a very good student at O-E. He won the prestigious Jody Wolcott Award (scholar, gentleman, athlete).
He beat Bradford twice during the regular season and then 3-1 in a playoff game for the league title. He always matched up against Bradford's Brad Silvis, who was a very good pitcher, but somehow we didn't have to score many runs with Kerry on the mound.
The district match-up versus Warren simply came down to Kerry's domination on the mound. He shut them out in game one at home. We lost game two at Warren and the district final game was played in Saint Mary's, a neutral site. Kerry shut them out again, 1-0.
The league playoff vs. Bradford and then two wins over Warren and our ace righthander gave up one run total. George Lathrop was the catcher for all of those games and he and Kerry made it look easy, just like they were playing catch.
I owe Kerry's wonderful sister, Kristi, a tremendous debt of gratitude for making it possible for me to renew my friendship with my friend and teammate.
It never vanished, but there was a long intermission simply because of time and distance.
Kristi shared some of the early medical concerns about Kerry with me, but my first conversation with him occurred after he, Jim Hess and I think Larry Snyder and some other guys met and put a list of names together for a essay I was doing about O-E football history.
I had seen only one game since 1978 so those guys saved the day for me with names and accomplishments.
A month or so later, we spoke for probably 90 minutes or more, yes, about those old sports' glory days, but more importantly about his health, his mom, his kids, Kristi's kids, my life in Iowa and setting up more communications in the days to come.
I did like I always do when I speak to someone from back home-I talk and talk and talk. Kristi found that out. Jerome Wolcott and George Lathrop have experienced these elongated conversations. I can apologize, but it's just so enjoyable and it brings home back to me.
Kerry and I stayed in touch as the 2021 months began to pass. We texted quite often. He was usually a one line guy, but some times he would stretch it out to two, but very rarely three.
He kept me posted on his health developments and I rode the medical roller coaster with him and all of his loved ones. Kristi kept me informed also about a few ups, but too many downs.
About three weeks ago, I told a friend that I was going to take a hiatus from writing. I have always enjoyed it- I don't think I could quit for an extended time, but I just wanted to stop for awhile.
In my heart though, I knew that sometime in the way too near future, I would write about Kerry. It's all I can do.
I had a couple of dorm mates when I was a student at Clarion University who lived in the Lewisburg area near Bucknell University and they kept me updated somewhat on Bucknell football and Kerry's achievements. Of course, no internet abilities then so it was their knowledge and occasionally a newspaper clipping that surfaced somewhere-that was the only way I knew even a little bit how he was doing on the field.
The clipping above is a big win over Colgate-Kerry doing in college what he did in high school, keeping his cool and making the key passes and runs.
Kerry pitched a season for the Bucknell baseball team, but when it became apparent that he was a definite candidate for the number one QB position, spring football practice had to take priority.
I told him in one of our conversations that after 25 years of scouting, I felt confident saying that he had the ability to play professional baseball. In fact, several guys who played in the Alle-Catt League did get some pro time and there were some young guys with good arms when I played who had a chance to sign a professional contract.
Maybe their highest level would have been low A ball somewhere, but there were certainly guys who had very good arms who could have played.
Kerry had a good fastball and his out pitch was a true slider that he could locate. He certainly had the aptitude to learn a change-up and his athletic ability was way above average.
An important tool that Kerry had and can not be taught is that he took the ball whenever he was called upon. Three day's rest, one day of rest, parts of doubleheaders, catch one game and pitch the next- he never said no. In pro ball, with a strict day to day plan of work and rest, there's no doubt in my mind he would have been even better.
A touchdown for Kerry, but a loss to Colgate.
From the Buffalo Courier Express- Buffalo area football players,
Several Big 30 players in this win over Lehigh with Emporium's John Horning kicking the game winning field goal for Bucknell- a 48 yarder.
An end-of-the-season win for Bucknell wrapping up their first winning season since 1972. Kerry threw the game winning TD pass.
Kerry. John Oszustowicz, Tut Hanks and I played a couple of years for Allegany in the Alle-Catt League prior to Eldred fielding a team. We had some good teams, played with some very good players and enjoyed those summer Saturdays and Sundays.
I only played a season or two in Eldred before starting a series of moves around the country. Again, we had some good squads. I think I recall making the second tier of the Western N.Y. playoffs one summer.
One of my best memories of Alle-Catt ball was having Sunday cook-outs at my Mom and Dad's house in Larabee, just south of Eldred.
Kerry would come, walk directly to my Dad's garden, grab a bunch of green onions, wash them off at our outdoor faucet and proceed to just start eating them. All of this would take place before the hamburgers and hot dogs were even on the grill yet.
My dad really enjoyed Kerry. They'd talk some baseball, but even more about the oil business. My dad worked in the oil fields after WWII and he and Kerry would sit on the patio and talk shop.
John and Cindy Hepfer would bring their little girls and Jimmy Green and the other guys would come. Baseball and cookouts-almost nothing can beat that.
Below: it looks like the guys ALMOST had Crosby in this one.
Below: 1980 Pennsylvania All Star Squad.
Kerry went 5-5 in this contest with two home runs.
A team photo of the 1979 O-E football team. Kerry was an assistant coach.
The 1981 Portville Central football team. Kerry was an assistant coach. Some of the players on that squad were: Chris Porcello. Rob Wolfer, Tony Otto, Rick Mott, Pat Dunn, Ron McClarin and Roger Sisson.
Kerry eventually became the Head Coach at Otto-Eldred and was awarded the Big 30 Coach of the Year honor after bringing the Terrors back to a winning season.
I shared this next comment with Kerry when we spoke early in this calendar year. He was the only teammate who ever yelled at me (scolded me) during a game. It was justified, deserved and embarrassing, but it needed to be done. I truly believe it was the only time I didn't give a full effort in a game, but the team saw it on the baseball field and he told me, "If you don't want to be here, go home."
I felt horrible, not because he said it, but because I had forced him too. We never played like that and for that one instant I let him down.
I think it was in the early 2000's and my mom and I had eaten dinner at the restaurant right in front of the Kendall Bridge. We were walking to our car. Night had fallen and the parking area was not well lighted. I saw a jeep-like vehicle pull away from the gasoline pumps nearby.
I noticed a guy with a beard driving and almost immediately thought it might be Kerry. I'm sure he didn't see me (why would he ever think I would be around?)
If I could have that moment back, I would have waved him down. Even if I was wrong with my identification, what harm would it have caused?
And that was the last time I ever saw him.
Many people have spoken or written poetically about life and death. As stated earlier, we all have faced it and will continue to as we traverse day to day.
I don't have any words that I think can help anyone else. All I try to do, like when my parents and other loved ones have passed and now Kerry, is to do something good-make something better, even if it's just a little.
Kerry Snow- a friend and teammate to many.
I'd like to dedicate this to Kerry's family and our class of '73: Ann, Howard, Cindy, Terry, Loretta, John, Patti, Ray, Susan, Tom, Debbie, Elaine, Steve, Dean, Patty, Tim, Janet, Jeff, Bruce, Tina, Betty and all our other classmates and friends.
