I’d like to take a break from hockey and tell you a story about somebody very special in my life. Somebody who brought her wisdom, her laughs, and her love to our family in the many years we shared with her. Somebody who inspired me to begin this crazy, fulfilling experience called the Tour de National League. My hero, my grandmother, Leona. 

On this day, 100 years ago, Leona began her journey in life on Staten Island in New York City. She, like many others of her generation, grew up in the midst of the Great Depression, perhaps materially poor but rich in spirit. She carried that spirit into her professional career as a schoolteacher for many decades in New Jersey, where my aunt and dad were both born and lived their childhoods. And she’s one of the main reasons I moved from Philadelphia to Charlotte back in 2018, as she spent many years of her retirement (and all of my life) here. 

Leona was an incredible lady who encouraged so many people, from the thousands of students she taught math to virtually every member of our family. Her positive attitude and generous spirit were contagious, and everyone who knew her benefitted from those incredible characteristics. 

She was a keen reader and follower of politics, which kept her mentally engaged for the many years of her life. She stayed physically active almost every day, enjoying long walks on the beaches of New Jersey and South Carolina, even using her treadmill in her condo well into her mid-90s. An unfortunate incident with a parking bollard outside Walgreens’ at the young age of 95 ended the treadmill’s career (and her BMW’s). 

She also enjoyed sports – particularly baseball, where we have some unconfirmed family stories of her sneaking into the bleachers at the old Yankee Stadium in New York. In fact, when she visited Pennsylvania for my high school graduation in 2011, we went to a local minor league baseball game, and she was as youthful as I can remember. Particularly when a fielder made an error (“Oh, that was stupid!”) and when the YMCA came on…

But it’s even fortunate that I had the privilege of spending 25 years of my life with her at all. Back in 1976, Leona was diagnosed with breast cancer. At the time, doctors told my aunt and father that in a good scenario, she maybe had 5 years to live with the disease. One mastectomy and THIRTY-SIX YEARS LATER (take that, Doctor), she was diagnosed again. But no complaints, no dire circumstances, nothing but a positive attitude and another mastectomy and another six years of incredible life to give to all of us. 

During that time, Grandma even embraced the joys of 21st century technology! We bought her an iPad and taught her how to Skype with us. Never mind that she just stared at the selfie cam and we could really just see up her nose, it was a nice gesture to talk to her “in person”. 

That’s not even the best story though; my sister and I visited her one summer to help her set up her computer. We decided to show her the cool features of Google Earth….her condo, our houses, New York City, and so on. She thought it so cool, but asked us if we could show her Baghdad, Iraq. “Baghdad? Of all places? Alright, let’s go see Baghdad…” She thought it was a live satellite feed and that she could watch the troops in real-time. Cue crying laughter emoji!

When I moved to Charlotte in April 2018, she was more frail, more forgetful, but not lacking for any spirit or warmth of heart. I cherished the many visits to her condo in Charlotte those last few months, particularly enjoying giving her some chocolate-covered strawberries for Mothers’ Day and writing to her on her whiteboard when her hearing aid batteries went out. But despite her declining physical and mental condition, only one thing mattered to her. “Are you happy? Are you doing something you enjoy?” That was all she wanted us to understand. That was her last lesson, but perhaps her most important. 

A few months after my return to North Carolina, Leona’s incredible story came to an end. But in a way, I’d like to think the Tour de NHL is a fitting epilogue. Encouraging us to do something we enjoyed led me to the idea of doing things I love: seeing hockey games, traveling, visiting with old and new friends. Her many years of charitable generosity led me to the idea of giving back to honor her memory and her life. Her two courageous (and successful) fights with cancer led me to the idea of supporting Hockey Fights Cancer, and without that encouragement and motivation, I never could’ve imagined the impact the Tour has made to date. In her honor I will continue to fight.

She was my hero, my teacher, and my inspiration for the adventure of a lifetime with an impact on a fantastic organization that has exceeded my wildest dreams. 

Grandma, I wish you a very happy 100^th birthday. Hope you’re enjoying your time with Grandpa Charlie, and thank you for being there with me on every step of the Tour. And don’t worry, I’m very happy, loving every minute of this adventure. 

Love you back!