On Tuesday, former Manhasset resident and one of its all-time greatest athletes lost a long fight with brain cancer. Johnny Driscoll battled his cancer in the same fashion in which he lived his life, with dignity and class.

John was an incredibly gifted athlete. However, he was not a big guy. At 5'10" 160 lbs. simply looking at him would not instill fear in the eyes of the opposition. The problem for those playing defense against him was that they were usually looking at his back...and the number 32 was getting smaller and smaller as he accelerated past them. He had tremendous speed and the heart of a lion. However, there was just something about him that made him different than other good lacrosse players. Maybe it was the tremendous confidence he had that he helped pass on to his teammates. Maybe it was his competitive nature and his unquenchable desire to win. But if you sat in the stands, like I did, you knew he would come through in the clutch. Even down by a couple of goals with the "clock on the field" you felt your team was going to win. In crunch time he wanted the ball and he usually made great things happen. Winning back to back Nassau County Championships in 1975-76, made it happy times for the MHS lacrosse fan.

His lacrosse talents, however, paled in comparison to his qualities as a man. John loved Manhasset. He felt so fortunate to grow up in a community where people really cared about each other and so many got involved in making it a better place to live.

The sports programs in Manhasset are remarkable. Who can forget names like Judge Ken Molloy, Harry Baugher, Dick Widmeyer, Tom Raleigh, Arthur Schulteiss, Frank Martocci and John Murphy (please forgive my spelling). Johnny was proud of Manhasset's lacrosse tradition and greatly appreciated the time devoted by many caring adults like the ones mentioned (and not mentioned) above. John also had a unique group of friends from Manhasset that have remained close even through today. I only wish I had the time to mention them all. You know who you are...you were "His Boys"!

John was always willing to help out too. As my older brother, he was there when I bought my first pair of Cons at Phil's (Manhasset Sport Shop). He spent hours working on my hoops game in the judge's backyard and later during winter break in the MHS gym. He helped me pick out my first lacrosse stick (it was wood by the way) again at Phil's. We spent endless hours playing catch off the wall in the back of MHS. I still remember the many nights on the MHS lacrosse fields shooting on the cage until you could no longer see the ball. All this and I was just one of his seven siblings. He was there for all of them time and time again.

John was blessed with two loving parents, Richard and Joan, who brought him up with solid morals and humility. They were very supportive of him growing up (as they were with all eight of us) and John never let them down. As he became a man, his relationship with our Dad changed. The more traditional father and son relationship was transformed into man to man, friend to friend. How lucky were they both to have had developed such a special bond!

Most recently, John had settled in South Bend, IN, with his wife Kara (McGowan) Driscoll and their 17-month-old triplets, John, Patrick and Ryan. His latest contribution to lacrosse was as an assistant coach at the University of Notre Dame. Just as John was always there for me and my family, we will be there for Kara and his sons. Johnny, we love you and will miss you.