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The "Jeff Ponczak Memorial Award"

Posted by: Kit Donahue on 2008-06-19 15:59:51

Jeff Ponczak, sports reporter and editor, 1987-91, fondly known to all of us as "Ponz," died Saturday, June 14, 2008 from complications caused by a lifelong struggle with congenital heart disease.

The award will be given annually to a member of the Daily Illini sports staff not holding a board-appointed position, who has "contributed the most to teamwork, the spirit of friendship, and an unabashed love of sports and fun, as well as quality in reporting sports at the paper." Jeff exemplified all of these same qualities every day of his all-too-short life.

The recipient will receive a framed certificate and their name will be on an engraved plaque which will be on permanent display in the newsroom. They will also receive a cash gift distributed each year by Illini Media in memory of Ponz. Donations to the memorial fund are tax-deductible and can be sent to:

Illini Media
Attn: Kit Donahue, "Jeff Ponczak Memorial Fund"
512 East Green Street
Champaign, IL 61820

The award was established in June, 2008 by Jeff's family, friends and co-workers to honor his life.



"Jeff Ponczak Memorial Award" Donors
Mary Adamczak
Barbara Bohn
Sydney and Binnie Choslovsky
Mary Cory
Laura Coyle
Kit Donahue
Jim and Georgia Dower
Sandra and Jim Dudlicek
Phil Favorite
Thomas Favorite
Loretta Foxgrover
Brian and Molly Good
Richard and Arlene Gumm
Gary Haas
Mrs. Floyd Kalber
Kathy Kalber Kinsella
Paula Kamen
Adam Lashinsky
Michelle Latimer
Levi Strauss Foundation
Monica and Michael Levy
Jennifer Massey
Melinda Miller
Dan M. Schramm
Kevin Schweitzer
Barry Sommerfeld
JoAnne & Ed Stanuch
Strategics, Inc.
Victor and Donna Tocwish
Trading Technologies, Inc.
Steven and Francine Turk
Patrick and Deborah Fisher
Cathy Romans and Dave Campbell
Cathy Spellman Roberts
Roy and Nancy Horton
Ann Dwyer
Zac Repking
Mark Etzkorn
Lynn Kussrow
Jim Sonnenberg
James Fuentes
Ron Tillery
Bill Choslovsky
Cathy Martin Hall
Anita and Evan Bukey
Irene Gutsell
Xenia and Ed Stryszak
Ed and Eleanor Tysiak
Lydia Ponczak (on Jeff's birthday, Dec. 7)
Mary Foxgrover
Andrew Lake
John Pletz

We found out that Jeff was a fan of the Gil Thorp comic strip and he was recently added into the strip as a new character.
Here is the link:
Click here to see Gil Thorp comic strip