The Hard Hat: 21 Ways to Be a Great Teammate

Chapter 17Great Teammates Impact You Forever

In the years since learning about George from Jeff Tambroni and his teammates, I have thought about him often. I had the honor of speaking at the 21 Dinner a few years ago and have learned even more details about his life. I have often shared stories about him when speaking to student-athletes and, as a parent, I find myself telling my children stories about George and encouraging them to follow his example as a leader and teammate. I have also followed, via social media, all the various events that have been created to further George's legacy and mission, including the 21 Run, the Boiardi Open golf tournament, Team 21, and the Capital Lacrosse Invitational. It's been amazing to see how George continues to live on more powerfully and influentially than ever as his friends and teammates remember him, and other people, like me, learn his story and become inspired by him.

When I read that George was going to be inducted into the Cornell University Athletic Hall of Fame, 10 years after his death, I immediately marked the date on my calendar and made plans to attend the dinner.

On my flight to Ithaca, I thought of all the events that George's teammates created to carry on his legacy, and it occurred to me that those teammates won't let him be forgotten. They can't. He made too big an impact on their lives to let him disappear. Then, I looked ...