Behind the Scenes Saint

Valley Volunteer Aaron Borchelt

(St. Louis, MO) – He was a ‘behind the scenes saint’ said Reverend David Pelsue. Aaron Borchelt known to numerous Missouri Valley Conference staffers and media members was exactly that. Aaron was seemingly at everything the Valley did AND that I showed up to.

If I was announcing a ‘Coaches versus Cancer’ high school basketball game, he was there. If I was covering Arch Madness, there he was. I would travel out of town for an NCAA regional, and yep, there was Aaron.

“Hey, ‘Father Harry’, how are you?” He would seemingly sing. “Have you seen any good high school players lately?” I started wondering if I was under surveillance and Aaron was my ‘tail’.

While announcers were getting paid big money, writers working for their outlets and staffers working for their boss, there was Aaron, volunteering for a league he loved, people he enjoyed and a sport he truly knew.

During breaks at Arch Madness or an NCAA Regional I would have an occasional meal with Aaron. He knew as much, if not more than I did about the teams, the coaches and what was going on behind the scenes. If I wanted a scoop, I didn’t ask reporters or league officials, I talked to Aaron.

Battling ALS

I hadn’t seen Aaron for a while, and I missed him. But things change. Volunteers no longer have the time to devote and so they move on. That wasn’t the case. Aaron sustained an injury, that wouldn’t improve. He started losing mobility and muscle coordination.

I hadn’t heard what was going on.

When I arrived at the Kansas City Regional last spring there he was! Same joyful disposition. He had the same jovial tone. But there he was, in a wheelchair. He of course was at Sprint Center to serve. He was going to do what he had always done. Accumulating statistics and looking for the hidden gems that wouldn’t be obvious to any of the rest of us.

He had just come from the Mayo Clinic where they finally determined Aaron had Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Some call it ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). I call it a devil. My Mother was killed by this vicious disease.

He was happy to talk, but didn’t want to dwell on his malady. Aaron wanted to serve. He wanted to celebrate ‘the game’ and mingle with his friends. So many in the Valley Family know, love and respect Aaron Borchelt.

His sister, Michelle spoke more openly about what he was going through. The pain, the struggles and the fears were real, but Aaron was charging forward like he had always done.

Living His Faith

While we shared a common Christian faith, we spoke about that in small pieces. In attending his funeral, I found out he was deeply involved in his Lutheran Church, serving Lutheran young people by volunteering at Teens Encounter Christ and at the Lutheran ‘National Youth Gathering’.

There he was this summer serving massive numbers of young people, just months before ALS would claim his body, but never his spirit.

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear…” (Psalm 46). This verse was part of the theme of that summer youth gathering and the way Aaron lived. He wasn’t going to fear his disease, he would serve others, encourage others and love his family.

I last saw Aaron in September. There he was at the Valley’s media day! His mobility wasn’t great, but he was that same jovial guy. What was he doing there? Serving the Valley and guys like me that needed to talk to coaches and players. I was encouraged by how well he was holding up. My mom’s journey came suddenly and ended very fast.

Little did I know this ‘behind the scenes saint’ wouldn’t make it to another Arch Madness. There would be no more Final Fours or NCAA Regionals. Aaron was 37.

I was in Springfield, Missouri, excited to see the talented Bears tangle with the equally talented Murray State Racers. There I was in between the Racers’ announcers and the ESPN+ announcers at court side, when Valley Associate Commissioner Mike Kern’s text hit my phone.

Aaron Had Passed Away.

Mike, who was a pall bearer at the funeral, would later tell me, he had visited Aaron in the hospital, only weeks before that and that seemed to be doing relatively fine. So, the news was a shock. The excitement about the game and other upcoming Valley assignments drained from my soul.

Reverend Pelsue, speaking at Aaron’s funeral, along with LCMS Youth Ministry Director Mark Kiessling and Teens Encounter Christ representative Joe Cox all spoke of Aaron’s servant spirit and his joyful disposition. They got it right.

I doubt the sanctuary of Church of the Reformation in South St. Louis County has ever been that full. Aaron had been a Busch Stadium usher (yep, I saw him there too!) and red jacketed co-workers and friends were there. Valley officials and broadcasters were there. Other members of the Valley Family drove in from long distances to pay their respects. Of course, there were big parts of Aaron’s life I didn’t know. I learned more about Aaron in Ben Frederickson’s brilliant article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Please take time to read and learn about this ‘behind the scenes saint’.

Ironically, on this day. The occasion of Aaron’s funeral, Pete Frates has passed away. He was the originator of the ‘ice-bucket challenge‘ that swept the nation and raised millions of dollars for ALS research lost his battle to this hated foe.

I am fully convinced that Aaron is better today than he was a week ago. Heaven is where he belonged and no doubt he was not only welcomed warmly but was quickly given some behind the scenes task to accomplish. But it is hard for those he leaves behind.

Aaron will be missed. Obviously, he will be missed more by his family and close friends, but for those of us that see one another only several times a year, he will be dearly missed.

“Hey, ‘Father Harry’ how are you?”

“Not so good today, Aaron. Not today.”

Do Good

Photo: Courtesy of Mike Kern

Give a Gift of Life to an African Orphan This Christmas.

Click on the link below to see how!