 By Scott Pitoniak
Democrat and Chronicle
(May 15, 2002) — Mike Fennell, the former Fairport High star athlete
and New York Yankee farmhand who coached McQuaid to the Section V
baseball title last spring, died early Wednesday at Highland Hospital.
Mr. Fennell was 42.
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File photo/Carlos
Ortiz
In 2001 members of the McQuaid
baseball team shaved their heads in support of their cancer-stricken coach
Mike Fennell (center). With him is his son Ryan.
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He had been diagnosed with inoperable non-smoker's lung cancer on
Election Day 2000, but waged a courageous battle against the disease, inspiring scores of
people throughout the Rochester area and beyond. Although weakened from chemotherapy and radiation treatments, Mr.
Fennell showed up at Frontier Field last May and coached McQuaid to a
victory against Irondequoit in the Section V championship game. The
nationally ranked Knights advanced all the way to the state title game.
At Frontier Field, the Red Wings observed a moment of silence for Mr.
Fennell before the start of Wednesday's doubleheader with Richmond.
Mr. Fennell received the Major Donald Holleder Award for courage from
the Rochester Press-Radio Club in January and the Inspiration Award from
the James P. Wilmot Cancer Center last month.
He is survived by his wife, Erin, and their three children. |
