George Boiardi

Who was George Boiardi?

Mario St. George Boiardi, Jr. was a lacrosse player for Cornell University. He was also the great grandson of food icon Ettore Boiardi, founder of Chef Boyardee.

Bioardi was the Cornell lacrosse team's rookie of the year as a freshman, and, as a senior, its co-captain. He was an 11-time letter winner at prep school Landon in Bethesda, Maryland: 4 in lacrosse; 4 in hockey; 3 in football. The Washington Post named him to its All-Metropolitan football team in 1998 and 1999.

In the fourth quarter of a game against Binghamton University, Boiardi stepped in front of a ball that had been fired by a Binghamton player, and was struck in the chest. He collapsed, and was rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Due to family request, an official cause of death was never released. In several similar cases, fatal injuries are caused by a rare syndrome known as commotio cordis, in which cardiac arrest is induced by a blunt, non-penetrating blow to the chest. It is not known whether this, or a different cause, led to this tragedy. Since 1999, four other players have died under similar circumstances. His death has stirred calls for improved safety measures.