SAINT ANTHONY'S HIGH SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT ALUMNI ...

On the morning of December 20, 2011, the Long Island youth
hockey scene lost possibly its most influential member. Marie
Drisco, the general manager of Saint Anthony’s hockey for
over 20 years, finally lost a decade-long battle with cancer
this morning.
To all those connected with Saint Anthony’s hockey, losing
a devoted, motherly figure like Marie is difficult. Today is
certainly a day for heavy hearts, but it’s also a day for
remembrance and appreciation of everything she’s done
for the organization, and the legacy she leaves behind.
In an organization that’s now more known for an abundance
of trophies and talent, Marie always fought to ensure
everyone who wanted to be a part of it would have a place
to play. She ran the club like a well-oiled machine, making it
a desired destination for some of Long Island’s top
players. She maintained a winning tradition
while cultivating the happiness of
so many lesser players, who
just wanted to be part of
the team.
Marie was a once-in-ageneration
kind soul
who came down to
the rink for every
Tuesday practice
just to see "her
boys" happy and
playing hockey.
The lady who
quickly became
the mother of Saint
Anthony’s hockey loved
nothing more than seeing
her Friars win. And win we did,
quite often in fact. Marie helped build one of the most
dominating high school hockey programs in New York. After
serving as the program’s general manager while her son was
attending the school, Marie prepared to resign, as per club
rules, when he graduated in the early 90’s.
Upon learning she would be stepping down at season’s
end, the parents voted to change the rules so that she may
continue leading the organization. They would’ve done
anything to keep her there, just as she would’ve done
anything to make sure every one of their boys had a place to
play. She decided to continue on with the organization, much
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by Michael Salerno ’06
to the delight of everyone involved. That was 18 years ago.
Prior to this morning, we all still felt as privileged to have her
as those parents who demanded she stay.
She butted heads with the Suffolk County Hockey League’s
board members when necessary in the name of fairness,
defending each and every player who ever came through
the organization like they were her own sons. When it came
time to join the Catholic high school league in 2009, she
oversaw the organization’s entrance into a prestigious
league. At first, some of the team’s new opponents were
against having another “general manager” in the mix.
However, when they saw how much smoother everything ran
because she was in charge, they quickly changed their minds.
As long as I had known her, Marie had been battling cancer.
We all feared this day, but for so long it was easy to believe
it would simply never come. It seemed as though every time
she took a turn for the worse she would simply fight through
and be right back rinkside for the next big game. She was a
pillar of strength and inspiration for anyone who’s ever worn
a Friars uniform.
I remember my first encounter with Marie. As a 14-year
old, wide-eyed, skinny freshman-to-be walking around
Saint Anthony’s Orientation Day in the spring of 2002, I
was relatively bewildered. Among all the tables advertising
different clubs and organizations within the school, I saw
one that said “ice hockey.”
Despite being a huge hockey fan, and street hockey legend
(in my own mind), I had never played organized ice hockey.
Finally, at the encouragement of my parents I mustered up
the courage to walk over to the table. There I was, welcomed
by her grand smile and her husband Frank, who convinced
me that even though I’d never played ice hockey before, it
was somewhere I belonged.
She couldn’t have been more right. That day, I became part
of the Saint Anthony’s hockey family, something I cherish to
this day. As the end drew near the past few days, I found
myself wondering how many kids she’d positively affected
as much as she had with me. The number is staggering and
could possibly be over 1,000. But that was the best part about
Marie. She never thought of it like that. To her, it was just
something she felt like she had to do.
Rest in peace Marie, we’ll never forget how you changed our
lives for the better and welcomed us in to one of the greatest
families we’ve ever been a part of.