LANSDALE — The Lansdale Catholic High School community is stepping up for a local student-athlete among those injured on New Year's Day in New Orleans.
Ryan Quigley, LC class of 2016, was reportedly injured in the attack that killed at least 10 people early on Jan. 1.
“The Lansdale Catholic Community is praying for the full healing and complete recovery of Ryan Quigley, Lansdale Catholic Class of 2016 and Princeton University Class of 2020,” LC said in a Facebook post late Wednesday night.
“We are incredibly proud to count Ryan among our graduates, and we are inspired by the ways in which his LC classmates are coming together to support his family during this difficult time,” LC said.
Early reporting from New Orleans indicates at least 10 people were killed when a man identified by law enforcement as Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar drove a pickup truck into a crowd, then opened fire on Bourbon Street, according to the Associated Press. Further reporting by 6abc News Wednesday indicated that Quigley was injured while with fellow Princeton University graduate and football player Tiger Bech, who was killed in the attack. The two had worked together at a New York City brokerage firm and traveled with a group of college friends from Princeton to New Orleans for the holiday.
In their Facebook post late on New Year's Day, LC linked to a GoFundMe page started by Quigley's LC classmates Jack Kelly '16 and Dom Gambone '16 titled “Supporting Ryan Quigley’s Recovery and Honoring Tiger Bech.” That page had met their fundraising goal as of Thursday morning, saying that Ryan “is undergoing treatment as he begins a road to recovery” and had raised over $79,000 to “assist Tiger’s family with funeral costs and any other needs during this heartbreaking time” and to “support Ryan with his medical expenses and recovery journey.”
“Ryan is a fighter, and his loved ones are rallying around him as he faces this challenge. In the same spirit, we want to honor Tiger’s memory by easing the burden on his family,” said the organizers.
“We’re deeply moved by the support we’ve received for Ryan and Tiger’s families during this heartbreaking time. Thanks to your incredible generosity, we’ve surpassed our fundraising goal. For now, we’re pausing further donations while we assess updates from the families about their ongoing needs. Both families are profoundly grateful for the love and kindness shown by this community. We will share any further updates as they become available. Thank you for standing with us,” they said.
Former Towamencin supervisor Rich Marino said Thursday morning that he had heard from Quigley's father that “Ryan's injuries are not life-threatening. He is really cut up and banged up and has a broken leg. However Ryan is really hurting over the loss of his best friend.”
“There is a lot of anguish that goes with surviving while someone you love did not. Ryan's dad asked for prayers for the Bech family. If you know the Quigley's then it comes as no surprise that they are more concerned for Tiger Bech's family than they are for themselves,” Marino said.
Quigley played basketball, baseball and football while at LC, and was spotlighted by The Reporter in a feature in 2015.
“I like being busy,” the Lansdale Catholic senior said at the time. “I couldn’t imagine going home after school and just sitting on the couch, doing a little homework at 3 o’clock. I like getting involved.”
“Ryan’s a special kid, because how many schools have three-sport athletes?” then-LC coach Tom Kirk said. “And it just doesn’t happen. Kids become so specialized these days and here’s Ryan — he goes from football to basketball to baseball and he doesn’t miss a beat and he excels in all of them.”
In 2014 Quigley had been named the Philadelphia Catholic League Class AA Division’s Most Valuable Player, earning first team honors at both running back and defensive back, and in fall 2015 Quigley was honored, and deferred credit to his teammates, before a senior night game in which he scored one touchdown receiving and another rushing.
“Ryan’s a terrific player. Special kids make special plays in games like this. We expect that from Ryan,” Kirk said. “But it’s our offensive line and back blocking for him (too); everyone did a terrific job tonight.”
“I say it every week and I mean it every week, I mean our o-line, I can drive trucks through those holes they’re so big,” Quigley added. “They’re working day in and day out and it’s great how much it’s paying off on game days.”
The football star added further credit for others: ‘I couldn’t do anything without my parents,” Quigley said. “I wouldn’t be on this football field and I wouldn’t be at the school I’m at or have the great people I’m surrounded with. All credit goes to them and it was an honor to walk out on the field with them.”
This is a developing story; follow TheReporterOnline.com for updates.
Former Princeton U. football player Tiger Bech among those killed in New Orleans attack