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concerned about each other. I mean you’re going to get your isolated incidents with 2500 kids — of course there will be problems. It’s not all “Pollyanna,” but on average, people care for each other — the teachers care for the kids, the kids care for each other, the teachers care for the other teachers. What has coaching track meant to you? Track embodies a work ethic; it’s a lifetime sport. Not that I ran well. I didn’t like running. I didn’t have good track coaches growing up. But as a coach, I wound up doing track, and it became my passion for forty years, even though it was not where I started. It was one of my early career moves. Somehow it just became my passion — I didn’t want to do anything else. Track athletes — both boys and girls — are a special breed. They can just focus and they tend to be the better students. If they’re not the greatest student, they tend to be hard working students. Their interaction with each other is just wonderful. Again, coaching is just like teaching, the athletes see you have the passion and they’ll pick up the passion as well. We had so many coaches and assistant coaches from all different backgrounds and ages who had so much interest in them. The athletes can see that. Perhaps the best career move was leaving the city. I had to take a chance — I didn’t want to die with the sport in the city. The younger athletes in the track program didn’t want to be there. So I took a chance and went for a different education route for the sport. I left the teaching job that I was happy with for track. And track worked out well for quite a while. I struggled with the teaching early on in the transition. But I hung in there, and eventually you overcome your obstacles. What does the Kelleberg Family mean to you? The Kellenberg Family means a lot to me. If I’m not doing this anymore, I’m going to miss it because everyone has been so good. Working with the teachers and administrators — I’m not trying to brown them up or anything — but Bro. Kenneth has Continue to page 23 K E L L E N B E RG .O RG
SIGHT FOR YOUNG EYES photos by ROB LOUD ’97
This year JESSICA (PARRINELLI) DARCY ’97 launched a new business venture, funoogles, a company that creates customizable eyewear for children. Based on her experiences with her young daughter, who was unhappy having to wear the same classes every day, Jessica came up with an idea for a way for children to express their creativity, assert their individuality, and boost their self-esteem. They were recently featured on The View as part of a “Must Have Monday” segment which highlighted noteworthy products for children. Jessica describes her products as “fun, fashionable, and easy to interchange…each set of eyewear gives kids a unique look and parents an affordable way to keep their children in style.” While funoogles products are made in America, Jessica’s
purpose spans the globe. According to Jessica, she was inspired “to establish a profitable business model with a social mission.” Realizing how many children around the world lack proper eye care, Jessica and her husband, PAT ’96 traveled to Santiago in the Dominican Republic to partner with the Volunteer Health Program and provide sunglasses to children who received cataract, strabismus, and other vision saving surgeries. Jessica invited photographer and friend, Rob Loud ’97 to join them on this mission trip and chronicle this unforgettable experience. For more information on funoogles, go to www.funoogles.com.
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