Letter: Sad Day for the Islander Nation

Dear Islander Players and Parents,

I wanted to send out a message to all of you about a very special person to me and I’m sure to all of you as well. Our friend Andrea Bucklin, mom to senior Zach Bucklin, has lost her fight with Breast Cancer.

For those of you who don’t know Andrea, she’s one of the most amazing women I have had the pleasure to know and work with. As you know I am all about moms and Andrea has been an amazing Mom to Zach and his sister Molly. For those of you who knew Andrea you know she was a loving mom involved in her kid’s lives in every way. Andrea was passionate about everything she did, but her love of Zach and Molly and their friends was nothing short of amazing. It is my observation that Andrea was the consummate mom along with being a fantastic wife to her husband Kerry.

Since I became Head Coach of the Islanders over three years ago, Andrea has been an invaluable help to me and the entire Islander Football program in many ways. Initially, as a Team Parent when Zach played on the Sophomore team as a Freshman. After that, Andrea became even more integral to the growth of this program as the Auction Co-Chair for 2 years in a row helping to raise tens of thousands of dollars. More recently she has been an incredible confidant to me as we worked to make this program better and better. Her guidance and advice has been immeasurable to me and I want Zach and the rest of her family know how much that has meant to me.

I have said many times, we are a Family and the rest of the Team and Coaching staff are taking this as hard as I am. We all want to do something that will represent how this Family feels about Andrea. When the time is right, I will work with the family to ensure we honor Andrea in a fitting way. I will let you know when that decision is made which I hope will include the rest of the Islander Nation.  

For now, please join me in sending out our most heartfelt condolences to Zach and to the rest of the Bucklin family during this very difficult time.

Sincerely,

Brett Ogata,Head Coach
Mercer Island High School Football