On December 6, the Siena community gathered to grieve the loss and celebrate the life of Coach Liam Gleason, who died on December 3 from the injuries he suffered from a fall at his home the previous Sunday. Thousands of mourners attended.
The funeral Mass began with each member of Gleason's lacrosse team placing a flower on his cremated remains. They wore “Liam Strong” shirts and on the back, the shirts featured both the Siena and UAlbany mascots - the latter being Gleason’s alma mater.
Gleason was remembered for his kind heart, compassion for others, and devotion to his family. He is survived by his wife of 12 years, Jaclyn, and their three young children: Kennedy, Penn, and Tate.
Kennedy proclaimed the first reading and afterwards said, “I just want to say, I love my dad so much, and one of my goals this year is to be one of the best lacrosse players and get a scholarship for lacrosse,” drawing a smile from her mom and Gleason’s wife, Jaclyn, and loud applause from those in attendance at the UHY Center.
Leading the funeral Mass, Fr. Mark Reamer, O.F.M., vice president for mission (above), reflected, “We give thanks for Liam’s life, his ready smile, his willingness to lend a hand, the many qualities and characteristics that we remember so fondly, what came through was his love, both as a coach, but perhaps maybe more as a mentor, who could be a big, goofy kid who took the game seriously, but not himself. Most important, he’s remembered as a coach who “brought the juice” and never stopped believing in his players.”
Three student athletes on the lacrosse team - Conor Hufnagel, R.J. Ihlefeld, and Colby LeBlanc - offered the prayers of the faithful, praying “for Liam who lived a life of generosity and dedication to God and his family, Jaclyn, Kennedy, Penn, and Tate.”
Scott Marr, the University at Albany’s longtime head coach and mentor of Gleason, brought a lacrosse stick up to the podium. He noted that Gleason's nickname was "The Tree" and that the stick came from nature, the tree.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to be in Liam’s life, for what we’re all feeling today and our love for Liam and what he’s meant to all of us for all these years,” Marr said. He concluded by handing the lacrosse stick to Liam's family.
Siena President Chuck Seifert offered words of remembrance at the end of the funeral. “What endures is how he made people feel valued and feel seen. He sat with a student when they were struggling. How he welcomed parents and alumni like they were old friends. He created a sense of belonging that reached far beyond this campus.”
Later that day over email, President Seifert informed the Siena community of the passing of Vera Eccarius-Kelly, Ph.D., professor of political science and international relations (below, middle). On November 13, Siena lost Mark Rosenberry, Ph.D., a professor in the physics department for more than 20 years (below, right). Below, reflecting on the loss that the Siena community has experienced in the past few weeks, Fr. Mark draws comfort from St. Francis of Assisi who wrote a final stanza to his canticle in which he called death his sister - "Welcome Sister Death."
In November, the community also mourned the loss of Fr. Kevin Mackin, O.F.M., the ninth president of Siena. A wake was held at the St. Mary of the Angels Chapel on November 20.
The Political Science department is organizing a fund in Eccarius-Kelly's memory and will host a celebration of her life for the Siena community in April. A service for Rosenberry will be held on campus in the Franciscan Friars Commons in Gioia Hall on Monday, December 15, at 11 A.M. The Coach Liam Gleason Memorial Lacrosse Scholarship has been established in Gleason's memory.
"Francis viewed death not as an enemy to be feared, but as a natural and integral part of God's creation, a 'sister' who guides us to eternal life. It’s this faith in the resurrection that I lean into at times like this, but such a perspective of faith does not take away the pain of loss, the sadness of grief or the heavy heart. I think it’s true if we dare to love and enter into relationship we’re going to know grief. I take comfort that I grieve not alone, but rather in the context of this wonderful Siena community. I’m reminded that the embrace of 'Sister Death' is not simply about the final moments, it’s also a practice of living each day with a deeper appreciation for the people in our lives and the many ways we reflect the face of God to one another. This is a time for us all the more to come together, to support one another, to be gentle with ourselves and one another."
Mark Reamer, O.F.M., vice president for Mission