Good morning. I am Missy Conlon McElaney, Reid’s former Coach from the Danvers Y.M.C.A. Dolfins Swim Team. I have had the privilege of knowing the wonderful Sacco family for the last ten years.
I was inspired to use the letters in Reid’s name to help me describe the person I knew him to be.
R stands for RESPECT. I have admired Reid Sacco since the day I met him at the Danvers Y. He was 10 years old and in the fourth grade. What a hot ticket! He was a little boy but he had such powerful eyes and a wisdom that was way beyond his years. As his swim team coach at the time of two of his major operations, I was able to witness firsthand Reid’s remarkable courage to overcome great adversity. Reid showed so much compassion for others and NEVER felt sorry for himself. He even showed up at a memorial swim-a-thon for my brother, in a body cast and wheelchair while recuperating from one of his surgeries. He must have been so uncomfortable on that hot day in August, yet there he was making the rounds and making sure that we were OK… that I was OK. I will never forget that. But to Reid, it was something he felt he needed to do.
That was Reid.
E represents EXCELLENCE. Reid excelled at everything he did. He was at the top in school, swimming, crew, music, everything. Yet he remained the Unsung Hero. He never wanted the spotlight to be on him. He was the strong, silent one who led by example, a wonderful role model and mentor. Onlookers would marvel at his accomplishments thinking that everything came so easily to him. Reid actually worked twice as hard as everyone else and gave 110% to achieve what was ironically…… never good enough for him. He always thought that he could play better, swim faster, and learn more. He could not, and did not, settle for the status quo.
That was Reid.
I is for an INQUISITIVE INDIVIDUAL with INTEGRITY. Reid was one of the purest, most genuine people whom we will ever meet. This incredible tribute speaks volumes about the type of person Reid was. He was independent, strong-willed and never one to follow the crowd. Reid had that wonderful ability to make you feel like you were the most important person in the world. He also had a desire to learn as much as he could.
That was Reid.
D is for the DETERMINATION, DEDICATION, and DRIVE that Reid pursued every day of his life. This was a young man who after his first reconstructive surgery had to be lifted out of a wheelchair and lowered into the pool. Lorraine and I would have endless conversations worrying about Reid in the water. With 80 swimmers practicing at the same time in a five-lane pool, safety was a big issue. I was ready to switch him over to lap swimming but Reid insisted that he had to practice with the team. His plea was that he could not lose the freedom that the water provided OR the support from his teammates. Of course, I gave in to him! His resiliency was simply amazing. The doctors told Reid that he would not be physically able - to swim the breast stroke; and yet he defied the odds by qualifying for the National Championship meet - in what else – the 100-yard breast stroke. It proved that he truly had the heart of a champion.
That was Reid.
In closing, to Reid: We will miss you. You can never be replaced. And the courage that you showed all of us was truly extraordinary.
And to Lorraine, Gene, and Wes: Please take some comfort in knowing that as a family, you
LIVED WELL, LAUGHED OFTEN, and LOVED MUCH.
Thank you for sharing Reid with us.