Fay's sport success only the beginning

The world has changed since the last time John Fay roamed the lacrosse field. For that, Fay can take a little bit of credit.

Fay, a Canton native and former standout attackman in high school, college and the pros, is a senior development specialist for Emerging Markets Group, which works with clients to improve the infrastructure of communities around the world. He is also the co-founder of SEM (Senegalese Ecovillage Microfinance Fund), which provides microfunding to help the impoverished in Senegal start their own businesses.

He recently finished a nine-month assignment in Beijing, spent last week making presentations at Cornell University concerning conservation in Zambia, and is in the process of obtaining his doctorate at the University of South Africa at Capetown.

It wasn't long ago that Fay was traveling the world because of lacrosse. The younger of two lacrosse-playing brothers at Canton, Fay led Section 10 in scoring for four straight years from 1991-94. He had 83 goals and 45 assists in his senior year, won All-America honors, and left for Duke University as a two-time Times All-North first-team member and one of the best lacrosse players ever out of Section 10. He also competed in the Empire State Games and excelled in hockey in high school.

At Duke, Fay joined older brother, Ed, and helped the Blue Devils advance to the NCAA Final Four for the first time in history in 1997. Fay's 53 goals that season led the Atlantic Coast Conference, and he was a third-team All-American.

Fay jumped to second-team All-American in his senior year in 1998. He led the ACC in points with 67 and was selected to play in the annual, prestigious North-South Game. Duke made it to the NCAA quarterfinals. At the conclusion of his collegiate career, Fay was third all-time at Duke with 150 career goals.

Fay is now fifth all-time in career goals, eighth in career total points, and still holds Duke's record for most goals in a game with nine, scored against Hobart on April 12, 1996.

Fay went on to play with his brother professionally, competing in indoor lacrosse for the Syracuse Smash and the Ottawa Rebels and in the outdoor game with the Rochester Rattlers. He played for six years, while also working at an investment bank.

Fay had aspirations to travel the world and had already visited the Czech Republic while playing lacrosse. After obtaining his bachelor's degree at Duke, he obtained his masters degree at Cornell. After a spring break course trip to Nigeria, Fay was inspired to spend the summer after graduation in Senegal. While working on economic assessment there, Fay noted that the poor community could not produce income because of lack of opportunity. A plan was designed in which 15 families were loaned 30 dollars each to buy peanut seeds. The group repaid the loans after earning a profit from their crop.

To read about previous selections to the Times' list of The North Country's Greatest Athletes of All Time, log on to www.watertowndailytimes.com.