Pick nearly any Muncy athlete over the last 52 years. Chances are, John Brink coached him or her at some point.

And even better are the chances that person is better off from having that experience. The army veteran was a general these last six decades, but a kind one who led so many toward super achievements whether on the field, the court or away from sports.

Brink passed away Tuesday, but his legacy will long carry on. All those athletes carry the baton forward now and will try to bring out the best in all those around them. That was Brink’s most valuable lesson.

Honestly, though, one cannot replace John Brink. He was one of a kind. All we can do is emulate the person he was.

Personally, I know Muncy sporting events will never be the same. Whether serving as an assistant boys’ basketball and JV head coach over the last 17 seasons or working the clock at football games, Brink was a constant at Muncy. It always felt good seeing him and talking about Penn State sports and his beloved Yankees. He didn’t even make fun of me for being an Orioles fan which was especially kind.

Brink always made me feel welcome. That included when I began working at the Sun-Gazette in 1999 through the last time I saw him, following Muncy’s District 4 Class AA championship appearance last month.

Muncy dropped a one-point heartbreaker that night, but Brink emerged from the locker room smiling and warmly greeted me. Had I known this was the last time I would encounter him, I would have tried saying something much better; something profound. But my mind was racing, thinking about deadlines, my upcoming story and a busy schedule.

There’s a lesson there because the only thing more unpredictable than sports is life. We are all busy; all have different things we are going through but it’s so important not to take anyone for granted.

Ultimately, Brink not only understood that but lived it. His life was volunteerism, appreciating people and making them better. Of course, he would never admit that because he was too humble.

And Brink was never into anything for himself. It was all about others and what he could do.

Look at the last 52 years he coached. Brink accomplished so much. Better yet, so many achieved because he helped inspire them.

One of the most successful girls’ basketball coaches in Muncy high school history, Brink led the Indians to multiple district championships before joining Jason Gresh’s staff when he became the boys’ head coach late in the 2010 season.

Gresh often cites Brink joining the staff as one of the biggest developments in what has become one of District 4’s model programs. It was the first brick in the foundation as Muncy continued ascending toward new levels. Highlighting that, Muncy reached its fifth straight district championship and state tournament this past season.

That success has been a team effort from coaches to players. But Brink certainly was a massive part of that team, a huge part of the success. While also coaching youth sports, Brink still continued working with the basketball players throughout the offseason and into the season.

His work at the JV level helped create a pipeline which ensured the next varsity group consistently was ready to fill the voids of the outgoing seniors. That is easier said than done at small public schools, but Brink’s tireless effort helped make it happen.

His fingerprints are all over the baseball program’s success as well. Brink did not coach the high school team during the 2000s, but he again helped prepare them for that time. He began coaching Little League Baseball 52 years ago and helped those young, impressionable athletes learn about the game as well as life.

Skills developed at that young age grew over the years and Muncy’s high school team captured four district championships from 2003-11, reaching the 2004 state final. He did not receive a medal, nor need one following those wins. Seeing his former players flourish was the only reward Brink needed.

What many who have played for Brink over the years most likely realized is that having him as a coach meant more than any trophy or gold medal ever could. I only saw Brink throughout football and basketball seasons over the last decade but always enjoyed those times and felt better from the experience.

Now just imagine being around him on a regular basis. That’s like receiving a daily shot full of positivity. It explains a lot about why those he mentored, like Gresh for example, have performed so well in their current roles.

As great a coach as he was, Brink served even better as Muncy’s greatest ambassador. It’s a small town, but Brink helped Muncy achieve greatness at so many levels.

The longer one lives, the more people he or she meets. Sometimes memories of those people; those interactions can fade. But I know I’ll never forget John Brink.

Nor will the army of people whose lives he influenced. Like Forrest Gump’s mom told him, dying is a part of life. It’s a painful, gut-wrenching one, but Brink will live on.

It goes beyond all those people he made better, too. It’s simply about us being the best people we can be. Emulate John Brink and the world can become a better place.

Above everything else, I think that was this wonderful man’s ultimate mission. Not all heroes where capes. They walk among us and now one soars above us as well.

Rest easy, John. Your tireless work is over.

The entire town of Muncy and all those you helped along the way are better off for knowing you.

–Masse may be reached at cmasse@sungazette.com. Follow him on Twitter at @docmasse