Family, friends remember Lenny Reich: 'I'm really going to miss him.'

ALLIANCE – A community that extends across regions and professions is mourning the death of Lenny Reich.

The 48-year-old husband of Helen and father of Caroline died Monday after a courageous battle with cancer. He was well known in collegiate sports as a sports information director, formerly working at University of Mount Union and currently was Alliance City Schools' athletic director.

"He was a class act," his brother, Joseph Reich, said. "I think his attitude was to be extremely positive, to protect the people around him" through his health battle.

Lenny Reich, a native of North East, Pennsylvania, had been hired in Alliance in May to succeed Mike Schott, who left for Canton City Schools.

Prior to that, Reich made a name for himself for 14 years at University of Mount Union, where he was SID and assistant athletic director. He won multiple awards.

"He was a great family guy," said Harry Paidas, faculty emeritus at Mount Union, who hired Reich in 2008. "He and Helen did a lot together. The sun rose and set on Caroline."

In June, Reich was inducted into the College Sports Information Directors of America Hall of Fame. He also received the Bill Nichols Media Award from the Ohio Athletic Conference in August.

He also served three years on the College Sports Communicators (formerly CoSIDA) executive board.

"He was the best collegiate athletics communications director that I ever met, in any division," said Kevin Ruple, former director of athletic communications at Baldwin Wallace University.

Reich started his career in the OAC in 2000 at Capital University in Columbus before joining Mount Union in 2008. He also worked at Marian University and Defiance College.

Back then, Paidas was in charge of public affairs at Mount Union and the university was searching for a SID. Reich, already with a good reputation at Capital, was recommended.

"We brought him up for an interview, and he had a pretty touch decision to make at that time. His daughter was young and his wife had a job. We were fortunate to get him here. He did a fantastic job," Paidas said.

"My foundation is solid ..."

Reich lost a battle with myelofibrosis - a rare blood cancer – that was diagnosed in April. He later underwent a bone marrow transplant, offering updates on his progress through Facebook.

Three days before he checked into Cleveland Clinic for the transplant in September, Reich said: "My foundation is solid thanks to my family, friends, co-workers and all of you. I am as ready for this as I will ever be ..."

Ruple kept in touch with Reich regularly. They spoke last week. Reich was in the hospital. "He was pretty chipper. He was pretty upbeat."

But there was a turn, and Ruple said Reich was taken to intensive care, where he later died.

"Last night was a tough night," said Mark Adkins, director of athletic communications for McMurry University in Texas, who shared a 21-year friendship with Reich and his family.

The two men met while working with Ruple and others on the Don Hansen's National Football Gazette All-America teams for small colleges, and they became "fast friends."

Among their common interests was baseball. Adkins is a Kansas City Royals fan, while Reich loved the Cleveland baseball team. "It was a neat connection," Adkins said.

Adkins described Reich as "larger than life."

"He didn't just want to have that relationship based on sports information work," he said, "but a relationship based on true friendship. I'm really going to miss him."

So will many others.

Mourning a trusted friend

When his death was announced, an outpouring of love, prayers and condolences for Reich and his family came from around the country via social media.

For example, OAC Commissioner Sarah Otey said this about Reich on Twitter: "Absolutely gutted by the news of Lenny Reich's passing. The OAC was better because of this man's passion and influence. ..."

Mount Union and Alliance schools issued statements.

From Mount Union, "A very heartbreaking & devastating day for friends and family of such a great guy who always put his people first. Please keep his family in your thoughts & prayers."

"Mr. Reich wasn't at Alliance City Schools for very long, but in his short time, he had made a positive impact on the athletic community," Alliance schools stated.

Padias said Reich left Mount Union to have more opportunities to see his daughter play soccer at Alliance, and 15 years in the SID position was a "long time" for anyone, because it is "24/7" job.

Padias said Reich was "very knowledgeable" and could capture and retain statistics effortlessly. Joseph Reich said his brother possessed the skill at a young age.

"We ended up living in different worlds, but we grew up in the same house and he was more into learning about athletics. He could tell you every statistic," the 46-year-old Joseph Reich said. The younger brother served in the U.S. Marine Corps.

The Reich brothers grew up on a farm with their parents, Leonard II and Joy, where they grew grapes in northwest Pennsylvania. The farm was recently sold.

"I learned all about Concord grapes from Lenny," Padias said.

Others, who posted tributes, included sportswriters, former colleagues, Capital University and College Sports Communicators.

From Capital University, on Twitter: "He was a great family-man, tremendous friend, and an invaluable member of the sports information profession. Rest in Peace, Lenny."

And CSC stated on Facebook: "We are sending our sincerest condolences to his family and friends, in particular to his wife, Helen, and daughter, Caroline.

"A multi-award winner, Lenny was a huge contributor to college athletics − a trusted friend, student-athlete advocate, a talented professional always willing to assist a colleague and lend advice ...."

Joseph Reich said he has received numerous text messages and calls from people who knew his brother. "I've never seen anyone quite as popular. It's unbelievable," the little brother said.

Correction: Lenny Reich served 14 years at University of Mount Union. This story was updated to reflect the correct figure.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Lenny Reich, a longtime sports director in Alliance area, dies