friendofrunningwriter Posted December 24, 2015 Share Posted December 24, 2015 It is with an incredibly heavy heart that I must report Richard Jay passed away this afternoon. Richard was the publisher of MatBurns magazine, and the organizer of the annual Pick-The-Champions contest at the IHSAA state finals. He was at home, recuperating from a stroke that he suffered earlier this year, a few days after his wife died. Richard, who taught and coached at Hammond Gavit, was a well-known figure at wrestling matches across northwest Indiana, and a longtime fixture in the crow's nest at the Merrillville semistate. There were few, if any, people more knowledgeable about wrestling or Indiana's great wrestling history. Richard was a terrific friend to everyone who knew him, a tremendous supporter of wrestling, and most of all, a Class act. He will be missed. He already is. Funeral details will be released after Christmas. warsawwrestling 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Y2CJ41 Posted December 24, 2015 Share Posted December 24, 2015 Big loss for the wrestling community. He was a great guy and compiled a lot of great information about the history of the sport. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ontherise219 Posted December 24, 2015 Share Posted December 24, 2015 Great guy he will be missed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
decbell1 Posted December 24, 2015 Share Posted December 24, 2015 Always looked forward to talking with him about how the guys from the Region might do on Saturday night down at state. I can't imagine the hours spent on finding the winner of his annual contest. Rest in Peace ontherise219 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fabio Jr. Posted December 24, 2015 Share Posted December 24, 2015 Prayers from the Brownsburg wrestling Family Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Y2CJ41 Posted December 24, 2015 Share Posted December 24, 2015 Coach Jay gave me his data two years ago, here is what we have and will be updating it in the very near future. http://www.indianamat.com/oldsite/history/mat-burns-wrestling-information/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dingo Brigade Posted December 24, 2015 Share Posted December 24, 2015 Super nice guy. Rest in peace Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julio Posted December 24, 2015 Share Posted December 24, 2015 He not only was a huge wrestling fan, but was also involved in track and cross country. The last time I got the chance to speak with him was at a track meet and we spoke about wrestling. RIP InTheCircle 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbarnett Posted December 24, 2015 Share Posted December 24, 2015 RIP Coach. I appreciate all you have done for wrestling, track and CC! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
takedownartist Posted December 24, 2015 Share Posted December 24, 2015 I appreciate his contributions to the greatest sport known to man and offer my sincere condolences to his family and friends. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Pendoski Posted December 24, 2015 Share Posted December 24, 2015 Thoughts and prayers out to he Jay family. Our sport will miss his selfless contributions that he has added for years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regionrat1 Posted December 24, 2015 Share Posted December 24, 2015 Rest in peace brother. I ran into him when his wife was in the hospital. Now they are together again. Your in my prayers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
overtime Posted December 24, 2015 Share Posted December 24, 2015 Terrible news. RIP Mr. Jay. Any word on who will be taking over the record books? We should keep what he started going. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Y2CJ41 Posted December 26, 2015 Share Posted December 26, 2015 Here is an article on him http://www.nwitimes.com/sports/high-school/wrestling/article_69d377aa-aa5e-5e52-baa5-315688dd5d2f.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
friendofrunningwriter Posted December 27, 2015 Author Share Posted December 27, 2015 (edited) Calling is Wednesday, Funeral is Thursday http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=Richard-Jay&lc=7158&pid=177034487&mid=6730553 Timing isn't good -- it never is for something like this -- but I know a lot of people who will be making the trip from the Al Smith Invitational to Schererville on Wednesday. Edited December 27, 2015 by friendofrunningwriter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
friendofrunningwriter Posted December 28, 2015 Author Share Posted December 28, 2015 Richard's obituary in the Northwest Indiana Times: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/nwitimes/obituary.aspx?n=richard-jay&pid=177046680&fhid=10792 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InTheCircle Posted December 29, 2015 Share Posted December 29, 2015 A truly great man. Don't make them like Richard anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coach Wadkins Posted December 31, 2015 Share Posted December 31, 2015 (edited) We will be honoring Coach Jay at the Lake County Wrestling Tourney on January 9, 2016 at Hanover Central High School. The Outstanding Wrestler Award is being named in his honor, "The Richard Jay Outstanding Wrestler Award" http://www.nwitimes.com/sports/columnists/al-hamnik/al-hamnik-rich-jay-was-the-model-for-all-coaches/article_af5cd05b-f9a7-5200-a7ae-de5c1a901f5b.html#.VoS4gH4esHA.facebook Edited December 31, 2015 by Coach Wadkins xbrick132 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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