St. Francis Brooklyn’s Boris Posavec: In Memoriam

BROOKLYN, NY. Last Sunday afternoon St. Francis men’s and women’s polo athletes past and present congregated in a lush green space on the Brooklyn waterfront. Later that day the NCAA women’s water polo championship would be contested, but there was little chatter about the upcoming battle between rivals UCLA and USC.

The gathering in fact was entirely somber: a remembrance of Boris Posavec, a former member of the St. Francis Brooklyn men’s team whose untimely passing was announced last week.

[St. Francis College Brooklyn Mourns the Loss of Boris Posavec]

There were testimonials to Posavec, a handsome 23-year-old from Croatia, as well as a prayer to the patron saint of victory. But there was no victory present here. Despite uplifting messages, a chill filtered through the mostly 20-something audience, athletes supremely confident of their own invincibility. Until they’re not; Posavac’s unexplained death had caused thoughts of mortality to creep into the minds of all assembled.

[GO FUND ME: Boris Posavec Funeral Costs]

This is perhaps not surprising given what so many have experienced from COVID-19, responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths worldwide, Yet even during a deadly pandemic, it’s still possible to be shocked at an unexpected passing. Especially when it’s someone on the cusp of great things after spending his youth in a disciplined pursuit of education and sport.

What makes this loss distinctly personal is, approximately a month ago I saw Boris at a pool on Roosevelt Island. We chatted amiably—as always—about Terrier polo. How was the program doing during these crazy COVID-19 times? What were the plans for restarting play? Who’s now coaching the team?

But it wasn’t all polo. I also checked in about how he was doing; finishing his degree, keeping in shape. I’m sure I asked him about where he’d be playing next. I knew that polo was his life.

Now, there’s only memories remaining—thoughts of the wonderous talents Posavec brought to Terrier water polo. For those who saw Boris compete from 2016 – 2019, there was a sense those teams never fully realized their potential. Teammates from those teams included Ognjen Antanaskovic, Botond Kadar, Viktor Klauzer, Bogdan Kostic, Will Lapkin, Nikita Prokhin, Alexander Teplitsky and Jonas Veazey. In 2017 and 2018 St. Francis led the Northeastern Water Polo Conference (NWPC) for much of the season, until injuries cut them down at the end.

Those teams had talent, smarts, and determination. They didn’t make NCAAs but were always in the mix for a conference title.

[With Patience and Passion, Harvard Men’s Water Polo Grabs Victory Over St. Francis Brooklyn]

And none more so than Boris, who grew into the Terriers’ primary playmakers. His shot was more than good, but it was his awareness of where his teammates were, his ability to set them up, that was noteworthy. He knew that other teammates could load up on a shot from the outside or drive inside for a timely feed. It was Boris’ job to anticipate where a teammate was and make the smart pass. And he would, setting them up for the score: a tip in, an easy goal, success.

As time went on, he became the team’s focal point; by his senior year, the offense often ran through him, as he assumed the captaincy—and primacy in the water—from a generation of seniors who graduated the year before. That he ascended to the job of assistant coach—and trusted advisor—to former head coach Bora Dimtrov made sense. Boris was always the one who would make the right decision with the ball at the right time.

Someone who knew what it took to win.

As I surveyed Sunday’s crowd, some of whom I’d known for years, I felt a sense of loss and sadness, what we’ve all experienced too much lately. And, I think of his parents, so far away in Croatia, and how tough it will be to bury their son. Making all the arrangements from a distance and during a pandemic, the whole time fighting through their grief and asking why; why does this happen to a smart, funny and talented kid just about to enjoy life so fully?

But, there’s them memories. That chance meeting on Roosevelt Island. The beautiful passes he made in the SFC pool. When he coached my kids’ water polo club and would goof around showing tricks with the ball.

It seems entirely unfair that, after the tears shed for so many, there’s one more death to be accounted for, another snatched away—just when it seemed the relief we’ve waited so long for has finally arrived.

Just like a Posavec pass.