theres only one word to describe ken is fantastic

I met Ken in Jan. of this year,2009 at the sign-ups for youth wrestling. My son and I walked down the hallway towards the sign-in desk and I could sense a little apprehension in my son. This was all new to him and I could see the second thoughts he was having. As my son, Jesse, was looking around and shuffling a bit, the big man behind the desk said "Hi guys, are you here to sign up for our youth wrestling program ?" As I said "I think so ", he responded with an enthusiastic "Great " and asked my son his name and weight. My son responded his name was Jesse and he weighed 115 lbs. Ken clapped his hands together and declared " Looks like we got ourselves a heavyweight" and shook my son's hand. We thanked him and left and I swear my son was a full inch taller on the way out than on the way in. My son plans on wrestling again this year and I hope he does, but whatever happens I'll never forget the stranger whose kind words moved my son so much...Shawn Morrill

Ken was one of the nicest men and supporters of wrestling. please add a few nice words to the blog on Ken.
We will miss ken a lot

Ken was true friend and supporter of wrestling and most of all the Hauppauge Program. There are not enough words to describe Ken and his dedication to his family friends and the sport. Ken once told me "I love the sport so much. Wrestling season is like summer to me". We will miss Ken truly. The Lepkowsky Family

The memories of Ken from over the last decade are just whirling around in my head.The excitement we shared over the sport and all the fond memories of all the boys weve watched grow including our own. All the tournaments when our boys were little to all the high school seasons that went by way to fast. Always looking foward to homecomming, not for the game but working the wrestling table with ken and spending the whole night reminiscing and getting all excited for the season just around the corner. I cant start to imagine walking into the gym and ken not being there with tripod in hand. This is gonna hurt for a long long time. I miss you so much already. OSH
I for one was very fortunate to know KEN LESSOR he was a friend who shared my love for the sport of wrestling,over the years we had many discussions that centered about the sport we love so dearly.He was the ultimate fan as he would drive anywhere to watch the sport even if hauppauge was not competing. He was not only a fan but someone who volunteered his time to assist anyone from anywhere with their respective wrestling tournament.Our hauppauge community will miss him dearly, we were so lucky and blessed to have a person of KENS makeup in our presence.I will miss so much the off season conversations we had year after year about our upcoming wrestling season,the excitement in his voice predicting our success and looking forward to watching our younger wrestlers coming up and competing on varsity.Walking into our gym in the future will never be the same with KEN gone,he was the backbone of our program.Truth be told he was a behind the scenes person who dedicated his time to the sport he loved ,we will all feel his loss for a time to come.On a personal level I thank you KEN for constant compliments throughout my boys wrestling career ,your support and generosity was always unwavering and greatly appreciated. Three weeks ago KEN called me and told me he had something for me ,I met him the next morning and he presented me with a huge professionally framed photogragh of my son as he was preparing for the county finals.KEN advised me he came across this photo and had to buy it for me because he thought the photograph captured the moment.KEN told me he wanted me to hang it up in my office.When I brought the photo home my wife was taken back by the meaningfulness of the photo, she wanted it hung up at home. KEN thank you so much for that gift it will remain hung up in my office in YOUR HONOR. To your family please know that your husband and father was a man who was loved by many immensely .My sincere condolences are extended for your great loss. WITH LOVE THE COLLADO FAMILY

We are a fairly new family to Hauppauge's wrestling community. We have had the pleasure of Ken's support and encouragement for the past year or so. Whether meeting him at a tournament, club or camp he was always there to assist in any way possible. He spent much time on the phone with us giving his support and explaining the sport of wrestling to us, we could truly hear his love of the sport in his voice and by the words he spoke. Then we met Ken at a practice and put the voice to a face, what a wonderful man he was. Our family is greatful for all of his help and support that he has given us and we wanted his family to know that we are very sorry for their loss. We will miss him too. Sincerely, The Ruggiero Family

Dear Friends, Its very difficult for me to write a few words that truly define what Ken Lesser meant to me, my family, our program and especially the wrestling all over Long Island. So please bear with me and afford me this rare opportunity to do justice to a great man. As my friend he was my voice of reason for many years. By my side, his vow was to stay with me as long as I coached here at Hauppauge. He recently stated to me that it was his wish to be with our team for as long as it took us to win our four hundredth match. I told him he was crazy but in my heart knew he meant everything he said. He was an ambassador of good will that was often felt by his soft voice or gentle demeanor. A very modest man who never permitted his name or association given any form of gratitude or thanks. His gestures of kindness have been felt by thousands of wrestles, parents, coaches, tournament directors etc. for well over a decade. I often wondered if the boys or parents of Hauppauge truly knew the impact this man has had on our program and their lives. It began in the beginning of the season with each and every wrestler seeing an 8 X 10 portrait of themselves hanging on the wall by their projected weight classes. Then finding pictures and team schedules available for each wrestler and his family. Getting to every tournament for a 7:30 weigh-in and then finding the team hovering around Ken with the fresh Bagels and Gatorade he brought them. Each year having sweatshirts, shorts or other forms of equipment that was provided by the very club he maintained for many years. Watching the hundreds of matches he videotaped each season. As the season came to an end he was responsible for providing pictures of our seniors and a booklet dedicated to them at our annual senior match. He matched that with an end of the year pamphlet which provided every member of our team a memory of the season. Seeing him at the annual Tyler Lynde tournament typing all the brackets or going to BJ's before hand to buy the 20 cases of Gatorade or supplies for the tournament. Spending two weeks in the morning at the annual Hauppauge wrestling camp accepting registrations or dealing with all the administrative jobs that go with running a summer camp. How about his time spent driving our boys upstate, New Jersey, Connecticut or PA to tournaments during the summer or fall seasons for the past ten years. This also does not take into account all the many publications he provided for our other teams and clubs at Hauppauge or the hundreds of wrestling tournaments he worked throughout Long Island each year. Whenever approached to be paid or compensated in some way he would simply say please give it back to the athletes. Now you see why I stated that a few words were impossible to truly do Ken Lesser justice for what he meant to our program. These were only a fraction of the many faces of Ken Lesser. I did not touch on Ken Lesser, the family man, the father or just my dear friend, we will leave that for another day. After this tragedy, I'm proud to see what was written about Ken and realized he was appreciated for all he has done. I will leave you with a few words from a great man. After every conversation I have ever had with Ken he left me with these words. "Chris, What else can I do for you today" Life is to short don't ever be afraid to tell people what they mean to you and how you appreciate what they have done for you. Sincerely Coach Messina

WOW...he was truly a very nice man and I will miss him..Words can't explain this, sorry.

I never heard him say an unkind word about anyone.A very rare man.I'm so sorry for everyone's loss.

There's not enough great words to go around about Ken, he was a true wrestling fan, friend and even an better father, you will truly be missed! God Bless you Ken. 

wowwwwww.........this is alot to take......after losing so much now to lose what was once a father fiqure in my wrestling communtity......Mr.lesser you and your sons were always there for me as well as hauppauges community you will be very sadly missed and heaven as gotten another big wrestler.......RIP :( Brian Lifson)

Mr.Lesser was more then just a wrestlign fan. He was a dedicated and wonderful person to the hauppauge community. The Hauppauge wrestling program will miss him dearly. I'm sorry for this tragic event, Mr.Lesser was one of the nicest and kindest person I have ever met. It didn't matter if he knew you or not Mr.Lesser was there for you in a troubling time. He was a father figure for the hauppauge wrestling program and was at every wrestling tournament with in driving range in-season and off- season to watch and help youth or varsity hauppauge wrestlers. He will be deeply missed. R.I.P Ken Lesser you will never be forgotten in our hearts and minds

Over the years I have met many great people and have made many good friends through the sport of wrestling. I am very fortunate to count Ken Lesser as one of them. If there was a wrestling event going on you would always find Ken there willing to help in any way he could. I saw Ken this past Saturday at our tournament sitting matside watching the wrestling. If you knew Ken you know he was where he wanted to be!  Ken you will be truly missed, but never forgotten. Deepest sympathy to the Lesser family.
-The Liguori family

Ken Lesser was one of if not the finest gentleman I have ever met.  I will miss his sincere kindness and true friendship. What a great man!
Scott Arnel

I was fortunate to make his acquaintence some years back - and recently while doing the "live feeds" - I got a chance to talk to Mr Lesser- WE both shared our views from the bleachers. Sorry, to hear about this loss.
Marty Riccio

Super guy and did more for the sport of wrestling than just about anyone I know. My condolences to Ken's family as well as the Hauppauge Wrestling community.

Mr. Lesser was a tremendous asset to the Long Island Wrestling community. He was not only a very knowledgeable fan, he was a positive influence on the sport. Ken was a person that always provided a helping hand, whatever was needed.  Whether you were an Eagle or not.

He truly will be missed by the Long Island and Hauppauge Wrestling community and more importantly his family. 

A huge loss. 
Sayville Wrestling
This is a sad day for long island wrestling Ken was one of section XI's most well known supporters. He will truly be missed.
Wow~~this is a "SAD DAY"..Kenny was extremely knowledgeable, a Great Fan,Very nice and Fun Loving Man,I always enjoyed talking to him about matches...I will Miss him..there is not enough words to say how genuine this Man was...I am so Sorry
 
                               Hauppauge Wrestling will Miss Kenny
On Behalf of the Entire Elwood /John Glenn Wrestling Program we send our deepest sympthay to the Lesser Family and  Hauppauge Wrestling . Its will be a big loss for all .
An incredible loss of one so generous with his time, insight and selflessness. He will be greatly missed by all.  My condolences to the  family.  This loss is far reaching for the Hauppauge Wrestling community. We will all miss his mat side presence greatly. 
Ken was such a gentleman. He will be missed by all of LI Wrestling.  It will be sad not seeing him manning a scoring table anymore.  
Couldn't believe what I was hearing when this came on the car radio.  Ken was a fixture.  He'll be missed.   
To the Hauppague wrestling family and to the Lesser family ,
 
I learned of the passing of Ken but a few short moments ago.........He was a great man. 
In life we meet many people but few of us will ever meet or get to share our time on this planet with a person like Ken. He was one of those rare personalities that transcended the sport. Everyone knew him and he knew everyone. Steady and true to his nature he extended to everyone a genuine caring and kindness , an actual love. A helping hand always extended , Ken impacted hundreds if not thousands of children through his many hours of working in the world of wrestling. It did not matter if you were a Hauppauge Eagle or a RP Eagle , he just always made sure he was the first person there to help out of the goodness of his heart. I have to believe that heaven needed a man like Ken as he was taken from our world way too soon....to his family and the Hauppage wrestling family My thoughts and prayers are with you during these hard times. In time I hope that we can celebrate his life after mourning his death because thats the way he'd want it , you can bet....because thats the way he was from begining to end , a loving father and husband and to all in wrestling ... the greatest of friends. 
 
Rest in peace Ken...
 
DCG
 have had the great pleasure of knowing Mr. Lesser for the few years I have been involved in wrestling. At the first tournament I paired, Mr. Lesser walked in ahead of most of the registrants and asked--"Where do you want me?" I had never met him and had no idea who he was--but, I am a better person for having that encounter. There were many more too come over the next several years.

It became a running joke with Mr. Lesser and I, at every tournament thereafter--he would walk in, own supplies in hand, and ask-"Where do you want me?" He never seemed to miss an event, even when he had such a bad cold I worried about him and felt he should be home in bed. And, our game of "Where do you want me?" continued to include State as well as Sectional. events. At those tournaments that were mine (Section XI,) when it came time to "pay" the refs and table workers their embarrassingly small stipends at the end of the day, he would never take his-he would always tell me to "give it back to the kids." I would argue that it didn't even cover the cost of his pencils, but, no matter he just wouldn't take it.

Over time, I got to know Mr. Lesser pretty well, we spent a fair amount of time chatting not just about wrestling, but, also about life and any other things that came to mind.   A funny thing was that even though we were only 3 or 4 years apart in age, I always called him Mr. Lesser--not Ken. It was a respect thing, sort of like meeting one of your teachers later in life and never quite being able to call them by their given names. So a new running joke was born, he would end every conversation with, "When are you going to stop calling me Mr. Lesser and call me Ken?" I would reply, "I'll try, Ken."

 I can only echo the thoughts and feelings of all those who have posted here--he was a great guy, a gentleman, a tireless volunteer in a sport his kids no longer participated in, a guy who never said No, a guy who did not believe in No. A guy with interesting philosophies who I truly enjoyed talking to and missed him at far away tourneys that he wouldn't go to. Although I always looked for him, as though he just might have driven to Brockport or Rochester.

To the Lesser family, his wife, sons and daughter, I can't find words to tell you how sorry I am for your loss. If you are reading these posts, you know that he was loved by an entire world of people outside of your home. Know that God welcomed him with open arms, and some day--hopefully a long time from now, you will all be together again.

To his Hauppauge wrestling family, you have lost a tremendous asset to your club, my sincere condolences. Chris, when you start the Ken Lesser Memorial Scholarship--know that NY-USAW Section XI's is the first check on your desk. Should you decide to hold a Ken Lesser Memorial Tournament, please make it freestyle and greco and be sure to include Open division. Ken shared with me that, that was his favorite type of tournament.

And to my friend, Ken, I will miss our chats, I will miss seeing you around the mats. God bless you and hold you.

Sincerely,
Amy J. Prenderville
When I heard the news, my jaw dropped!! I was sitting mat-side with Ken for at least 3-hrs. on Sat. at the Waneta tourney. We talked about everything!! He wanted to know about my son not about his team!! That to me says everything. He asked about my daughter and if she was still up in Rhode Island. When I told him she moved back and is now looking for a teaching job, he insisted I give him her resume'. He actually got up and walked to my car to get her resume'. Again, I told him not now but he would'nt take no for an answer! Just a "CLASS ACT". 
I can't tell you how I will miss him!!  I will have a very heavy-heart the next time I reff a Hauppauge dual meet. He use to make me laugh if he thought I made a tough call against Hauppauge. I would look at him and he would move his head back and his eyes would roll to the back of his head!!! And then he would just laugh!! What a man!!  He was always a welcomed face to see at the head table. Especially if it was a tough dual.( US REFF'S DO LIKE TO SEE A FRIENDLY FACE ONCE IN A WHILE!!!)  

My deepest thoughts to his family and the Hauppauge wrestling community!! 
And I am so very glad I spent those 3-hrs with him when I did on Sat. My thoughts and prayers will be directed towards his family.
And to coach Messina and his son Michael, know this- He could not have spoken any prouder about you two to me on Sat.

Rest in peace Ken. You ARE a dear friend!!
Everything that Amy and Mr.Brocking  stated was nothing but the truth and couldn't have been said any better. No matter where the tournament was he was always there to help. I worked with him a few times during the Empire Trials, I would ref and he would do the table and we always had a great time, talking, joking around but he was a true fan of this sport. 

 May 30th I saw him at the Autism tournament up in Staten Island. His brother was wrestling and he also was up there to watch the Long Island Open team. He was joking around and cheering everyone on. He was talking with my 7-yr old. I just don't know what too say at a time like this but get ready for a world-wind of emotion. 

God Bless

__________________
Steven Michael Ketcham
I am very sorry to hear about the passing of Mr. Lesser.  He was a very nice man and a true member of our wrestling fraternity.  
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Lesser Family, the Hauppauge wrestling community and the entire long island wrestling community.  It is obvious by the overwhelming sadness and shock that surrounds everyone in the wrestling community, what an unbelievable man Ken really was.  I can’t remember any major tournament or any tournament on Long Island that he could attend, that Ken was not lending a hand in any way he could. Seeing him this weekend at Wantagh, a summer offseason tournament, just shows how great of a wrestling fan Ken really was.  He definitely had a tireless love for the sport of wrestling and loved all the great relationships that he formed through wrestling, especially his #1 team the Hauppauge Eagles!  Our deepest condolences to the Lesser Family and everyone else who had the pleasure of knowing Ken Lesser.  GOD BLESS AND REST IN PEACE.

-The Patrovich Family
I will always remember seeing Kenny with Coach Messina, he was Coaches Right Hand Man..Seeing them at the NHSCA HIGH SCHOOL NATIONAL, all the time running from Mat to Mat.with Kenny not missing a step holding camera in hand, clip board,and chair.You have to understand just how Tremendous that Arena is,and we all know that Messina walk or should I say run,....lol... Kenny was not a Tiny Man either,But he was always right behind Coach.
 
                    He truly Love this sport and the competition 

                                        Just a Great Man...
Ken Lesser was a wonderful man, a class act, and a longtime friend. The world lost one of the good guys and he will be truly missed. I first met Ken over 20 years ago during a business transaction. Doing business with Ken was always a win win situation for both, he was professional, diligent, and honest. A business relationship soon turned into friendship and after the birth of my son John his genuine concern for the well being of my family earned him a place in my heart forever. I will always remember the shared road trips, the shared hotel rooms, the conversations well into the night when we ventured north to Binghamton to watch our sons wrestle. Such a kind and generous man, I consider myself blessed to have known him.

Rest in peace dear friend, you will be missed.

John Perez Sr, John Perez Jr
Sachem East Wrestling Family
Last Saturday, I got to enjoy the day doing one of my favorite things, watching my son Dan wrestle at the Wantagh tournament. I was also lucky enough to spend some time with a man who was always a friend to us in the truest sense of the word. Little did I know or suspect that it would be our final meeting. I still have the image burned in my mind of Ken, as he coached and cheered for my son from matside.

Yesterday, I had to say goodbye to him.

Ken and I first met when Dan and Peter were doing some wrestling with a travel team…they were then in junior high. They roomed together at the Empire Games, and wrestled against each other in tournaments once they were on their respective HS varsity teams (Massapequa and Hauppauge).

Over the years, our paths crossed frequently during the regular and freestyle seasons. Always a kind word and a smile, and genuine concern for others. He was a man who loved his family, his extended wrestling family, and his fellow man. My sincerest condolences to Pat, the children, and to his brother Paul and his family.

Ken will be greatly missed, and will be there in spirit at all of our future matches.

In Ken’s memory, please do whatever you can to prevent those you know and love, from ever getting behind the wheel when they have been drinking. 

Felice Bittner
Just wish to say a few words for KEN LESSER.
 Most of us wrestling parents should take a lesson from Mr. Lesser.
A kind, freindly, caring, thoughtful man who thought more of the kids than himself. GOD REST HIS SOUL AND ALLOW HIM TO CONTINUE TO WATCH OVER  HIS FAMILY AND THE WRESTLING COMMUNITY.AMEN
I was watching my son wrestle at a tournement when a rule came up that I didn't understand.  Ken Lesser who didn't know me explained what happened and calmed me down. I'm very saddened to hear of his passing.  May he rest in peace.
Thank you to all who have shared their thoughts and prayers. I can't tell you what a comfort your words have been to my children and me.

Soon after Ken was killed a friend came by with a printout of this thread. I sat in our living room and began to read aloud your posts to those who were in the room. Before I knew it all 6 of the kids were in the room listening too.  

Peter and Jeff knew many of your names and they shared memories of you!

We all knew what Ken meant to us but we now know what he meant to others. What a precious gift you have given us.
I know Ken will be with all of you this wrestling season!
Best of luck to you and your wrestlers.

With Gratitude,
Pat Lesser
If you choose to drink choose not to drive