Last week fire damaged the home of a long-time Roncalli High School teacher and coach. Mike Beren, known as “Coach Bear”, lost most of his possessions and two dogs.
Wednesday afternoon students and staff gathered to show their appreciation and love for one of their own. Following an all-school mass, the school family gathered to present their teacher and coach with gift certificates and a big check to help out a man who has helped so many others.
“Bear has always put others first,” said one student told 6 News. For more than 30 years Mike Berens or “Coach Bear” has taught math and coached football and basketball at Roncalli Catholic. The Roncalli community reached out to coach to help meet his immediate needs after the tragedy, raising more than $28,000.
“The school has been tremendous. People I know it’s really a humbling experience,” Berens told 6 News. Many of the students at Ronacalli have known Coach ‘Bear’ for years. Some knew of him even before they started classes.
“He taught my parents. He taught me. He’s teaching my sister now, so he’s given a lot to Roncalli. So we thought we should give back to him, especially in a tough situation,” student Casey Keating told 6 News.
Coach ‘Bear’ says he hopes to restore the home he’s lived in for more than 20 years.