#105: We are all Fairport

Dan Klass

The hill in mourning
Twenty-five years ago, I graduated from Fairport High School in Fairport, NY.

On June 26th of this year, a mere five days after graduating themselves, five young women died in a head on collision with a tractor trailer while traveling to a family cottage.
Hannah Congdon, Bailey Goodman, Meredith McClure, Sara Monnat, and Katie Shirley were the victims. I didn’t know them, of course, but I did. We all did. And, never will.

After all, we are all Fairport.

25 thoughts on “#105: We are all Fairport”

  1. wow… this was a really touching episode,

    you truly have one of the most insightful podcasts out there.

    p.s.

    love the show 🙂

  3. Wonderfully read? Man, I wish I took the time to write them and read them. I always tell myself I need to start doing that, but never do. Maybe someday I can devote more time to the show and actually work things out on paper first. Nice to think they actually sound…coherent.

    Someday, however, a book.

    – dK

  4. Thanks Dan,
    Not sure the interpretation, or my use of ‘read’ was quite right, but I meant that it was an excellent ‘telling’ of the story.

    I’m making it worse aren’t I?

    I’m from England Don’t ya know!

  6. This Washington Post Story is pretty recent.
    Doesn’t it look like 1 life is responsible for the other 4?

    Teach your children to avoid being in such situations, either as drivers, or as passengers. It’s *never* worth it.

    Heavy stuff, Dan. Heavy.

    (And, no, we don’t talk funny).
    Cheers!

  7. Hey man.

    I enjoyed the show. You know what I’m saying. “Enjoy” is a strange word for this one.

    We had a kid in our high school — he didn’t die in a drunk driving accident but he did suffer serious brain injury. It was almost more tragic to have him around. He wasn’t the same and it was a constant reminder to all of us. Very painful to see and know a person who is a fragment of his former self. Very sad.

    Thanks for telling the story.

    Tim

  8. Man, what a downer. Bum, bum, bummer of a show. I listen to be entertained, but it’s your show. Why not just shave those little patches off the top of your head?

  9. The one time I remember my parents forgetting to say “be careful” as I left for the evening in High School, I wrecked their car. I know what you mean.

    Yeah, in college, in a stats or safety class, we talked about Years of Potential Life Lost…I think of that every time I hear a story like this.

    ~Bob

  10. Hey you mentioned JG’s (God exists –even for atheists?) book in there. More details please! Would like to check it out.

  11. Amazing..

    As someone who just graduated this affected me alot. A very thoughtful and compassionate podcast that had a message i’m sure will stick with me for a long time.

  12. Well Done, Dan. I know you didn’t want to try to do it better than anyone else who’s talked about it. That’s not your goal. But thanks for doing it better than anyone else who’s talked about it.

    You’re the first one who made me feel it. Up until now I think I’ve just experienced it like the so many of us here in Fairport.

    …those were our girls…

    I’m going to hold my 1985 Fairport Raiderette a little longer tonight.

  13. Dan,

    Thanks for the great show! I really feel for you. Being from Henrietta, and living there for first 35 of my 36 years, I feel connected too. I am still on a mailing list from a Rochester Group I was involved in and one of the ladies on the list is secretary at St Johns and that tragic day was the first day of a new priest at the church.

    I knew and know many from Fairport, and spent much time there in HS and after, like for Canal Days and other events. And maybe some others we talked about at the Podcast expo when I introduced myself (not that I expect you to remeber one of the many you met there)

    Mike
    Rush Henrietta ’88

    And Jeff N… thanks for what you do in the Rochester area.

  14. Dan,

    I know there was some bitterest tucked in there somewhere. Great truth in story telling. I listened while driving to Sherman Oaks on the 101 North trying not to change lanes too often.

    Keep ’em coming.

  15. Well it seems your 12 angry inmate listeners (mentioned on the episode with your wife) has grown to a whopping 15!

  16. Danny, i love listening to your show, everytime i check yor page and i see a new podcast mi day gets a little better. Nevertheless, i really didnt get you in this episode. Everybody gets freaked out with the death of young people, but the fact that you almost implied that the death of five highschool girls would make a vortex in the space and time its cheesier than the smell of my feet.

    People die, my man. Old people, young people, my best friend died when we were only nine years old. Its hard for the families, for the friends, and their pain deserves all the simpathy in the world, but for the rest of the world i say, dont dramatize, enjoy your life, and bugger off.

    I dont know if i made sence. I liked the stories you told, but i dont relate to that kind of feelings. Didnt mean to be rude.

    Bye dan

  17. Dan-

    Reading these comments is interesting in itself. I enjoyed the show, though it was down. Tragic story. But that is real life–ups and down…tragedy and magesty. Which is kinda the point of your show, well at least what I get from it. Thanks for bringing it home to everyone.

    -Cameron

  18. Dan, another strong episode. I almost clicked Next when you warned that the show might be a bit of a downer, but I’m glad I stuck with it.

    I especially liked your observation about what “could have been” had those girls lived. The tendency we all make is to maximize their potential, frozen at that point in time….”they could have been a doctor, or even the president”. But when you think about it, that’s the only way to do it, to honor those who passed.

  19. …the part about where they “should have gone” really got me. You’re right. We knew these people. Know them.

    And you’re right about Kathy K. She rocked. Probably still does.

    J

  20. Hi Dan. Nice episode. I am a Fairport graduate of 2005 and was close with two of these girls, and I felt what you said did them justice. If I’ve learned anything from this whole mess, it is how fragile life truly is. When you are young, a recent graduate, it seems like you are completely invincible. Of course, that is not the case. Thanks, and take care.

    PS- You mentioned that you didn’t know what they would have done, or if any of them were bound for college. Three were going to attend private institutions in the fall (Ithaca, Canisius, and Mercyhurst College) and two were attending SUNYs (Buffalo and Cortland). It is so sad to think what might have been.

  21. Thanks for this… captured in this piece, there’s a sincerity and kindness that’s hard to find these days. I mentioned you in my latest blog entry.

  25. I’d prefer reading in my native language, because my knowledge of your languange is no so well. But it was interesting! Look for some my links:

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