Special Olympian inducted into Hall of Fame

Crystal Bozek

January 25, 2008 12:13 am

— ANDOVER — When doctors diagnosed a 5-day-old Denise Carriere with meningitis, they said she would never be able to walk, talk, see, hear, or even think.
But Carriere surprised everyone — and keeps doing it every day.
Despite a brain injury, the 33-year-old leads an extraordinary life, working as a library aide when she is not winning gold medals for swimming in the Special Olympics or speaking to thousands of people about her life.
“She’s a real survivor,” her mother, Marilyn, said. “She has overcome so much.”
So it was only fitting that Carriere got her own surprise yesterday. As she filed books on another floor, family and friends quietly gathered in the lobby of Memorial Hall Library, on hand to celebrate her induction into the Special Olympics Massachusetts Hall of Fame.
Carriere wept at the news.
“The Hall of Fame. I’ve kind of been waiting for this,” she said, wiping her eyes as someone handed her pink roses, which unleashed a fresh batch of tears. “I knew I was nominated, but I’m shocked. I’m very shocked. I’m so honored.”
The Andover native is one of 18 athletes to be inducted into the Special Olympics Massachusetts Hall of Fame since 1994. More than 10,000 people participate in statewide events. The Special Olympics provides sports training and competition for people with mental retardation or developmental disabilities.
She will be honored at a gala on April 5.
“And this year is the 40th anniversary for us, so it is even more so an honor this year,” said Diane Agganis, a Special Olympics employee.
Another employee, Martha Dove added: “She has a great spirit and a smile on her face. She just touches your heart.”
People nominated Carriere twice before.
Carriere started competing in the Special Olympics when she was 8 years old, when her then-gym teacher Dave Nichols took a group of children to a track and field event.
She has competed in swimming — “winning a gazillion medals” — soccer, hockey, track and basketball.
“She loved it,” said Nichols, now athletic director in Andover. “She was so fun to coach. I grew up with her. You become friends, too.”
Carriere also is a member of the organization’s board of directors, and works with young Special Olympic athletes at the YMCA pool. She also serves as a global messenger, which means she speaks to local groups about the competitions and her life.
She spoke to 4,000 teachers at a conference last year, taking the stage after Boston Mayor Thomas Menino.
“They told me there would be 3,000. But there were 4,000,” Carriere said, still astonished by what she did. “That’s a lot of people to talk in front of.”
Carriere has worked at Memorial Hall Library for the past 11 years, mainly in the technical processing department. She keeps her own apartment near the library, walking to work each day.
Her life turned out a lot different than what doctors said it would be, as they watched her fight for her life for nearly three months in Massachusetts General Hospital. Meningitis, an inflammation of the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord, can be fatal.
Marilyn Carriere said she doesn’t quite have the will of her daughter.
“It was so hard to keep this a secret from her. I’ve known for a week,” she said. “She wanted to come visit last weekend, and I told her we would next week. I was so afraid I would tell her.”

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