Iona Prep’s official newspaper. Winter 2016
Quinn for the Win By Mr. Frank Meade, ‘01
At 14 years old, sitting inside of the Tully gymnasium and listening to some stranger talk to you about the Iona brotherhood is not exactly inspiring. It's a tough crowd, so to speak, and at this stage of your life, the message doesn't exactly hit home. So in 1998, like a typical teenager, I ignored the message and mocked and mimicked the “Iona brotherhood” phrase for years. Now, at 32 years old and a member of the faculty at Iona, standing in that same gymnasium, surrounded by familiar faces, I got the chance to listen to one of my best friends talk about this same phrase. That night, the Iona Brotherhood brought together an amazing crowd to support one of my classmates and best friends, Pat Quinn. The crowd was captivated. The gymnasium was packed with people wanting to see a great contest between two excellent teams, Iona and Christ the King. And while this basketball game proved to be just that, the meaning of the night
reached much deeper than the action on the court. At halftime ‐ when fans usually make their way to concession stands and snack machines, and the two teams run to the locker rooms to make adjustments ‐ something very special happened. Both the fans and teams remained in their seats and listened to an important message. Pat told the silent crowd that his fight against ALS has been a tough one, and it is one that requires help, but he knows that he can count on his Iona brothers to be there every step of the way. His courage and determination continue to inspire us all. He has raised millions of dollars for the fight against ALS. He has given speeches to thousands of people around the world. He has won awards and inspired people to keep fighting this terrible disease. But what made that night so special was Pat’s return to a place where a group of 14 year olds began a journey and became part of the Iona brotherhood.