The Centre County soccer community continues to pour out its heart for Mack Brady.
Brady died unexpectedly on Dec. 31, 2012 as a result of a died Monday night from a swift, severe bacterial infection about two weeks shy of his ninth birthday.
Since that time, there have been several tributes for the youngster, who is the son of Christian and Elizabeth Brady. On Sept. 26 at Jeffrey Field, the Penn State women’s soccer team paid tribute to Mack. His No. 7 was everywhere — on T-shirts, hats — even on the field.
Christian Brady, Dean of the Schreyer Honors College at Penn State, says that the support from Penn State, Centre County and the soccer community has touched his entire family.
“It’s incredible. It means so much to us. It really encourages us,” Brady says. “There’s nothing that can replace Mack, but to know that so many people are celebrating his life and supporting us and loving us, it helps make the unbearable bearable.”
Mack loved soccer and knew by the age of 5 that he wanted to be a goalkeeper. He played in several area leagues, including Centre Soccer Association, Penn United and with the State College Celtics. He was well-known at Jeffrey Field, attending nearly every Penn State men’s and women’s game.
According to Brady, he’s seen Mack’s No. 7 everywhere — not only at Jeffrey Field.
“I’ve seen it across campus. It chokes you up. Mack really wanted to play on this field and we’re able to see him out here — in a sense, through our players. Every Penn State goalkeeper will wear Mack’s patch on the back of their jerseys forever. It’s really special. It’s quite an honor,” Brady says.
But Mack’s memory lives on in many more ways. Shortly after Mack’s death, the Bradys established the Mack Brady Memorial Soccer Fund at Penn State. The fund provides an endowment to Penn State goalkeepers to support recruiting, equipment, scholarships and other needs.
Since its inception nine months ago, the fund has raised more than $140,000.
On Sept. 26, players from Penn United ran out onto the field with the Penn State and Purdue women’s teams. They stood on the field for the National Anthem and a moment of silence to pay tribute to Mack.
Aaron Decker of Pleasant Gap was at Jeffrey Field for Mack Brady Night. His son, Jonathan, took the field with members of the Purdue women’s team.
“Watching from the stands, I saw my son out there with a girl who was on his very first soccer team. I saw his first-ever soccer coach here and countless other kids from all over Centre County from all different age groups and organizations. Whenever you come here, you never see someone you don’t know,” he says.
As a parent, Decker has been touched by the outpouring of support from the soccer community.
“It’s so great to know that even know the players may not have known Mack Brady’s name before the tragedy that there’s a connection. There’s an understanding. It’s a community, it’s family,” Decker explains. “I don’t think you’ll find that anywhere else. What happened was such a terrible tragedy, but to use it for such a good purpose is just amazing.”
Click HERE for more information or to donate to the fund.
