CYO volunteers honored for service to community, Church

By John Shaughnessy

With a father’s love and pride, Richard Turner spent countless days and nights teaching, coaching and cheering for his daughter, Liz, as she played basketball through grade school, high school and college.

More than a few times, Turner traveled several hundred miles just to see her play in college—just to see her—even while knowing that his time with Liz could be limited to watching her on the court or exchanging a few words before she had to board the team bus.

Such can be the depth of the bond between a dad and his daughter.

So when Turner recently received the Catholic Youth Organization’s highest honor, it seemed fitting that Liz Turner Suscha smiled with love and pride for her father—a member of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Indianapolis who kept coaching children and influencing lives long after Liz played her last CYO game.

“He not only impacted me as an athlete and a person, he’s impacted so many kids through the years,” said Turner Suscha, who’s now 30. “He’s not only passionate about basketball, he tries to translate the skills on the court to real life. He always talks about teamwork, commitment and discipline. I have a lot of admiration and respect for how he takes the time to use the sport to influence and improve people.”

That last sentence of praise could also apply to the other winners of the CYO’s St. John Bosco Medal for distinguished volunteer service to youth. All are connected to parishes in Indianapolis: Ted Brindle of St. Simon the Apostle, Jim Dossman of St. Matthew, Jerry Jones of Immaculate Heart of Mary, Jack Rossman of St. Barnabas and Mike Clements, a former St. Jude parishioner who now resides in SS. Francis and Clare of Assisi Parish in Greenwood.

The CYO recognized Brindle for coaching football, basketball and track at St. Simon—and for volunteering for 25 years at the CYO City Track Meet.

Clements was praised for a CYO coaching career that has extended more than 40 years at several parishes, while Dossman was lauded for his ability and his personality in his roles as a coach and the gym manager at St. Matthew Parish.

Jones was applauded for his focus on making a difference in the lives of young people rather than placing an emphasis on winning—a philosophy that guides him as the cross country coach at Immaculate Heart.

Rossman was saluted for his ability to connect with the third- and fourth-grade students he has coached for more than 20 years in the football program at St. Barnabas—and for teaching the values of hard work and sportsmanship.

The six winners are among the 35 adults and 28 youths who were honored by the CYO during an evening prayer service on May 10 at SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Indianapolis.

Liz Turner Suscha has also honored her father by following his example: coaching girls and young women in basketball for the past 10 years after a playing career that extended from St. Thomas to Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School in Indianapolis to Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island.

In the past few years, the father and daughter have coached separate teams at St. Thomas—in the same gym where the father once coached the daughter.

“A lot of it has to do with it being something that’s a lot of fun for me to do,” Richard Turner said. “Playing CYO is probably more important for the kids who aren’t particularly talented, who won’t get to play in high school. This is their chance to understand what sports is about, and how it builds character.”

Playing sports is also important to building the confidence of girls and preparing them for a world where sports terminology is often a part of many professions, he said.

His daughter noted, “When I was playing, he always asked how I felt about my performance. He always encouraged me to set standards and do what I could to meet those standards. Basketball has really meant a lot to our relationship. I coach because he has for so many years.”

The example of family also inspired Emily Hensley’s volunteer service that led her to be honored as one of the recipients of the Spirit of Youth Award.

Emily started as a volunteer when she was 4—by helping her mother, Amy, and her grandmother, Marilyn Groth, sweep, dust and clean the Church of the Holy Cross in Indianapolis once a month, a chore they did together for 12 years.

Since then, Emily, now 18, has donated her time to preparing children for their first Communion, assisting in the parish’s children’s liturgy program and helping young parish members challenged by autism and Down syndrome.

“She’s always there for the underdog,” her mother said.

“She has a real ability to put herself aside and focus on others,” said Eileen Paige, the faith formation director at Holy Cross. “She was in a car accident a few years ago when she hit a patch of ice, the car spun and she got a concussion. Soon after she got out of the hospital, she helped her mom with the children’s liturgy even though she said her head still hurt.”

Emily still remembers dusting pews.

“It was my first job,” she said. “Once my mom got me involved in volunteering, I loved it. I like bringing smiles to people’s faces. That’s why I want to be a doctor. It’s my way of helping people.”

That spirit strengthens the Catholic faith, according to Edward J. Tinder, the CYO director. He especially cited the winners of the St. John Bosco Award for setting the standard.

“They have willingly and enthusiastically passed on the values and the traditions of our Catholic faith,” Tinder said. “They have helped more than anybody else to develop the leadership of our community and our Church.” †