Ronell Blizzard

[5150]

RIP. So sad. Wonder what happened

[Chris20]

Oh no.

[69MG]

This, from Matty V. is all I could find, but it does confirm this very sad news.

Matt Vautour
‏@GazetteUMass
Saddened to hear about the passing of former UMass basketball player Ronell Blizzard. A good guy who got the most out of college education

[LS71]

Sad news, indeed. Way to young to go.

[MikeUMA]

Did we know he was in college athletics as an academic advisor?

Had stints at Cincinnati
http://www.gobearcats.com/genrel/blizzard_ronell00.html

and then at Longwood
http://www.longwoodlancers.com/news/200 ... ard08.aspx

Dissertation at Johnson & Wales:
http://scholarsarchive.jwu.edu/disserta ... AI3439875/

[MikeUMA]

I think Chris Kirkland, or someone close to him, is the person on this tweet:
https://twitter.com/TheFutureHoops/stat ... 9084355584

Edit: it's a close friend of Kirkland, but not the man himself. Regardless, the writer was close with Blizz also.

[Old Cage]

Ronnell was more accomplished than most of us ever knew:

"Blizzard earned his bachelor of arts degree in individual concentration and administrative perspectives of teaching and coaching with a minor in psychology from the University of Massachusetts where he was a Dean’s List student-athlete and four-year letterman on the men’s basketball team from 1998-2002. He has his master of education in educational leadership from Central Connecticut State University, and his master of administration in sport and leisure management from the University of Connecticut. Blizzard has completed his certificate of advanced graduate studies (CAGS) and is pursuing his doctor of education in educational leadership and higher education administration from Johnson & Wales University in Rhode Island; his dissertation topic is Development of Preventative Policies Concerning Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy amongst student-athletes."

http://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED525662 "Dissertation - The Process of Screening Student-Athletes for Cardiovascular Diseases at NCAA Division I Institutions in the Northeast"

[Swampy]

Blizz...

[BTHoops]

As many of you now know, a member of the UMass family, Ronell Blizzard, passed away on Tuesday in Colorado. While I do not have details about his unexpected passing, I do know that the family is experiencing economic difficulties bringing Blizz back to Connecticut and arranging for proper services and a burial.

If anyone is interested in contributing to the family, please drop me a PM and I can pass along the family's contact information. It's my understanding they need to come up with close to $12,000.

Thanks so much.

Edit: Mike, hope I am not overstepping any bounds by posting this.

[SignMan]

The family got the money to get him home, but do need about $12K for the arrangements.

[SignMan]

BTHoops and I both got the OK to post this info...
where to send $$$ to help the family...

VANESSA BLIZZARD
676 HIGHLAND AVE
WATERBURY CT 06708

[MikeUMA]

http://www.gofundme.com/yjychs

[mdogt12]

^ Thanks for posting

sent in a donation today

[MikeUMA]

Nice read from Matty V about Blizzard, with good quotes from Geoff Arnold:
http://www.gazettenet.com/sports/umasss ... -last-week

[MikeUMA]

RIP. So sad. Wonder what happened

I had tweeted something with a picture of Blizz today, and Andy Maclay reminded me that Blizz passed away, way too young.

Found an article that explained his illness.
https://archives.rep-am.com/2015/07/09/ ... p-in-life/