It was with genuine joy that I opened by LA Times this morning to see the smiling face of my neighbor and friend Trevor Hendershot in the paper for a story on his work with the Anaheim Ducks. But there’s a great chance you’ve seen Trevor yourself — working the team store at Angels games or the team store at Ducks games or if you attend a USC home game, he’s a greeter there. The Hendershots have been friends for years; Trevor went to high school with my son and was the team manager on an awful football team; he’s the kind of kid who is everyone’s friend. And his classmates named him Homecoming King.
Please read the story here. From the story:
Trevor, 28, has the blissful smile of someone who never learned to hate, even though he was bullied in high school. He radiates joy, even though the Angels and Ducks lately have provided little reason to celebrate. He has Down syndrome but also has an unlimited ability to touch the hearts of people he meets while working at the team stores of the Angels, Ducks, Rams and USC.
“The thing about him is he’s so upbeat and positive, so you just get inspired by that,” Ducks fan Martha Treadway of Garden Grove said after making her regular detour to see him at Honda Center on Sunday. “Everybody loves him. He’s just great. We make a point to come over to him and say hello.”
…
“We started him as greeter, right here at the front door, and ever since then fans have looked for him. Every game, they come back and take pictures with him and ask for him,” said Jill S. Bauer, the Ducks’ director of merchandising. “He’s an attraction of the store, I would say. But he really works. We value him and we value the work that he does.”
In this season of Thanksgiving, the Hendershots have more reasons to be grateful than they could have imagined when the first of their three sons was born.
“It was such a shock to have a baby with Down syndrome. We never had an experience with Down syndrome before in our lives and I just remember I was so angry with God. ‘Why me? I don’t deserve a son like this,’ ” Bob said. “It’s been 28 years since that day and you know, I was right. I didn’t deserve a son like Trevor. But for complete opposite reasons.”
I seek Trevor out at every Angels game or Ducks game I attend. The kid is a hugger and he always remembers I’m a Syracuse sports fan. I have asked him to call me Dan and not Mr. Chmielewski, but his nature is one of always being respectful. I still remember the first time he saw my son’s beard and the joy in his eyes when he recognized his high school buddy.
Trevor’s father Bob and I have had a number of chats about how people like Trevor could be (and should be) working team stores at every professional sports stadium and arena. I’m hopeful the next time MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred comes to Anaheim, Bob and I can sit down with him and introduce him to Trevor to talk about replicating what the Angels have done by making him a part of their stadium staff . But there’s really only one Trevor. His kindness knows no bounds and it’s a privilege to know him and his family.
If you really want to know Trevor, or offer someone a chance to know him, you don’t have to go to see the Ducks or Angels play. I suggest heading on over to Amazon.com and picking up a copy of “Angel for Higher” by Trevor’s dad, Robert. https://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/194487836X There’s your link. And it’s a testament to the power of faith in a family’s life to overcome significant obstacles in such a positive fashion through love, prayer and joy. I’m thankful the Hendershot family is in my circle of friends and I’m grateful for Trevor’s friendship.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Who lasts longer Bauman or Diamond?
Bauman
What lasts longer? A mushroom or a toadstool? According to Stormy Daniels, it’s a couple of minutes tops either way.
So the mark of man is clearly exhibited for all to see on Vern and Greg’s silly blog.
Nelson dedicates multiplte posts over three weeks to you, but nary a word about Diamonds expulsion. What’s worse is they have removed, by my count 11 posts from me, Dave Zenger, Ryan Catnor, Chumley and some other guy who’s joke I did not get.
Right out of the Vern Nelson coward playbook: NUKE anything negative or differential, even if true!
The worst part is, as I heard over and over again last night, Greg is the victim of his own desperation the thing several voters told me is the guy doesn’t’t know how to dial it back, on of his favorite targets, an elected politician said it best “Greg is an extremist, he is deaf to reason and blind to different opinions”.
That’s what did this guy in, NOT his silly posters.
Perhaps Nelson, Diamond and company will learn discretion, I won’t hold my breath.
To quote Dylan, “when you ain’t got nothin’ , you got nothin to lose”