What can we do to memorialize Coach Ward and other victims?

[1972Shocker]

I'm always down to chip in on efforts like these. I'm not sure what will be more beneficial, a donation of sorts to their Foundation equivalent or something more sentimental like a plaque like you mention @shoxlax

I would prefer a donation in their memory to Illinois State's Endowment or something similar.

[1972Shocker]

There's talk now over on the Redbird board about a fund being set up to benefit the kids and the families of the deceased. That's the best use of any donations, IMO. But at any rate, I'm in.

That sounds good. Would we do that as the Shockernet Family or individually?

[shock]

That sounds good. Would we do that as the Shockernet Family or individually?

On top of being consuming for the person to take the lead, it's also individual's contribution not the website as a whole. I think it's great that we as a community can come together and identify as where the contribution and connection stems from, but keeping with separation between what the website as an entity does, and what the collective of the community does is important. And also detracts away from the individual gesture and makes the potential focus on one unit rather than the many who come together for something like this.

However, I will say that in the instance where we came together for Missy in collecting donations and @WuDrWu handled the funds to make one large donation, I'm ok if @shoxlax wanted to be the lead on this. I personally know both, and feel more than confident with the legitimacy of their efforts.

.

[shoxlax]

Wonder if the athletic dept is going to do anything?

I could email Ryan Hilliard unless someone has a better connection.

[pogo]

Oh go for it you silver penned devil.

[molly jabali]

The fact you guys are even considering such a thing, not to mention the posts yesterday, is a first-class move.

Things may have gotten heated on the court the last few years between our teams, and the banter between our fanbases has been a bit more gritty than usual, but I know I speak on behalf of everyone in the Redbird Family that these sentiments mean quite a bit. Thank you Shocker faithful!

THIS is how life should be. But it carries extra weight here because this school knows the feeling. God bless your people....

[WuDrWu]

Sorry I'm late to the meeting here folks. I'm in, just tell me what to do. And God bless all those affected.

Beyond tragic.

[Kung Wu]

Coach Torrey Ward left behind two young children and a fiancee.

From my experience, when a young man suddenly passes, they almost never have thought through covering any funeral expenses. I'd be in favor of contributing to help his mother -- or whoever is having to bear the burden -- with funeral expenses (if that happens to be his situation). Surely there will be insurance of some form, but that doesn't help a mother trying to cover those expenses _now_.

Just a thought.

[Redbird Michael]

I want to thanks Shocker Nation for your thoughtfulness the past couple of day. I remember the MTXE days at Horton Field House when Gene was at ISU. We have a lot in common.

Seems like our rivalry has heated up in the past few years which is probably good for the conference, but I want to say thanks and show my appreciation for your fan base during this hard time. We get so angry with each other during the season, but when it comes down to it, we all love our universities and we are just enjoying the ride.

We lost a lot of good men yesterday and the showing of support here has reminded many of us that we are all in this together. Thanks for the support and I hope we have many more years competing at the highest level the the MVC.

Thanks for your support Shox!

[1972Shocker]

Coach Torrey Ward left behind two young children and a fiancee.

From my experience, when a young man suddenly passes, they almost never have thought through covering any funeral expenses. I'd be in favor of contributing to help his mother -- or whoever is having to bear the burden -- with funeral expenses (if that happens to be his situation). Surely there will be insurance of some form, but that doesn't help a mother trying to cover those expenses _now_.

Just a thought.

My guess is that Coach Ward at a minimum would probably have some type of group term life insurance through his employment at Illinois State. $50,000 is a very typical amount.

When my Dad passed away in 2009 the funeral home voluntarily prepared and filed the death benefit claims for us and told us we could wait to pay them (interest free) until we received those proceeds. Maybe that was an unusual service provided by that specific funeral home.

In any case, any financial support provided to the families would be beneficial and a nice gesture.

[_kai_]

An update on a memorial for the families taken from Redbirdfan.net

Larry Lyons was on WJBC this morning. He said a lot of people are asking about memorials. He asked that we be patient. They want get through the services for those who passed and then take their time to come up with a good memorial for them and their families. They don't want to rush it.

[RoyalShock]

From Muller on twitter:

Dan Muller @Dan:Muller
Alot have asked and we thank you. The following is information on where to send help and donations for Torrey Ward's family. Please retweet

Dan Muller @Dan:Muller
That's Heartland Bank
401 N. Hershey Road PO Box 67 Bloomington, IL 61702-0067. ATTN Larry Horvath. T Ward Family Memorial in memo line

[shoxlax]

Again my only question is whether we can be part of a larger effort by the AD or push something out under our own title such as ShockerNet or ShockerNation.

Still awaiting response from Athletic Dept. If someone has a inside source please speak up

[Kel Varnsen]

Personally, it doesn't matter much to me that our name is on it. More important that the money gets donated.

[shoxlax]

Agree on the names but I want to let them know Shocker Nation cares and feels their pain whether it's a hundred bucks or a thousand.

Here is the deal. If I don't hear anything back from the Athletic Dept by COB tomorrow I will take up collection of the money from here and other sources and distribute it to a Redbird rep in the name of Shocker Net and the rest of Shocker Nation. Ready to get the ball rolling.

On another note it would be nice if they did a moment of silence before our baseball game with the Redbirds tomorrow eve.