The Story of Gene Cassidy '83

On Oct. 22, 1987, Gene Cassidy '83 of Bel Air, Md., experienced a traumatic event that left him permanently blind. He turned to his alma mater for support and a new beginning. With the help of York College, Gene was able to begin a new chapter of his life as a teacher, role model and mentor to thousands of men and women.

Gene grew up in Oakland, N.J., a small town in the northern part of the Garden State. Both of his parents had careers that were focused on helping others – his mother was a registered nurse, and his father was a member of the U.S. Department of Defense. Gene was nine when he first realized he wanted to follow in their footsteps.

"I was walking down the street and saw a police officer pull up to a house, get out of the car with medical equipment in hand and run inside the house to possibly save someone's life," said Gene. "I knew then that being a police officer was a noble profession and something I wanted to do with my life.

After graduating from Indian Hills High School in 1978, he decided to leave New Jersey and come to York College of Pennsylvania to study criminal justice. York had one of the top criminal justice programs in the region, and the campus was the perfect size for a small-town guy like Gene.

While at York, he thrived academically and was actively involved in campus activities. Gene coordinated the intramural program, and he was a member of the Starz (an intramural football team), Omega Theta Chi and the track and field team.

According to Patti (Fake) Cassidy '83, because of Gene's involvement on campus, everyone seemed to know him and genuinely like him – from his fellow students to the College president.

"What is the attraction with Gene Cassidy?" Patti asked a sorority sister before she had gotten to know him.

Patti recalls that during a party of Sigma Delta Row sorority sisters, the women were ranking the guys who came in the door. When Gene came in, one of her sisters ranked him higher than a 10 despite the fact that their scale ended at 10. When Patti asked why, her sister said "his personality puts him over the top."

After a few dates with Gene, Patti realized that her sister was right. Gene, who was amazed by Patti's crystal blue eyes and perfect smile, learned that she was just as compassionate as she was beautiful.

"I saw something in her that I knew I needed in my life," Gene said.

After graduating from York College, Patti took an accounting position in York, while Gene applied to and was accepted into the Baltimore Police Department Academy. By 1986 the couple married and were living and working outside of Baltimore – Patti as a certified public accountant and Gene as a Baltimore City Police agent. Things were going exactly how they had planned until the evening of Oct. 22, 1987. 

That's when everything changed. 

The events that took place that day were corroborated by four collections of witnesses, according to Gene.

Gene was on duty in the Western District, which is one of the roughest areas in Baltimore City. As he was traveling westbound on Moser Street, he turned to his right and saw a man for whom he had written a warrant 10 days earlier.

Gene took a right on Appleton Street, got out of his car and attempted to surprise the man, who was strolling toward Appleton Street with a 17-year-old girl.

Gene attempted to place the man against a wall, but he sprang off the wall, elbowed Gene in the chest and clenched Gene's radio with his hand. The man ripped the radio off Gene's shoulder and a struggle ensued.

The man brandished a .357 revolver, and within 18 inches of Gene, fired the gun into Gene's cheek. The bullet bore its way through his brain almost exiting his skull and severing the right optical nerve.

The man fired a second shot. This time his gun was directly against Gene's left temple. According to Gene, an explosion occurred as the "hot missile" clipped his left eye, eventually lying dormant within his brain. 

In most cases, injuries like this are fatal.

"Doctors privately discussed a four percent chance of survival," said Gene. "I guess I beat the odds."

Gene awoke from two weeks in a medically induced coma, blinded – as well as losing his sense of smell and taste – and unable to remember what had happened to him that tragic evening. 

"It was difficult to wake up and all of a sudden be 100 percent blind," he said. "After I came to terms with the reality of the situation, I knew I wanted to pursue my second passion, which was to teach."

Within a year of the shooting, a group of command officers from the Baltimore Police Department came to Gene's home to ask him what he would like to do now that he was blind. They were shocked by the quick answer Gene gave.

"I want to teach in the police academy," he said.

Gene, a man of his word, returned to York College in the summer of 1989 with his seeing eye dog, Izzy, (a mammoth German Shepherd) to pursue a bachelor's degree in secondary education (concentrating in United States history) and a minor in psychology.

"I came back to York College, because it felt like home to me," he said. "From the moment I walked back on campus I felt a sense of comfort and security."

Because Gene had seen the campus before, he was able to listen for cues, such as the fountain, to help guide him across the campus.

"I could probably parachute on to campus and find my way to class," he said with a chuckle.  

On the occasion when Gene was slightly off-course, his fellow students and others on campus were willing to offer a helping hand. One such event occurred during his first week back at York College.

"When I first arrived on campus, I got out of the car and listened for the fountain, and Izzy and I proceeded toward it," he continued. “An overgrown branch from a tree that I knew was there clipped my New York Giants hat, and the hat fell to the ground. I picked it up, brushed it off and proceeded on my way. The next day my wife told me the branch was gone. Someone saw what had happened the day before and immediately removed the branch. That shows the type of people who work at the College."

In class he found his professors, such as Anthony Fredericks, PhD, Brian Glandon, PhD, and Dean Cheesebrough, PhD, to be just as genuine and helpful.

"Dr. Cheesebrough never treated me any different than the other students in class," said Gene. "He had the same high expectations for everyone."

The only accommodation Gene needed in class was the opportunity to have the tests read to him so he could respond verbally.

"Oral tests are actually ideal in education," said Cheesebrough. "Gene was able to elaborate in a way you could never do on a written exam. It tested the depth of his knowledge, which was outstanding."

The real test of his skills was his student teaching at Fawn Grove Middle School. He knew that to be a successful teacher he needed to control the room, despite the fact that he couldn't see what was happening.

"I learned at York College that I needed to first and foremost be a classroom manager," Gene said. "Once the group believed in what I was doing, the rest would come naturally. I kept the students on their toes by brainstorming, role playing and asking a lot of questions."

Gene successfully completed his student teaching and graduated in 1991 with his bachelor's degree in secondary education (with a minor in psychology), augmented by his first degree in criminal justice. He then returned to the Baltimore Police Department, his "second home," to educate future police officers.

"The only thing I couldn't teach was driving," he said laughingly. "I really don't know why."

After several years of teaching in the Department, Gene was given the opportunity to go to graduate school. In 2003, he earned a master's degree in administration at Johns Hopkins University.

"My educational experiences have been building blocks that have helped propel me forward," Gene said.

Gene is now the internship coordinator in the Baltimore Police Department and an adjunct professor at the University of Baltimore. Within the police department, he is also a coordinator and educator in the law program – teaching constitutional law, as well as criminal law.

"When I come across York College students, I know they are well-prepared," he said. "I was well-prepared in both careers I chose, and that is why I have been able to do rather well with my life."

Gene is also quick to acknowledge the support he received from his family, who were also affected by his blindness. His wife, Patti, was pregnant with their first child, daughter Lauren, during his recovery.

"I realized when I met Patti back at York that she was an extraordinary woman," he said. "She was able to handle what I went through, as well as being a new mother at the same time. I would not have the life I have today without her."

Gene and Patti also have a son, Kevin, who came to York College as a freshman in Fall 2009. 

"I am glad he chose to come to York, but it was definitely his choice," Gene said. "It is also great that he chose to be involved on campus as a member of the wrestling team."

Although Gene has yet to see either of his children because of his injury, he has a special bond with them.

"I have the same relationship that other fathers have with their children," he said. "Our relationship may be stronger because they have always been by my side."

According to Patti, because of Gene's disability, their children have also learned compassion and patience at an early age.

"Those great qualities our children possess are some of the positives we take away from what happened to Gene," said Patti.

Gene is also using his circumstance to help other families that may be in a similar situation. He petitioned the Maryland General Assembly to change a law that would allow 100-percent disabled police officers' and firefighters' children to go to a Maryland state college tuition-free. 

"This piece of legislation was passed, and now my daughter is attending Salisbury University tuition-free, along with other students at various Maryland state colleges," said Gene. "I will continue to fight for things I believe in."

Gene has also fought to return to the "sense of normalcy" his life had before the shooting. A football fan all his life, Gene has been a Baltimore Ravens season ticket holder since 1996 despite the fact that he cannot see the games. He listens to the game play-by-play on the radio while the it is being played right in front of him. Others often ask him why he doesn't just stay home and listen to the game on the radio. He replies, "First of all, I love the atmosphere and energy of a professional football game and being able to enjoy it with my son; and second of all, I will not let the man who did this to me win."

Clifton "Butchie" Frazier was found guilty of the shooting of Gene Cassidy and charged with first-degree attempted murder and sentenced to life in prison plus 20 years. 

Gene was given the Medal of Valor and the Medal of Honor, the Baltimore Police Department's highest honors.

(Pictured: Kevin Cassidy '13, Gene Cassidy '83 and '91 and Patti (Fake) Cassidy '83)