CU mourns death of men's lacrosse team leader George Boiardi

Boiardi

By Blaine P. Friedlander Jr.

George Boiardi, a senior history major and defenseman on Cornell's varsity lacrosse team from Washington, D.C., died after being struck in the chest with a lacrosse ball late in the fourth quarter of a game against Binghamton University March 17 at Schoellkopf Field.

Boiardi, 22, was a four-year starter and one of the four captains on the men's team. After being hit, he collapsed on the field and medical personnel tried to revive him. He was rushed to Cayuga Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

"Cornell's athletics community is absolutely devastated by this tragic loss," said Andy Noel, Cornell director of athletics and physical education, after being informed of Boiardi's death. "George was a terrific person, a great team leader, an excellent student, and in fact he was one of the finest students at the university. This loss cannot be measured. Our hearts and prayers go out to George's family, his friends and his teammates."

In a statement to the entire Cornell community, President Jeffrey S. Lehman said: "We mourn together, and we collectively extend our sympathies to the Boiardi family and to all those who knew and loved him."

With 2 minutes and 33 seconds remaining in the March 17 game, a Binghamton player fired a hard shot and Boiardi stepped in front of the ball to defend the goal. Play was halted when he collapsed, and players from both teams knelt on the field while medical personnel worked on the stricken athlete. Cornell athletics training staff, two physicians and emergency medical personnel from the Ithaca Fire Department, Cornell Police and Bangs Ambulance attended to Boiardi and tried to resuscitate him with CPR and defibrillation before he was taken by ambulance to the hospital.

Play was ended, and both teams went back to their locker rooms to await news of Boiardi's condition.

The Cornell men's lacrosse team's game against North Carolina, scheduled for Tuesday, March 23, was cancelled. The team, which had flown to North Carolina late last week, then made the trip to Washington, D.C., where they attended Boiardi's funeral at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church. An overflow crowd was in attendance, including athletics director Noel and many former Cornell lacrosse players. Austin Kiplinger, emeritus chairman of the Cornell Board of Trustees, attended on behalf of the university. The service was described as uplifting and a celebration of life.

A memorial service on campus is being planned. For information, contact Cornell United Religious Work at 255-6007.

The Office of the Dean of Students began coordinating and leading community support groups on campus for teammates, friends and others affected by Boiardi's death as soon the tragedy occurred. And lacrosse head coach Jeff Tambroni has taken on the added role of counselor for his bereaved team, the Cornell Daily Sun reported.

Other support services for students continue to be available through the university's Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at Gannett: Cornell University Health Services, and Empathy Assistance and Referral Service (EARS) in Willard Straight Hall on campus. A daily Mass at Anabel Taylor Hall Chapel on March 18, attended by Boiardi's family, teammates, friends and many Cornell community members, was dedicated in his memory.

Hundreds of condolences have poured in to Cornell's Department of Athletics since the tragedy occurred. Notes of remembrance for Boiardi's family and the Cornell community have been left at a special site on the Cornell Athletics Web site at http://cornellbigred.ocsn.com/school-bio/corn-in-memory.html. And condolences have come in from most lacrosse coaches at universities in the United States and Canada.

One note on the athletics Web site, left by the Hayman family of Washington, D.C., recalls Boiardi's childhood. "George was a classmate of our younger son from nursery school through third grade," the note reads. "[He was] a fine athlete and competitor even at that tender age. He ran like the wind with a joyful intensity that was beautiful to watch. ... Our hearts go out to the Boiardi family during this time of unimaginable pain." And a note from Joey Hunt, 12, of Florham Park, N.J. said, "As remembrance [this season], I will wear number 21 in honor of George Boiardi."

Joel Thirer, Binghamton University's athletic director, said: "This was a tragic accident and the entire Binghamton University community joins in expressing our deep sadness. Our sympathy goes to the Cornell team and to George's family and friends. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and teammates, and all those associated with Cornell University athletics." And Binghamton President Lois DeFleur described Boiardi's death as "a tragic event for both Cornell and Binghamton. ... Our sympathies also go out to the young man's family, friends and teammates, and the rest of the Cornell community."

Mario St. George Boiardi was born July 30, 1981. He had a reputation as a team leader and the fastest player on Cornell's lacrosse team. He was named the team's rookie of the year in his freshman season.

During high school, he had been an 11-time letter winner in athletics at the Landon School in Bethesda, Md., a private school near Washington, D.C., where he was an all-league selection as a senior and an all-star pick as a midfielder on the Landon lacrosse team. In addition, Boiardi was a two-year, all-conference selection in football at Landon and the team captain as a senior. The Washington Post named Boiardi to the newspaper's All-Metropolitan football team in 1998 and 1999.

He is survived by his parents, Mario and Deborah Boiardi, and two sisters.

In lieu of flowers, the Boiardi family has respectfully and gratefully requested that donors consider a gift in support of men's lacrosse at Cornell. The family hopes to raise $500,000, which would be matched by another Cornell family, to endow the George Boiardi Assistant Coach of Lacrosse. It is believed it would be the first endowed assistant coaching position in the country. The Boiardi family has made a significant commitment to establishing this fund and invites others to join them in honoring their son's commitment to and love of the Cornell lacrosse family.

Gifts for the George Boiardi Memorial Fund should be sent to Laurie Robinson, Director of Development, Cornell University, 55 Brown Road, Ithaca, N.Y. 14850.