Support for cancer-stricken John Carroll assistant AD Chris Wenzler shows power of community | Opinion

It’s been a difficult week at John Carroll University.

Longtime coach and athletic director Tony DeCarlo passed away April 18. A day later, JCU’s longtime assistant athletic director for communications and sports information — and all-around great guy ­— Chris Wenzler revealed difficult news on Facebook.

He said months of persistent bouts of a cold, lack of stamina, back pain, insomnia and other symptoms prompted a doctor’s visit. On April 19, bad news arrived in the form of multiple myeloma.

Suddenly, Wenzler’s thoughts were spinning out of control.

“I just couldn’t slow my mind down,” Wenzler wrote on Facebook.

Multiple myeloma arises when cancer cells travel through the body and form tumors in several different bones.

Wenzler said his doctor has prescribed drugs. He will meet with a chemotherapy consultant next week. Safe to say, this isn’t the week Wenzler envisioned. He was supposed to be celebrating winning the prestigious Bob Kenworthy Community Service Award, which is handed out during the annual College Sports Information Directors of America Convention every summer. Wenzler accepts the award June 30 in National Harbor, Md.

He’s receiving the award for his work accompanying groups of JCU students who travel to impoverished regions of developing countries, where they impact the lives of others through the campus ministry immersion program.

The 2017-18 school year is Wenzler’s 26th at JCU. He graduated from the school in 1990. In 2008, he was named the JCU’s first Assistant Athletic Director for Communications.

Wenzler isn’t from Ohio. He was born in Seattle, and spent time growing up in California, Missouri, Texas, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Virginia before settling in and making Northeast Ohio his home.

The area is better with Wenzler in it, and his impact at JCU has been, and continues to be big. When he took over the sports information office on Sept. 15, 1990, the staff consisted of three students and the office equipment included one computer, a dot matrix printer, a typewriter and a phone. In his 20 years, he has built an office that now boasts of over 30 student employees, a graduate assistant, and the latest in multimedia and equipment.

So when the news of Wenzler’s announcement made the rounds on social media early April 19, Samantha Cocco, a 2009 JCU grad originally from San Francisco, wanted to get involved and help the Wenzler family, which consists of wife Melissa and children Oliver and Madeline.

Cocco then connected with former JCU employee and friend Megan Drzurec. Cocco came up with the idea to connect with JCU alumni to tell Wenzler’s story. Drzurec executed it by creating a Go Fund Me account April 19 with the hashtag #WenzlersWarriors. Initially, 50 JCU alumni were contacted. The initial goal was to raise $5,000.

“We got there in the first few hours,” said Cocco. “It’s unbelievable how this is growing.”

The limit was increased until it reached $20,000. As of mid-afternoon April 22, the amount was nearly $24,000 with more than 200 contributing.

That’s the power and beauty of community, and folks coming together to help each other in difficult times.

“I am overwhelmed and humbled,” said Wenzler on April 22. “Words do not exist that fully express my gratitude. My wife (Melissa) calls it my George Bailey moment, and there is some truth to that. I feel like the richest man in town.”

Bailey is the fictional character in the classic holiday film “It’s a Wonderful Life.” The film is about an angel sent from Heaven to help a frustrated businessman by showing him what life would have been like if he had never existed.

The outpouring of support has lifted Wenzler’s spirits for sure, and Cocco is thrilled to have helped.

“Chris has one of those personalities that’s larger than life,” she said. “He’s always smiling no matter what. He’s a John Carroll foundation.”

She added this on Facebook: “Those of us who roamed JCU’s campus in that time were, whether we knew it or not, affected by Chris in some way ­— his kindness, his selflessness, his advice, his mentoring, his big laugh and beautiful spirit.”

Wenzler and I met almost 20 years ago. It’s not difficult to understand why people admire, care about and respect him. He’s in the right business as a communications director. That’s because Wenzler is a people person. He’s perfect for that role.

JCU All-America linebacker Mason McKenrick of Mentor High School worked with Wenzler a lot his last two years playing for the Blue Streaks. McKenrick won a boatload of honors and awards as a junior and senior, mostly because of his play, but also with help of promotion from Wenzler and his staff. He’s grateful for it.

“Chris is a great guy, a tough guy,” said McKenrick. “The John Carroll community is pulling for him.”

The love for Wenzler isn’t limited to JCU. Longtime Mount Union sports information director Lenny Reich, who recommended Wenzler for the Kenworthy Community Service Award, gave this testimonial: “What makes Chris special is his attitude, kindness and generosity in everyone he comes in contact with on and off campus. He is a genuine family man and I am not only glad to be a fellow colleague but glad to call him a friend.”

Wenzler knows he has a fight ahead, and he’s not backing down.

“I plan on being around for a while,” he wrote on Facebook. “Got events in my children’s life I want to be here for. Achievements of friends I want to celebrate. Championships of JCU sports teams I want to witness.”

Contact Podolski at MPodolski@News-Herald.com; On Twitter: @mpodo.

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