Unable are
the loved to die. For love is immortality.
- Emily
Dickinson
Eight years
ago Mount Vernon Park, and the community as a whole, lost a wonderful young
man, Mark Fracasso. Mark was 15 years
old and very active at MVP – as a Gator swimmer, tennis player, lifeguard, and
overall nice guy that loved to be at the Park as much as possible.
 |
| Mark with his parents, Mark and Michele Fracasso, and their daughter Ali |
Glen Bolger,
previous Team Rep and Gator blogger, has run reflections on this tragedy every
year since Mark died in an accident and Glen asked me if I would post the
special blog one more time in honor of Mark and in support of the Fracasso
family during Anna’s last summer swimming for the Gators. Anna is 18 and was celebrated with fellow
Seniors a couple weekends ago. I told
Glen that I would be honored to remember Mark and the Fracasso family in this
special way.
Recently I
reached out to Mark’s parents, Michele and Mark, to ask if they would be
willing to share a picture or two of Mark for all those that knew and loved
him, as well as those Gators that never had the chance to meet or spend time
with him. They were very kind to send me
two wonderful pictures. Michele shared with me a few words that
provide insight into the type of Gator Mark was. He was a humble team member, and once asked
Sean Bourne (another great MVP swimmer at that time) to swim another leg at Division Relay Carnival, because he knew he was not going to swim as fast as Sean.
 |
| We will never forget you Mark. |
Eight years ago
my two kids were young swimmers and Carrie and I were beginning our Gator
journey and just starting to get to know MVP families, and unfortunately we
never had the chance to meet Mark. But I
am certain I would have liked him very much.
As I look at his pictures I see the enthusiasm, happiness, and fun
spirit of hundreds of Gator kids that have come through the program, thrived,
and touched my heart.
I encourage
all Gator families to read the blog posted some years ago, remember the
Fracasso family, reflect on the amazing community that is Mount Vernon Park,
and hug each other a little tighter today.
One of my favorite reflections as my kids get older is that the days go
slow, but the years go by fast. May all
of us remember that our days together are precious.
Here is the link to the Reflections:
I very vividly remember Mark. I was his coach and teammate when he was quite young. He was certainly a memorable personality!! Even as a little kid, he was always laughing and making those around him smile. He was a genuinely fun kid--the kind you couldn't wait to see every day at practice to see what he'd come up with.
ReplyDeleteI don't want to ascribe motivations to the Fracasso family but I have been amazed by their resilience in the face of an unfathomable tragedy. I cannot imagine the pain, both immediate and enduring, that losing a child brings. It seems to me that they have kept on their path not despite Mark's passing but because they are unwilling to let his spirit fade away. I feel there is so much we can learn from the Fracasso family and their grace under fire.