Kalas' Posthumous Note

From Kristy Davies at the Courier-Post:
What began as a class project became an extraordinary and memorable experience for a Cherry Hill High School West student. John Mackowsky [pictured], 16, a special education student at the school, wrote a letter to Phillies announcer Harry Kalas as part of an activity to format business letters and mail them to public figures.
" We did the activity in January and February where the students wrote business letters to public figures such as celebrities, school administrators, public works or the president," said Mollie Gross, a special education teacher at Cherry Hill High School West.
Only two students received responses until Gross opened her mailbox Wednesday morning to find an envelope addressed to her in tiny handwriting and postmarked April 8, just five days before Kalas' death. Gross thought it was a reminder for an upcoming teacher function, but opened it to discover a handwritten Phillies card and an autographed photo of Harry Kalas." I was shaking and had to tell someone," she said.
"I took it to my biology class and shared the news." When Mackowsky found out he threw his arms in the air and shouted, "Yes!"
"It felt good (to find out about the letter)," he said.
"I love his voice and when he says "good night everyone.' "
"He loves to watch baseball and listen to it on the radio and television," said his father, Rick Mackowsky, 57, of Cherry Hill. "John picks out public figures and gets fascinated with them." With help from education assistant Gale Ellien, John Mackowsky drafted and typed a letter to Kalas that asked him personal questions such as what his favorite sport is, how many children he has and what his middle name is.
" My middle name is Norbert," read the petite handwriting on the letter. Kalas also wrote about his three children, his age and that he has loved baseball since the age of 10.
" He really likes sports and his favorite is baseball, although he can really throw a basketball," John's mother, Margaret Mackowsky, 48, said. Mackowsky has a neurological disability and has endured multiple surgeries including corrective surgery for scoliosis.
"We try to let him do everything we can," his mother said. "He's always ready with his baseball glove and does what he can."
"John was sad and curious" when he learned of Kalas' death, his mother said. "My husband sent me a text that he had died."
"I was upset," Mackowsky said.
Now he has an everlasting memory of Kalas, and the family plans to have the card and photo mounted and framed to display at home.
The autographed photo also had a poem on the back that was written by Kalas about the Philadelphia fan. The poem will be featured at a memorial for Kalas today at Citizens Bank Park.
"I'm just so proud of John and happy he wrote a letter to Kalas," Gross added. "It has brought happiness to the class, school and his family."