Erin Ennis
Donation protected
Erin has selflessly given his time and his talents to all around him for years. The young man in the picture with Erin is Jake Sweitzer, once one of Erin's Lacrosse players and now a coach and family man himself. Of his mentor and friend, Jake writes: Erin is a kind man who has given his heart and soul towards helping young people by teaching the game of lacrosse. Erin served for many years as the head coach of the Arrowhead High School Boy’s program and was responsible for the development and mentorship of over 1,000 athletes during that time. In 2017, Erin stepped away from Arrowhead to join the Oconomowoc program as the head coach of their girls’ team, a job he continued do even while undergoing chemotherapy this last season. Along with being a coach, Erin is also actively involved at the state level serving as President of the Wisconsin Lacrosse Federation. His role with this group is to help grow and provide access to lacrosse for the entire state including boy’s, girl’s, and youth lacrosse programs.
For those of us who have know Erin a little longer but unfortunately are no longer part of his daily life, Kevin Organisciak writes:
Erin and I were college roommates and have been close friends for over 30 years. Some would say we were inseparable both then and in the years following college. In fact, many people used to think we were brothers--not based on looks—but because we shared similar views, activities, and even jobs. That particular observation always made me swell with pride because, Erin was looked up to and respected by just about anyone with whom he had contact. He just had this uncanny ability to make people feel heard and respected. I suspect any of the hundreds of kids he has coached over the years would share that same sentiment.
Erin is also a stubborn guy who is probably unwilling to ask for help since he is has been a provider and problem solver for so many over the years. While he is someone that will drop everything to help someone else, I have never known him to ask for help with anything. This is not surprising because, if I had to boil it down, Erin is what maybe your father or grandfather would describe as a “man’s man,” and all that implies, including stoicism. I consider our friendship to be one of the great privileges of my life.
Erin has been stubborn and stoic about the battle he faces. Stage four colon cancer is not a battle for one man alone and stress is like gasoline on a fire with cancer. Erin had planned for one round of chemo but needed two, costing twice as much as he had planned for financially. It has doubled his treatment time line and his ability to fulfill the requirements of a job he was to start.
This is the first step we are undertaking to support Erin and his family. Feel free to reach out to any of us with any questions or ideas you have for helping Erin and the family. If you would like to give directly to Erin, please contact Janine and she will share account information for a direct ACH deposit.
Please donate to this Go Fund Me to help defray the enormous cost of Erin's medical bills.
With enormous respect and love for our friend,
Janine Jannetto Patterson - [email redacted]
John Guy -
Kevin Organisciak -
Jake Swietzer - [email redacted]
For those of us who have know Erin a little longer but unfortunately are no longer part of his daily life, Kevin Organisciak writes:
Erin and I were college roommates and have been close friends for over 30 years. Some would say we were inseparable both then and in the years following college. In fact, many people used to think we were brothers--not based on looks—but because we shared similar views, activities, and even jobs. That particular observation always made me swell with pride because, Erin was looked up to and respected by just about anyone with whom he had contact. He just had this uncanny ability to make people feel heard and respected. I suspect any of the hundreds of kids he has coached over the years would share that same sentiment.
Erin is also a stubborn guy who is probably unwilling to ask for help since he is has been a provider and problem solver for so many over the years. While he is someone that will drop everything to help someone else, I have never known him to ask for help with anything. This is not surprising because, if I had to boil it down, Erin is what maybe your father or grandfather would describe as a “man’s man,” and all that implies, including stoicism. I consider our friendship to be one of the great privileges of my life.
Erin has been stubborn and stoic about the battle he faces. Stage four colon cancer is not a battle for one man alone and stress is like gasoline on a fire with cancer. Erin had planned for one round of chemo but needed two, costing twice as much as he had planned for financially. It has doubled his treatment time line and his ability to fulfill the requirements of a job he was to start.
This is the first step we are undertaking to support Erin and his family. Feel free to reach out to any of us with any questions or ideas you have for helping Erin and the family. If you would like to give directly to Erin, please contact Janine and she will share account information for a direct ACH deposit.
Please donate to this Go Fund Me to help defray the enormous cost of Erin's medical bills.
With enormous respect and love for our friend,
Janine Jannetto Patterson - [email redacted]
John Guy -
Kevin Organisciak -
Jake Swietzer - [email redacted]
Organizer and beneficiary
Janine Jannetto Patterson
Organizer
Akron, OH
Erin Michael Ennis
Beneficiary
