You’ve got to hand it to John “Kool Kat” Amaral. The man has ice in his veins every time he watches his beloved Buffalo Bills play the Kansas City Chiefs, especially during the playoffs when everything is on the line.

      Such was the case in the recent AFC Championship game, which the Bills, once again, found a way to lose. What made matters worse was that a trip to the Super Bowl was on the line. But did Mr. Amaral break into tears watching this latest classic battle in the comfort of his Mt. Hope Avenue home? Not on your life.

      “It was a great game, right ‘til the bitter end,” said the Kat, in his usual reserved tone. “We’ve got to find a way to beat these guys when it counts the most. It’s as simple as that.”

       But that’s a story for another day.

      John Amaral is well known and beloved throughout the East Bay area, particularly here in his hometown of Bristol, where he shined as a multi-sport athlete, most notably, in football and softball. The son of the late John and Mary Amaral of Burton Street, Kool Kat is easily identified by the wide variety of classic cars he drives and the many places he frequents, such as the local Sip & Dip on Hope Street, and other locales.

      A very civic-minded individual, Kool Kat will turn 80 in May, and has enough wonderful memories (aside from those Buffalo Bills failures) that have already lasted a lifetime.

      “I had the honor of serving as an aide to Richard Alegria when he was Chief Marshal of the Bristol Fourth of the July Parade in 1978,” he noted, “and I was also a participant in one of first Soap Box Derby events many years ago.”

      Slow-pitch softball on the Bristol Town Common and mixing it up in the former Bristol County Touch Football League at Guiteras Field were two of Kool Kat’s favorite pastimes. He mentioned contributors and teammates like Phil Taldone and Denny Viera, among others.

      “I’ve always loved playing sports, and that included the Bristol YMCA, where then physical director Hector Massa was in charge,” he said. “Those are memories that have lasted a lifetime.”

       Speaking of Hector Massa, and all those former great Bristol athletes that followed, Kool Kat struck up a great relationship with people like the late Richard Travers, Lou Murgo, and Dr. Anthony Ramos, just to name a few.

      Kool Kat also took his talents to neighboring Warren and Barrington, where he played softball against the likes of Roger Araujo, Mert Caton, Billy Almeida, Steve Quinten, Jim McMahon and Butch Lombardi. In Barrington, he became friends with many members of the Democratic Club, and marveled at the football talents of former Barrington High football star and later coach, Bill McCagney.

      “Kool Kat is a real good guy and a real character,” said Coach McCagney, “and I’ve seen him at the car shows a few times. He’s quite a guy.”

      A retired employee of the City of Providence as a heavy equipment operator, the Kat was also a former Dock Master in Bristol. Nowadays, he finds time to construct manger scenes on his property during the Christmas holiday season as well as a “Salute to Veterans” display in November.

      Unequivocally, one of the most die-hard Buffalo Bills fans of this or any other era, Kool Kat Amaral will continue to fly his famous Buffalo Bills Mafia flag alongside his home: win, lose, or draw.

      “I’ve always loved this team and I always will, to the day I die,” he stressed.  “I started following the Buffalo Bills when Jim Kelly was the quarterback way back when. And, I’m not giving up on them now.”

    Eventually, Kool Kat Amaral will get a break and that elusive Super Bowl title will be his to share and enjoy. He’s determined that it will finally happen. You can count on it.