god bless

i am so fortunate to have so many wonderful memories that were made with mike being a central figure. i have always enjoyed and tried to surround myself with people who exude passion in their life, people that are driven by that passion. mike sennett was and is a passionate being. mike's vocation was so intertwined that his profesional,personal and recreational lives were one in the same.mike handled my companies accounts like no other could or would, he exhibited the same qualities behind a desk that he did on the field or in my home at the various parties he attended(i have never been able to look at a taco tray without thing of him.

i have two memories i would like to share, when my dear friend tom canty returned from vail colo. to report about the great vail lacrosse shootout, we instantly knew that the st. louis area could field a team that would prove to be competitive, we also knew that our coaching staff had to include mike sennett! so we arranged to have eddie condon, mike sennett and chris goudy coach this all star team from st. louis, as those who played on the team that became known as "team gateway".well we had kids from many different highschools that made that team over the six years that we ran the team. tom and i would often comment that the same event took place every year without fail.mike would come to the field, have a catch, and size up the situation, eddie would have mike work the offence and after about the third practice of working with sennett these kids would come to tom or me and say, "wow it's no wonder desmet is so good, now i understand, what a coach, or "i've learned more at vail practice than i did in all my years playing." mike had an ability to have the lessons of the athletic field, the concept of the game, and the behavior of responsibilty,all with christ in us, and with a great sense of humor i might add. our young players all saw this metamorphis as our teams came together, we would always have one unknown player step up at vail every year and make a difference, mike would always smile and say "i knew he could do it" it has been such a gift to read these passages on this blog, many of the writers were vail team members and i'm sure they know what i'm talking about and must add that eddie and chris where the balance that made the whole thing work with tom and i behind the scenes,we where a team too and we have lost our m.v.p.

to those that will understand this, the red lion at vail village was the place that we as a staff could unwind and blow off alittle steam, the place was chuck full of lacroses coaches and players and our friend phil long the owner would play key board and guitar and we would all sing along, song books in hand. mike was the designated picker of the songs to be played and sung to. mike would end up sitting in the front row and debate with phil the reasons a particular song was the one he should play next. it was all great fun and mike would sing his heart out, i always wondered how he could sing so loud with dip and beer in his mouth at the same time.we were all there side by side and all was right with the world.

i called phil long today, told him of our loss and asked that the next time he plays would he give mike alittle "pure prairie league"!! i'm sure the place will rock.

god bless my friend you will live on through all of us

thanks for all you did and do to this day and on
love,
phil hunt