Reflections on Danny Boy Picture

Danny Riley’s father Frank Riley has written a book about Danny’s experiences living with brain cancer. Sit and Listen: Reflections of a Father and Son combines Frank’s storytelling with Danny’s own thoughts, poems and words. Click here to read more.

My feelings about the Class of 2010 are colored by the absence of my son Danny who should be among those graduating.

On December 12, 1987, I stood by my new born son as he struggled for almost eight minutes to take his first breath. On October 31, 2007, I was by his side when he took his last.

October sings of birth and death, the melodious happy sounds recalling my daughter Alicia’s birth on October 25, 1985, and the harsh discords of my son Danny’s death on October 31, 2007.

Playing basketball in our driveway was Danny’s main athletic activity through his treatments his junior and senior years of high school. Making a long jump shot seemed to validate that he was okay, strong, and healing.