Former NC State swimming and diving coach Jack Roney died just weeks after celebrating this 15th wedding anniversary.
“We mourn the passing of former assistant coach and Wolfpack alumnus Jack Roney,” the university shared via social media on Monday, July 6. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the Roney family during this difficult time. His impact on our program and community will be remembered.”
Roney died in “a tragic accident,” according to a social media post made by his friend Jonathan Wall. He was 39. No further details about Roney’s cause of death have been made publicly available.
Jack and his wife, Maresa, shared five children: Gunnar, Scout, Beau, Archer and Crew.
“Just days after celebrating their 15th wedding anniversary, Maresa lost her husband, Jack Roney,” a GoFundMe arranged for the family reads. “Jack was a true Wolfpacker, a man of Christ, and a beloved father, friend, and husband. His legacy lives on in the countless lives he touched, and the love he shared with his family and community.”
The fundraiser continues, “Now, Maresa faces the unimaginable challenge of raising her children alone. The loss of Jack has left a void in their lives, and the family is navigating a new reality without his guidance and support. As Maresa works to provide for her children, she needs help with daily expenses, childcare, and ensuring her kids have the opportunity to pursue their education and dreams.”
The GoFundMe has raised more than $69,000 at the time of publication.
Jack’s sister Amber Moore remembered her late brother with an emotional social media post on Tuesday, July 7.
“My brother…how are you gone? How is this real?,” she wrote via Facebook. “You were the glue to your family and the glue to ours. How are we supposed to move forward without you? Every single day, you worked to become a better man. So few people live with that kind of purpose, but you did. You were never satisfied with standing still. You wanted to be the best version of yourself every day. To me, you were perfect!!!!”
Moore added, “You leave behind the strongest woman I know and 5 children that we absolutely adore. My heart breaks for them. You were so present in their lives…they were never without. You made life so fun and full for them.”
Jack’s sister Katie Corum also shared a tribute to her late brother on social media, calling him “an amazing man who loved his wife and kids more than anything in this world.”
“Grief is the price we pay for loving someone so deeply,” Corum wrote via Facebook on Tuesday. “Right now, this pain feels never ending, but it also reminds us just how lucky we were to have had Jack in our lives. His absence leaves a hole in our hearts that can never be filled, but the love he gave and the memories he leaves behind will stay with us forever.”
