Danny Cassidy: 1988-2009

BY ED WRIGHT
Dec. 13, 2009, 11:05 p.m.

  The cause looked worse than bleak for Salem's boys basketball team on the night of Jan. 19, 2007.

  The Rocks trailed Walled Lake Central by two points with 0:01 left on the clock as they set up a stacked inbounds play under their own basket.

  A fraction of a second after the referee handed the ball to inbounds passer J.P. Truesdell, the second player in the stack -- lanky senior guard Danny Cassidy -- made a two-step cut toward the basket before darting outside, just beyond the three-point arc.

  In a sequence that will be forever etched in the memories of everyone who was in the Salem gym that night, Truesdell snapped a pass to Cassidy, who pump-faked as a Viking defender soared past him.

  The slender, least-intimidating-looking kid in the gym that night then calmly took one dribble before launching a rainbow jumper that hit nothing but net as the buzzer sounded.

  Final score: Salem 38, Walled Lake Central 37.

  The atmosphere in the Salem gym: pure joy.

  "The thing I'll remember the most about that night," Truesdell recalled Sunday night, "was that while everybody was jumping around going crazy, Danny walked over toward the sidelines and was the first one in line to shake the Walled Lake Central players' hands.

  "That's how humble he was. That's how much class he had."

  Cassidy died during the early-morning hours Friday in a one-car accident not far from the intersection of Geddes and Prospect roads. The Eastern Michigan University junior, who was majoring in business, was just 21 years old.

  For unknown reasons, Cassidy's vehicle veered off east-bound Geddes Rd. east of Prospect as he was headed to his Canton home after hanging out with several long-time friends who live in Ypsilanti. The vehicle became partially submerged in a pond that runs parallel to a manufactured-home park.

  Cassidy transferred to EMU from the University of Michigan-Dearborn prior to this semester.

  While Cassidy will always be remembered for his athletic talent -- he lettered twice in basketball and baseball -- his true  legacy will be the incredible number of people who called him a friend.

  Ever smiling, never boastful, Cassidy wasn't the loudest kid in the room, but he may have been the most well-liked.

  "Danny was kind of quiet, but at the same time you always knew he was in the room," said Truesdell. "He would tell a joke that would make everyone in the room laugh.

  "Danny was probably the happiest person I knew. He was always smiling. He could be friends with anybody. It's amazing how many lives he touched. You should see his Facebook page tonight..."

  "Dan was the nicest guy you'd ever want to meet," said Brad Way, who became good friends with Cassidy when the two were freshmen at Salem. "That's the only way I can describe him. He was always joking, always happy. I still can't grasp that something like this has happened to somebody like Dan."

  Cassidy is survived by his parents, Roger and Sally; brothers Matt and Mike; several cousins and countless friends.

  A visitation will be held Monday from 3-9 p.m. at Vermeulen Funeral Home, 46401 W. Ann Arbor Rd., Plymouth.

  A scripture service will be held Monday at 7 p.m. In state Tuesday at 10 a.m. until the 10:30 a.m. funeral mass at St. Thomas a Becket Catholic Church, 555 S. Lilley Rd., Canton.

  Memorial contributions may be made to The Society of St. Vincent de Paul, 3000 Gratiot Ave., Detroit, MI 48207.
 
  (NOTE: If you would like to contribute a comment or memory of Danny to this article, please contact Ed Wright at (734) 453-1980 or info@plymouthcantonsports.com.)