Out on the West Springfield High School football field this coming fall, Daniel Sanford will remember all that his father Billy Sanford taught him in the seven years he coached his son's football teams for the Springfield Youth Club. On May 18, Billy Sanford died of a heart attack at age 45, leaving behind a love for the game in his son, who will carry that on to the Spartans.
"He was tough, but he made everything fun. The funnest part was just having him there," said Daniel, 15.
Wife Marella supported her husband's coaching efforts as well as her sons', Bryan, 19; Daniel and Bradley, 10, who played soccer and football for years. She was on the board at the Springfield Youth Club as well.
"We decided we would focus our efforts on the Springfield Youth Club," she said recently from the sidelines at one of Bradley's soccer games.
The Sanford's lived in Springfield for 21 years. Billy worked in the printing business but was laid off after the events of September 11, 2001 and recently got another job with Insty Prints of Springfield. He grew up in Arlington, graduating from Wakefield High School in 1976.
Billy Sanford was at the club's football registration for the coming fall on May 10 and passed away that week.
"He's been a part of our football program, it was a shock," said Carolyn Brennan, the office manager at the Springfield Youth Club.
To financially assist the Sanford family, the youth club set up a memorial fund and donated to it as well. Mirella Sanford appreciated the support.
"I just know they're back there, they're behind me. They are just good people," she said of the club members.
Although Daniel will only be a sophomore at West Springfield, he's confident in his abilities. Playing high school ball is the next step his father was conditioning him for.
"I know he would have wanted it that way," Daniel said.