There are two Kenny St. Pierres in Danvers — one man who created two incredible legacies.
There's the one that evolved as a superstar athlete at Danvers High and Indiana University, where he was a Division 1 NCAA All-America catcher in baseball and a rugged running back for the football Hoosiers.
Then there is the other Kenny St. Pierre, who created a legendary role as a philantropist and Good Samaritan. His generosity and fundraising for needy people and charitable endeavors became his trademark as an adult. He's been especially close to the Muscular Dystrophy Association since lifelong friend Mark Veilleux's son "Markie" was struck with the dreaded disease.
St. Pierre, now 57, is waging a battle against brain cancer. He's now deep into his second month of daily radiation at the new Massachusetts General outpatient on Endicott Street and is required to take a chemotherapy pill seven days a week.
"Everybody who has ever met Kenny has a soft spot in his heart for him. I've prayed for him since I heard about his sickness," Russ Fravel, St. Pierre's high school football coach, said.
St. Pierre has a whole town praying for him. No person is more revered in Danvers.
If everyone who he has ever helped shows up at a fundraiser in his honor at Danversport Yacht Club on Friday, Dec. 4, the event will easily sell out.
"All summer I was feeling bad, (so) at the end of August I went for a brain scan," St. Pierre said recently. "They found the cancer in the memory part of my brain. It's a small tumor, but inoperable because of the location.
"How do I feel? One of the treatments knocks me for a loop, mostly at night. One little tumor can take you down. From the radiation I have some bald spots on my head and I'm always tired.
St. Pierre paused before adding, "I've always been a healthy guy; now I'm taking these drugs that do a number on you. I take it one day at a time."
Darryl Parker, who owns the Cherry Street Fish Market in Danvers; Veilleux, the Endicott softball coach; insurance man Steve Guy, Paul Sherry and so many others in town who have been so close to St. Pierre and love him find it difficult to believe that he is hurting. He's always been one of those people who looked stronger than a horse.
"I went to the best hospital in the world, Dana Farber, and they were confident. I'm confident this will work," St. Pierre said confidently. "I'll be around a few more years for my grandchildren and my wife Peggy.
"I wouldn't expect something like this to happen. I guess everybody feels the same way: 'Why me?'" he said.
Peggy and Kenny met in high school. Those who know the couple say she's the perfect wife for Kenny to rally around. He truly enjoys his grandchildren: Michael, 4; Vivian, 1, and Kyler, six months. He sees them five days a week.
"All Michael wants to do is play 'Star Wars', and when he gets tired of that he wants to wrestle," St. Pierre said.
For exercise, he walks his two chocolate labs each morning and evening.
Alice St. Pierre, the matriach of a family of nine children, 31 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren, said Kenny has always been a wonderful son.
"He stepped right up at home after his dad passed away. Kenny's spirit and attitude are great. All involved are upbeat and positive," Mrs. St. Pierre said.
"I couldn't ask for a better brother," Duke St. Pierre, also a former high profile Danvers High athlete, added. "He paved the way for the rest of us. I was young and didn't realize how good he was until I read the articles. He's still my idol; my brother Teddy also idolizes Kenny.
"It's hard for me to put into words what Kenny means to me. I'm fortunate to have a brother like him. He's the ultimate big brother."
As for giving, Veilleux said, "If Kenny was down to the last dollar in his pocket, he'd gladly hand it over if you needed it. That's Kenny. He was all about giving. He ran a Snowball Softball Tournament that was a huge fundraiser; he sponsored a Mud Bowl team in North Conway; softball and youth baseball teams; and he ran all kinds of golf tournaments for charity, like Cystic Fibrosis, the Otto Moulton, Sara Jackson, Brian Sherry and Eric Rybicki Funds."
Danvers has others who followed St. Pierre's lead in giving, but Kenny is at the top of the list, Veilleux said.
"Toys for Tots, the Christmas party for the families who endured that massive explosion in Danversport . . . it just goes on and on. You could fill a whole page with what he's done.
Best of all, perhaps, is that St. Pierre donated a kidney to a friend, Donald Thibodeau, before the age of 50.
St. Pierre was 14 or 15 in the old Danvers Twi Baseball League when he won the Triple Crown. That was one of many of his highlights because his dad Ken was a teammate on the Port Twi baseball club.
"I saw him rush for 170 yards at Syracuse as an IU freshman," Parker recalled. St. Pierre led IU in rushing with the best total ever for a sophomore.
He played on a state baseball title team at Danvers High, and the Pittsburgh Pirates drafted him out of high school; he opted to go to college at Indiana instead.
St. Pierre played one pro season in the Chicago White Sox chain at Class A Appleton,Wisc.
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Tickets for the event at Danversport Yacht Club on Friday, Dec. 4 may be purchased at the Cherry Street Fish Market, The Polish Club and the Ontiontown Lounge, all in Danvers. Tickets are $30 per person.
HIGH PRAISE FROM FRAVEL
Kenny St. Pierre's high school football coach, Russ Fravel, wonders how many Falcons' fans will remember that the all-state fullback was a guard and quarterback before settling at fullback.
"I'm now wondering if we had Kenny at fullback for three years how many more records he would have set," said the 76-year-old Fravel.
A member of the North Shore Vocational School Committee, Fravel said St. Pierre was an equally fine inside linebacker.
St. Pierre went on to play two Division 1 major sports, baseball and football, at Indiana University, "and that was something unheard of during those days. It's still kind of rare," Fravel said.
