By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Brian Eviston, an outstanding student-athlete at Newport Central Catholic High School and Thomas More College, passed away Thursday after battling a degenerative disease for nearly five years.
Eviston, a resident of Cold Spring, was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, in November of 2016. At that time, he was working for Strauss Troy attorneys at law.
In high school, Eviston was captain of the NewCath varsity football and basketball teams and graduated in 1996 as the class salutatorian. He continued his football career at Thomas More College, where he was captain of the football team and graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2000. He went on to get his law degree from the University of Kentucky in 2003.
Eviston was NewCath’s starting quarterback in his junior and senior seasons. One of his teammates was his younger brother, Eddie, who is now head football coach at Covington Catholic High School.
After Brian was diagnosed with ALS in 2016, his family and friends started Team “B”elieve, a fund-raising effort to offset his medical expenses while he battled the disease that progressively destroys nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. The money they raised was used to help other young families dealing with ALS as well.
For the past five years, CovCath donated proceeds from its final preseason football game to Team “B”elieve. Brian always attended those games and provided an inspiring message of hope, faith and love to those in attendance.
Brian took part in a research study at Massachusetts General Hospital to help find a cure or slow the progression of ALS. Through it all, he expressed endless gratitude for each day he was blessed with during his medical ordeal.
Before the disease, Brian was an active volunteer in the community. He coached youth basketball teams, served as an unpaid legal consultant and worked with the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce to create a Healthy Newborns Home. He was also a member of Diocese of Covington’s Alliance for Catholic Urban Education.
He is survived by his wife, Rhonda; children Riley, Donovan, Evelyn and Maura; mother, Denise; brother, Eddie (Selina); sisters Jennifer Jacob and Malia (Adam) Jackson and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Donald, and brother, Sean.
Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Tuesday at Covington Catholic High School. Mass of Christian Burial will be noon Wednesday at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Cold Spring with interment to follow at St Joseph Cemetery in Cold Spring.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Team “B”elieve, 971 Corona Drive, Cold Spring, KY 41076 or Alliance for Catholic Urban Education, 1125 Madison Ave., Covington, KY 41011. Online condolences can be given at dmefuneral.com.