Family provides scholarships, grants to honor son’s ‘giving’ spirit

by Laura Straub

Michelle Counahan of Hudson is the first to admit the pain of losing a child doesn’t fade.

“It doesn’t get better,” she said. “It gets different.”

Counahan’s oldest son, Riley, died on June 30, 2018, at age 16 after an epileptic seizure. Riley was first diagnosed with epilepsy in sixth grade; however, doctors immediately began managing his seizures with medication.

“He never had another one that we were aware of until June when he passed away,” she said.

Although things haven’t gotten easier for Counahan and her family, they have found ways to remember Riley. Last spring, the family awarded the inaugural Riley P. Counahan Memorial Scholarship at the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank’s annual volunteer celebration. The scholarship is earmarked for seniors at area high schools who have volunteered for 20 or more hours at the foodbank, where Riley was a dedicated volunteer.

“The scholarship was a way for our family to stay connected to a place where he had such a presence,” said Counahan.

Riley was first introduced to the Foodbank when the family lived in Bath and he attended St. Hilary School in Fairlawn. His classroom volunteered there as a group, and Riley came back, again and again.

“Riley was a young man who believed in giving back by helping others and being involved in the community,” said Tasha Ledrich, volunteer leader at the foodbank. “We were grateful to have him as a part of our foodbank family. He was known for being warm and generous, always striving to include others, and we remember him as being thoughtful and kind.”

Because of Riley’s inclusive nature, Counahan wanted the scholarship to be attainable to students who may not be at the top of their class but are doing great things in the community. Recipients can use the scholarship money for any type of higher education, a trade school, community college or four-year university.

Counahan said the scholarship is also a way to introduce students to volunteering at the foodbank, in the hope they have the same positive experience that Riley did. The criteria are distributed to all neighboring schools so students are aware that if they meet the volunteer requirements, they will be eligible.

The Counahan family vets the applicants themselves, in an effort to choose a winner that embodies Riley’s giving, kind-hearted and hardworking nature.

“The scholarship is more about the person, their giving spirit and involvement in their community and their positive attitude,” she said. “Riley did that all really effortlessly.”

So far, the applicants have been impressive.

“Some of these kids, they’re working, and the amount of service that they are doing at the food bank and school, it’s just unbelievable,” said Counahan.

Seeing the achievements of the scholarship candidates, gives the family the opportunity to pause and remember all of Riley’s best qualities.

Counahan said Riley’s friends remember him as the type of person who really cared when he asked how someone’s day was. Being so friendly and welcoming, he had a diverse group of friends. He also had a carefree spirit and an optimistic attitude.

“He had the ability to see something positive in pretty much all situations,” she said.

In addition to volunteering at the foodbank, Riley volunteered at the family’s church. As the family began looking at high schools for Riley and his younger brother, Colin, they selected University School in Hunting Valley and moved from Bath to Hudson to be closer.

The relocation prompted the family to find a new church. They chose Mother of Sorrows in Peninsula, because Riley liked the priest. He served as an acolyte at the church, and as a loving brother and role model, was Colin’s confirmation sponsor.

As a longtime hockey player, Riley was also a part of the tight-knit hockey community that spans the state of Ohio. Playing goalie, Riley wore number 32. To this day, friends of Riley from the many hockey teams he’s played on wear helmet stickers with the number 32 in his remembrance – from his childhood teams in the Columbus area to other schools in the Cleveland area, like Gilmore and Ignatius.

In addition to honoring Riley through the scholarship, the Counahans have created the Riley Counahan Memorial Foundation, which is managed through the Cleveland Foundation. With this foundation, the family supports children with developmental and physical limitations. Most recently, the foundation provided funding for special accommodations on a high ropes course at the Akron Rotary Camp for Children with Special Needs to make it accessible to all. The foundation is also in the process of funding special needs accessible playground equipment at the Golden Key Center in Canton.

Through contributions to the community like these, the Counahans plan to continue to keep Riley’s memory alive for years. “I have found that when you lose a child, one of your worst fears is people will forget your child, because they are no longer here,” said Counahan. “But I feel like we have a presence in the community, we’re reaching out and helping others in memory of his giving spirit. It’s just important for us as a family to keep his spirit and memory alive even though he’s not here.”

Feature image photo caption: The family of Riley Counahan (second from left) will award its second scholarship in April to a senior who volunteers at the
Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, where Riley was a committed volunteer. Pictured with Riley is dad, Chris; mother, Michelle; and younger brother, Colin.