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Cornell Men's Lacrosse Player Passes Away
Created: 3/18/2004 9:49:25 AM
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Release courtesy of Cornell Athletic Communications
George Boiardi Photo Gallery | Post
prayers, thoughts, remembrances
George Boiardi, a Cornell University senior student, was struck in the chest with
a lacrosse ball late in the fourth quarter of a game against Binghamton University
last night (March 17) at Cornell's Schoellkopf Field. He collapsed, and medical
personnel tried to revive him on the field. He was rushed to Cayuga Medical Center,
where he was pronounced dead at 6:44 p.m.
Boiardi, 22, a history major in the College of Arts and Sciences, was a four-year
starter and one of the four captains on the varsity lacrosse team.
"Cornell's athletics community is absolutely devastated by this tragic loss.
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," said Andy Noel,
Cornell director of athletics and physical education. "This loss cannot be
measured. Our hearts and prayers go out to George's family, his friends and his
teammates."
With 2 minutes and 33 seconds remaining in the game, a Binghamton player took
a shot at goal, and Boiardi, a defenseman, got in front of the ball to defend
the goal. Play was halted when Boiardi collapsed, and all the players knelt on
the field while medical personnel worked on their teammate. 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.
Play was abandoned, and both teams went back to their locker rooms to await news
of Boiardi's condition.
Mario St. George Boiardi was born July 30, 1981. He had a reputation as the fastest
player on the men's lacrosse team, and he was named the team's rookie of the year
in his freshman collegiate season. He was an 11-time letter winner at the Landon
School, 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 member of the Landon
lacrosse team. In addition to earning four letters in lacrosse as a midfielder
at Landon, he earned four letters on the school's hockey team and three on the
football team. Boiardi was a two-year, all-conference selection in football 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.
A memorial service on campus is being planned.
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Statement From Cornell President Jeffrey S. Lehman:
Fellow members of the Cornell community,
I write to you as we are all still experiencing the shock and pain of yesterday's
death of George Boiardi.
The loss of any life is always a profound blow. And the circumstances of George's
death give it a particular meaning for our community.
Team sports are a unifying element for a campus. Athletes who participate in intercollegiate
competition represent us publicly. We often identify with them, feeling that we
somehow know them even if we have never met them. They visibly embody personal
qualities -- dedication, skill, commitment -- that we value, and they represent
those qualities on our behalf to the outside world.
George's sport took his life in a freak accident, on the field of play. Such a
tragic incident exposes our shared vulnerability, whether we are in the midst
of playing hard or in altogether different circumstances. The very qualities that
lead us to identify with our teams in victory and in defeat now lead us to identify
with our team in a moment of tragedy. We mourn together, and we collectively extend
our sympathies to the Boiardi family and to all those who knew and loved him.
We will each come to terms with George's death in our own way. As we do, I want
to remind us all that Cornell has a range of support services available for anyone
who needs them. Whether you use the University's services or seek comfort with
your friends and colleagues, please know that Kathy's and my thoughts are with
our community on this very sad day.
President Jeffrey S. Lehman
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Statements from Binghamton University Officials:
University President Lois DeFleur:
"This death of Cornell lacrosse player George Boiardi is a tragic event for
both Cornell and Binghamton. I've expressed our sympathies to Cornell President
Jeffrey Lehman on behalf of our entire campus. Our sympathies also go out to the
young man's family, friends and teammates, and the rest of the Cornell community.
Here at Binghamton, we are offering support and counseling to our lacrosse team
and those affected by this accident, and will continue to do so as needed."
Director of Athletics Joel Thirer:
"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."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Statement from Syracuse Coach John Desko:
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Boiardi family, the Cornell team
and the entire Cornell University community. We understand that George was a special
young man, a team captain, an outstanding student, and he will undoubtedly be
missed by all who knew him."
"Here we are in the midst of preparing for a game against Johns Hopkins,
and when you hear something like this, it puts everything in a whole different
perspective. George and his family will be in our thoughts this weekend in Baltimore
and throughout the rest of the season."
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Related Schools: Cornell
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Related Sports: Lacrosse
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*This Article has been archived.*
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