BROADALBIN — In the world of Broadalbin-Perth athletics, there’s one fan who stands out from the rest, according to athletic director Tucker Gifford. That fan is none other than Joe Kilinski.
At the ripe age of 88, Kilinski has been a constant presence at Broadalbin-Perth High School games, even before the school bore its current name.
“I’ve been a fixture since 1952,” Kilinski shared. “I’ve made it to nearly every home game and even a handful of the away games.”
During a recent Patriots game against Fonda-Fultonville, the Broadalbin-Perth community took a moment at halftime to honor Kilinski’s unwavering support over the past seven decades.
“We wanted to express our gratitude to our loyal fans, and Joe has been a constant at our games for as long as anyone can remember,” Gifford explained. “We felt it was time to do something special for him, as he’s always there cheering on our coaches and teams. He’s a pillar of our community. We coordinated with his family to make it a surprise.”
At the halftime ceremony, Gifford invited Kilinski to center court, where he was warmly welcomed by a line of current Broadalbin-Perth coaches and student-athletes.
Then, his family made their entrance.
Family members traveled from nearby towns like Speculator and East Greenbush, while others journeyed from as far as Florida, Texas, and Virginia.
Together, they watched as Gifford presented Kilinski with the inaugural ‘Most Dedicated Patriot Fan Award.’
“They all showed up today for some reason. I just couldn’t put my finger on why,” Kilinski joked about the unexpected family reunion.
Going forward, the award will be known as the ‘Joe Kilinski Most Dedicated Patriot Fan Award.’
As the ceremony unfolded, Kilinski was overwhelmed.
“I was at a loss for words,” Kilinski admitted with a chuckle.
After the halftime ceremony, Joe Kilinski and his family enjoyed a private reception nearby, complete with chocolate cake and plenty of catching up.
This marked the first time the entire family had gathered since 2016, when they came together for the funeral of Anne Kilinski, Joe’s wife of 61 years.
Joe, a Perth High School alumnus, met Anne, a Broadalbin High School graduate, in 1952. They married in 1955 and had seven children and 58 grandchildren and great-grandchildren, while also fostering a total of 88 children over the years.
Kilinski was a familiar face at his children and grandchildren’s athletic events, cheering them on in football, soccer, volleyball, baseball, softball, and wrestling.
Even after all these years, he remains a dedicated fan.
“My mother [Anne] was busy with the younger kids and our foster children, so she didn’t make it to many games,” Joe’s daughter Kirsten Kilinski said in a press release from the school. “But we could always count on seeing Dad in the stands.”
“He’s a quiet supporter,” said Gifford. “He’s always there, cheering us on. He might look familiar, but not everyone knows who he is. He’s just always there.”
When Gifford proposed the idea of honoring Joe to the Kilinski family, he had no idea they hadn’t all been together in nearly eight years.
“They were overjoyed and so grateful, which was heartwarming because they know how much he cares. To see them come from all over to support him was truly special,” Gifford said. “It was a memorable night and I’m glad we made it happen.”
Joe Kilinski’s dedication to the Patriots is truly remarkable. #DevotedFan
Agree Devotion like Joe’s is truly inspiring. He embodies true loyalty and passion for his team.