Hope is a theme that is always present in the world of sports. You might not be the biggest, strongest, or fastest, but if you have hope and believe you always have a fighting chance.
That sentiment has been such an important theme for a local family whose world was turned upside down with the crash of a wave.
Lifelong Queens resident Mario Asaro has a vibrant personality. The graduate of Resurrection Ascension School, Rego Park, and Msgr. McClancy H.S., East Elmhurst, was a dedicated art teacher in the New York City Department of Education for 33 years, and he served as a member of the Executive Board of the N.Y.C. Artist Teachers Association.
He also loves sports, especially watching the New York Mets at Shea Stadium and Citi Field, where he was a season-ticket holder for 25 years. He was so passionate about sports that he began to volunteer as an assistant Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) soccer coach for his son, Kevin, and later as head coach for his daughter, Sophia — both at St. Anastasia, Douglaston.
The boys’ team won six consecutive fall soccer diocesan championships, while Asaro guided his girls’ team to two diocesan titles. For him, though, it was always about using sports as a way to enrich the development of young people and contribute to the community, a passion that lasted 16 years.
Overall, he was living a life of service, whether it was caring for his elderly parents in Middle Village, inspiring his art students to discover their creativity, or guiding his young athletes in the principles of sportsmanship and fair play out on the soccer field.
Yet, in the blink of an eye, everything changed.
On Aug. 1 of last summer, Asaro spent the day at Jones Beach — a day that seemed like any other in which he enjoyed one of his favorite summertime activities: boogie boarding.
“It was my first time going to the beach for the season,” Asaro said. “I went into the water a few times. We were about to leave, so I went in one last time. I made the mistake of trying to take a wave in shallow water as I was walking in. It turned me over, the back of my neck hit the ground, and my body went limp.”
After the impact, Asaro was still conscious, but his body was facing down in the water. He couldn’t move, so he started doing controlled breathing, a technique he learned while scuba diving. However, time was running out.
Just as he said he was about to take his last breath, someone in the water flipped him over and alerted the lifeguards to pull him to shore. He was airlifted to Nassau University Medical Center, where he underwent emergency surgery to have several rods fused to his spine.
Miraculously, his cognitive function remained intact. However, he did lose the ability to move the lower portions of his body from the shoulders down. To this day, he does not know the person who flipped him over, but he believes he had a guardian angel.
“Mario’s our big brother, and he’s always taken care of us,” said Asaro’s sister, Diana Voto. “He led us and directed us in so many different ways and always protected us. For months after the accident, we were still surprised with how grateful he was. We know he’s going to have a life and take on new causes and just be the Mario we know and love.”
Since the accident, Asaro’s road has been long and arduous. Between his medical bills and converting his apartment to adapt to his new normal, he’s exhausted all of his retirement savings. However, in true team fashion, his CYO connections have stepped up in a meaningful way.
“When the accident happened, it was just one group after another coming through,” said Margaret Asaro, Mario’s other sister. “Everyone was so devastated by the news. Even in his state, he was joking and got his visitors to laugh. That’s my brother’s gift: To bring joy to people and make them want to be around him.”
Families of players Asaro coached, as well as his former art students, have donated funds to help support the cause. The family has set a goal of $250,000 to account for all the necessary medical equipment to aid in this unanticipated journey.
“For 16 years, Mario has supported our community by dedicating countless hours to helping our youth grow athletically and as individuals,” said Linda Doyle, CYO parish athletic representative at St. Anastasia. “Now, as Mario faces significant medical expenses and ongoing care, his family greatly needs our help, and we invite everyone to come together in support.”
Though the extent of a full recovery remains uncertain, Asaro has regained some movement in his fingers, arms, and legs, thanks to his dedicated rehab team at his skilled nursing facility. He also recently moved back home, where his family has arranged for him to receive 24/7 care.
“The players I’ve coached and the parents, as well as people from the parish, have all rallied around me,” he said. “A lot of people have told me that I’ve been an inspiration to others.”
As he continues to transition to this new chapter of life, Asaro remains positive that he will keep improving since he still has so much to offer to his family and his community.
The game of soccer is long and can have many unexpected twists, but it’s the team that stays resilient and believes it can win that usually finds a way to succeed in the end.
Asaro has been presented with his unexpected twist, and his reliance on hope and the unwavering support of his family and CYO community have him persevering to achieve his new goals.
Tax deductible donations to Mario Asaro’s cause can be made through Help Hope Live at:
helphopelive.org/campaign/25017
Contact Jim Mancari via email at jmmanc@gmail.com.