Aaron Smith, 1989 Oak Park High School alum, was visiting the East Village of New York City in early May, when he walked into a small second-hand clothing store around the corner from his flat. In, what he says was “quite literally the basement” of the store he found a 2008 Oak Park letter jacket, with the last name Keil on the back. Smith decided to purchase the jacket with the intent of returning it to the student who earned it.

“I started thinking about all the ways someone could be separated from something so personal,” Smith said. “Having never earned one myself, I began thinking of everything from financial hardship to theft. Regardless, I ended up buying the jacket with the intent to return it to him.”

With the help of the North Kansas City Schools Alumni Coordinator Meagan O’Donnell, Smith was able to narrow his search immediately. There was only one Keil in the 2008 Oak Park Cambia yearbook – Sam Keil. Smith was able to contact Keil through Facebook and Keil confirmed that the jacket was his. He said it had been stolen from his  friend’s car several years ago and was shocked to find out his jacket had made its way to New York City. He was excited for the opportunity to have it back.

Smith, who now lives in Colorado Springs, is planning to visit Kansas City on Thursday, May 28, and agreed to meet Keil at Oak Park to return the jacket. The two plan to meet at 10 a.m.

Upon speaking with one another, Smith and Keil realized that they were connected beyond the letter jacket. Smith graduated from Oak Park in 1989 with Keil’s stepfather. The two played football and had classes together in high school. Smith is the son of retired Oak Park teacher Keith Smith, and step-son of Debbie Smith, former Antioch Middle School English teacher.