Some Sad News today in Conshohocken

I heard the news this morning that Father Donlon had passed away, he was a part of this community for years at Saint Matthew’s. I have spent the better part of an hour and a half looking for a photo to post, and the fact is, he was not a fan of cameras at church. I’m sure in the coming days I will find a few photos, but while I was looking through thousands of photos I got another piece of sad news..

Billy Freas passed away this morning after a brief battle with cancer.

People may have mixed emotions when it comes to Father Donlon, I knew him as a child and he could be a little intimidating, as a young man I grew to appreciate him a little more and as an adult I understood him more than I did as a child or a young man.

Billy Freas on the other hand…. you didn’t need to take a long time to figure him out. He was as nice as they come. Always had a smile on his face and maybe a little too loud a hello in the morning for me when I would see him out and about. He was a good man, I recently became a father, and I have watched him be a father to a great young lady over the years, he would always take her with him anywhere he went. I truly feel sorry for her. He was involved with her soap box derby racing, her school activities.

A few months ago over 200 former players from Saint Matthew’s and Archbishop Kennedy got together for a reunion, I knew Billy was going to be there. He was about 10 years older than me, but I couldn’t wait to catch up with him there. He may have been one of the smallest guys in the room, but his voice was one of the loudest.

If you didn’t know Billy, he was truly a good hearted person. He loved when we posted the photo of him cutting grass shirtless. I’m going to miss him. I know his family is going to miss him more.