Today we attended a funeral for our friend, Pat Raidy. He was such a cool guy, and was a great coach and mentor for Tanner during Little League last year. He was diagnosed with brain cancer last fall, and died less than a year later. We will miss him.The following article was in the Arizona Republic about Pat.
Desert Ridge's Kyle Raidy treasures memories of father
by José E. Garcia - Mar. 11, 2010 07:37 PM
The Arizona Republic .
Desert Ridge's Kyle Raidy treasures memories of father
by José E. Garcia - Mar. 11, 2010 07:37 PM
The Arizona Republic .
Senior center fielder Kyle Raidy is at it again, making spectacular plays look routine.
Raidy's late-inning heroics in center field in the 2009 Class 5A Division II title game helped Mesa Desert Ridge capture its first title. In the Scottsdale Quarterback Club tournament semifinals this season, Raidy made another remarkable catch that kept his team in the game and allowed Desert Ridge to win the game and later claim the tournament title.
Raidy took pleasure in sharing the special moments he experienced in the state final last year with his parents, Teri and Pat, and four brothers, including Brandon, Desert Ridge's senior right fielder in 2009.
The Raidy family lost Pat to cancer 11 days ago. Pat died at his home, five minutes before Raidy and Desert Ridge took their home field for the Scottsdale Quarterback Club final.
Pat's friend Scott Vaughan, the father of Desert Ridge catcher Russell Vaughan, told Kyle his father passed away after the tournament's final was over.
Kyle is leaning on his family and teammates as he mourns the loss of his father, who always told Raidy to be the best he can be and have no regrets.
"When it hit me that my father had died (after the tournament final), I walked out to right-center field and sat there," Kyle said. "My teammates came over to me and told me they were there for me."
Said Desert Ridge coach Pat Herrera: "He's one of our quiet leaders. Guys look up to him. That's why this hurt our team so much."
Right-center field has served as a special place for the Raidy family.
That's where Kyle Raidy made "The Catch" in the championship game at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. With the score tied at 8 in the top of the seventh inning with two outs and two Phoenix Horizon runners on base, Raidy sprinted to the right-center alley for a fly ball before diving and catching the ball near the end of his glove.
Desert Ridge scored a run in the bottom of the seventh to win 9-8. Pat was recording the game on his camera but turned it off during Kyle's catch because he needed to change batteries.
But it didn't keep Pat from rejoicing what his sons accomplished. A local company recorded the game and gave the Raidys a recording of the game.
"Really . . . truly, it doesn't get any better than that for a parent," Teri said, "to have one son playing in center field and another son in right field on that play.
"Pat knew one of them was going to make the catch."
"I remember the look on his (Pat's) face after the game," Kyle said. "He was so happy."
"My dad got the best hug from me out of everybody I hugged after that championship game," Brandon said. "I ran up to the bleachers and told him I love him. That was a big moment in his life seeing us win that title."
Living with Pat was a blast.
Teri and Pat used to jump on Pat's Harley and go for rides. Kyle looked forward to Sundays during the NFL season because Pat made his favorite tasty treats - guacamole and chicken wings.
Pat loved to have fun, but he also taught his boys - Pat, 21; Brandon, 19; Kyle, 17; C.J, 14; and Ian, 12 - about the significance of an honest day's work. Pat never missed a day of work during an 11-year stretch when he worked for the city of Glendale, Calif., where he received a plaque and a congressional award for rescuing a passenger from a burning vehicle.
When the Raidys moved to Arizona, Pat became an asset to the City of Mesa as a safety and training coordinator, receiving a professional achievement award in Tampa in 2008. About 80 of Mesa's trash trucks were parked during Pat's funeral services.
There was a picture of Pat's sons on each truck.
"He always told the boys never to be late and never make excuses," Teri said. "He made them accountable for their actions, and for that I'm so grateful."
Kyle has kept playing baseball since his father passed away.
On Wednesday, he was practicing with his teammates while his brother Ian was on the field watching. Near the end of the practice, Ian, Kyle and Desert Ridge's players lined up to run sprints.
Those were moments Pat treasured.
Raidy's late-inning heroics in center field in the 2009 Class 5A Division II title game helped Mesa Desert Ridge capture its first title. In the Scottsdale Quarterback Club tournament semifinals this season, Raidy made another remarkable catch that kept his team in the game and allowed Desert Ridge to win the game and later claim the tournament title.
Raidy took pleasure in sharing the special moments he experienced in the state final last year with his parents, Teri and Pat, and four brothers, including Brandon, Desert Ridge's senior right fielder in 2009.
The Raidy family lost Pat to cancer 11 days ago. Pat died at his home, five minutes before Raidy and Desert Ridge took their home field for the Scottsdale Quarterback Club final.
Pat's friend Scott Vaughan, the father of Desert Ridge catcher Russell Vaughan, told Kyle his father passed away after the tournament's final was over.
Kyle is leaning on his family and teammates as he mourns the loss of his father, who always told Raidy to be the best he can be and have no regrets.
"When it hit me that my father had died (after the tournament final), I walked out to right-center field and sat there," Kyle said. "My teammates came over to me and told me they were there for me."
Said Desert Ridge coach Pat Herrera: "He's one of our quiet leaders. Guys look up to him. That's why this hurt our team so much."
Right-center field has served as a special place for the Raidy family.
That's where Kyle Raidy made "The Catch" in the championship game at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. With the score tied at 8 in the top of the seventh inning with two outs and two Phoenix Horizon runners on base, Raidy sprinted to the right-center alley for a fly ball before diving and catching the ball near the end of his glove.
Desert Ridge scored a run in the bottom of the seventh to win 9-8. Pat was recording the game on his camera but turned it off during Kyle's catch because he needed to change batteries.
But it didn't keep Pat from rejoicing what his sons accomplished. A local company recorded the game and gave the Raidys a recording of the game.
"Really . . . truly, it doesn't get any better than that for a parent," Teri said, "to have one son playing in center field and another son in right field on that play.
"Pat knew one of them was going to make the catch."
"I remember the look on his (Pat's) face after the game," Kyle said. "He was so happy."
"My dad got the best hug from me out of everybody I hugged after that championship game," Brandon said. "I ran up to the bleachers and told him I love him. That was a big moment in his life seeing us win that title."
Living with Pat was a blast.
Teri and Pat used to jump on Pat's Harley and go for rides. Kyle looked forward to Sundays during the NFL season because Pat made his favorite tasty treats - guacamole and chicken wings.
Pat loved to have fun, but he also taught his boys - Pat, 21; Brandon, 19; Kyle, 17; C.J, 14; and Ian, 12 - about the significance of an honest day's work. Pat never missed a day of work during an 11-year stretch when he worked for the city of Glendale, Calif., where he received a plaque and a congressional award for rescuing a passenger from a burning vehicle.
When the Raidys moved to Arizona, Pat became an asset to the City of Mesa as a safety and training coordinator, receiving a professional achievement award in Tampa in 2008. About 80 of Mesa's trash trucks were parked during Pat's funeral services.
There was a picture of Pat's sons on each truck.
"He always told the boys never to be late and never make excuses," Teri said. "He made them accountable for their actions, and for that I'm so grateful."
Kyle has kept playing baseball since his father passed away.
On Wednesday, he was practicing with his teammates while his brother Ian was on the field watching. Near the end of the practice, Ian, Kyle and Desert Ridge's players lined up to run sprints.
Those were moments Pat treasured.
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