Rhodesie passes.....a sad day for Nanaimo

[Lefty]

Daily News,' sports community mourn passing of much-loved editor
'Rhodesie' devoted his career to telling the stories of Nanaimo's athletes
Staff reporter, Nanaimo Daily News
Published: Monday, January 11, 2010

Nanaimo's sports community lost its biggest booster on Sunday when Daily News sports editor Michael Rhode died from heart failure. He was 43.

"Rhodesie" was a fixture on the local sports scene since being hired by Daily Free Press sports editor Kevin Mitchell in 1984.

"He started with the paper virtually right after he graduated from NDSS (Nanaimo District Secondary School)," said Rhode's father Dennis.

"He was always enthused about sports," said his mother Elaine.

"I don't think that there's anybody in the local sporting world that he didn't know him. And everybody loved him," said his wife Kris.

Rhode's co-workers and friends at the Daily News were shocked and saddened by news of the passing of the much-loved and talented sports writer.

In a note to staff Monday morning, publisher Curt Duddy said: "Michael has touched the lives of many throughout his years of service here and they have not gone unnoticed. We will all miss him. My deepest condolences go out to his family, his friends and his co-workers."

Rhode never fully recovered from pneumonia, which sidelined him in December, said Dennis.

"He went into hospital for some tests and we thought, 'Oh good, they'll find out what's wrong with him,'" he said. "He had a test Sunday morning and became disoriented when he was brought back to his room."

Rhode collapsed and couldn't be revived.

He is survived by wife Kris, three children (Evan, 14, Meghan 9, and Rebecca, 6) his parents, and brothers Allan Jack and Patrick Rhode.

A funeral service has been scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday at Beban Park Auditorium.


© Nanaimo Daily News 2010

[Pat O'Dwyer]

Very very Sad, 43 was way to early, his heart was way to big. The lacrosse community has lost one it's finest son's