By
Andrew DeMarco
In some earlier Rosy Glows, I have written about my “niece” Michele “Belle” Koclanes and her exploits as a basketball player and coach. A few weeks ago, I was honored to be invited to her induction ceremony into the University of Richmond Athletic Hall of Fame for basketball, all 5’2” of her. I would like to congratulate her and the four other inductees as well as a Team of Distinction which was the 2002 Women’s Soccer Team. Michele, as I had expected, hit one from downtown with her acceptance speech.
What I noticed during all the acceptance speeches were two common themes, teammates and family. All the inductees spoke of how their teammates made them better and helped them to achieve their goals, but it was the family that really got them over the top.
Michele’s speech got me thinking that she has been a member of a HOF long before that night which I’ll call a FHOF (Family Hall of Fame). Let’s start with her parents Dean and Olympia and Michele honoring them in her speech said it all. Other Hall of Famers include her oldest sister Nicole and her husband Jared and their two children, her younger sister Alexandra (Ali), her husband Daniel and their three children and her youngest sister Kristen, her husband Vincent and their three children, all hall of famers. Oh, and one cannot forget the youngest of this crew, her brother Christopher who got a special shout out from Michele. I also cannot forget some of the newest members of this HOF, Michele’s wife Jill and their two daughters. This is truly a team of distinction therefore a FHOF member.
I came to a few realizations after the ceremony that night and talking with the other inductees that no matter how you cut it, family is the foundation of all we do. I also realized that I am a member of a family of distinction, a Hall of Fame Family. I look at all the accomplishments of my cousins and now their children and in some cases their grandchildren. I see what my niece has accomplished and I have no doubt that we all are members of the FHOF.
Another realization was that I could take it even further. Most of my friends and acquaintances are members of families that are teams of distinctions and by extension Family Hall of Fame members. For example, families such as the Ruggieros, Childs, Monaghans, McLaughlins, Cherricos and Floridas just to name a few all fit into this category. I could go on, but the list would be far too long for the space allotted for this Glow.
So, I arrived at my final realization and that was that as crazy as this world might seem at this time, that as long as we keep producing families of distinction worthy of the Family Hall of Fame membership, we will be fine. It may take some time, but we will get there. Knowing this gives me that feeling that Cousin Bob would call that…..Rosy Glow!
To all the Hall of Fame Families out there,
Happy Thanksgiving!
Bob's Rosy Glow 