Desert Ridge Athletic Director Jim Rabin never missed out on his school’s track and field program for health reasons.

In 2019, he was diagnosed with colon cancer and underwent surgery to remove it. Spots were also found on his lungs. He hit it off, and the entire Desert Ridge community came to rally around and support him.

But this spring, the cancer returned. Now in his brain. Head baseball coach Joseph Ponce remembers the day Rabin missed school because of cancer. He said he doesn’t want to go home because Rabin has work.

The two stayed in touch and discussed the Desert Ridge team and various other topics. The two last exchanged emails on July 3, when Rabin told Ponce there was nothing else the doctor could do.

Rabin died while in hospice on Thursday, July 13. he was 50 years old.

“He was the very definition of a servant leader,” Ponce said. “He definitely put the players and coaches ahead of his health. You can see Desert Ridge meant a lot to him.”

Rabin underwent surgery to beat cancer again. But another procedure could be fatal if there was an obstruction.

In 2019, when he was first diagnosed with cancer, the Desert Ridge baseball team hosted a game to help him, with all proceeds going to Rabin and his family. Rabin was determined not to fight in his own honor, but ultimately relented.

When Ponce was hired later that summer, Rabin told Ponce he didn’t have to play every year. Ponce did its duty and instead purchased gold shoelaces for players to wear to commemorate childhood cancer awareness.

Ponce said he owes everything in his career to Rabin. Without him, he wouldn’t have become a baseball head coach or teacher at Desert Ridge. He is grateful for that.

“I probably wouldn’t be at Desert Ridge without him,” Ponce said. “So I will always be grateful for the opportunities he gave me five years ago.”

Jeremy Hascock became close with Lavin during their time together in Desert Ridge.

Hascock coached football there for 13 years before becoming athletic director and head football coach at his alma mater, Blue Ridge.

The two talked constantly.

Hascock met with Rabin a week before he died while he was in hospice. They watched baseball together. Mr. Hascock said Mr. Rabin was in a good mood.

“He felt like he could live another month,” Hascock said. “We watched a Diamondbacks game together. We just talked about good times.”

Hascock recalled a time when Rabin had to take time off from work because of cancer.

His sports secretary Gail Elliott did not hesitate to step in and run the show alongside the coach.

That is the impact Rabin had on everyone and the community at Desert Ridge.

In times of need, people rose up in droves to help him.

“He was surrounded by a lot of good people, led by him and they trusted him,” Hascock said. “I don’t know how I could do it the way he did. Our booster club rallied around him. The coaches rallied around him. The principals let him do his job and there was absolutely nothing to worry about.”

The news of Rabin’s death was announced on Twitter by Gilbert Public Schools Superintendent Shane McCord, who, like many others, was close to Ponce.

“Last night we lost a very special person to cancer,” McCord wrote. Jim Rabin, AD at Desert Ridge High. There was no better father, husband, brother, son, friend, educator or administrator than Jim. I will miss you, brother. I love you! “

Desert Ridge principal DJ Speth said Rabin’s impact on the school was “immeasurable.”

“Jim was a great leader who cared for the Desert Ridge community,” Speth wrote in an email. “His impact on our campus is immeasurable. He will be sorely missed.”

Rabin is survived by his wife Robin, daughter Hannah, and son Connor.

Robin took to social media to thank those who have reached out to her and her family.

“I want to thank everyone for their kind comments and stories,” she wrote. “I’ve tried to reply to individual messages, but it’s been hard to keep up with all the volume. Thank you for your kindness and support.”

Mr. Hascock said Mr. Rabin’s death had a big impact on him.

“It was a shock to me,” said Hascock. “This whole deal. Sad and frustrating.”

Rabin’s visit took place on July 19 at Mesa’s Queen of Heaven Cemetery Chapel.

Robin asked attendees to wear sports shirts from their favorite teams to honor her husband’s love of the sport.

A funeral service was held the following day in the parish of St Mary Magdalene, Gilbert.