MONTREAL – The McGill Athletics & Recreation community is mourning the untimely death of Ben Zwolak, a student-manager on the men's varsity basketball team. He was only 21.
 
A physical education junior from Stoney Creek, Ont., he was stricken by sudden arrhythmia death syndrome (SADS), and passed away on Sept. 21.

Born Benjamin John Zwolak on July 28, 1999 in Hamilton, Ont., he enrolled at McGill University in 2018 after being educated at St. Martin of Tours elementary school and Cardinal Newman Catholic Secondary School, where he merited a number of awards for academics, athletics and community service.
 
"Ben was one of a kind and was one of my best friends in the world," said McGill team captain Sam Jenkins, a physical education senior from Hamilton. "He embodied everything it meant to be a part of the McGill basketball family and will truly be missed."
 
Zwolak spent this summer as team manager for the Niagara River Lions of the Canadian Elite Basketball League.

"I am at a loss for words, there are some things in this world that just don't make sense to me," said David DeAveiro, the newly-appointed head coach at Ryerson who served the past 10 years as bench boss at McGill and hired Zwolak two years ago to work with the men's basketball squad. "I am deeply saddened by the news of Ben's passing. He was a big part of our team and always found a way to make me laugh with his quick wit and sense of humour. My deepest condolences go out to Ben's family."

Zwolak possessed a natural comfort for interacting with young children and persons with special needs, which inspired him to pursue a career as a teacher. He demonstrated an innate ability to connect to youth as a camp counselor, a youth basketball coach and while working summer jobs with the City of Hamilton over the past few years.

"Our program has suffered a difficult blow and our players are struggling with this reality," said Ryan Thorne, who recently replaced DeAveiro as McGill head coach. "On behalf of the program we extend our sympathy to Ben's family and are planning to honour his commitment to the team and his community back in Hamilton."

Zwolak is survived by his parents, Paula and Jeff, as well as a brother, Matthew, a freshman at McGill. He leaves behind an extended family that includes grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, in addition to many friends in both the Hamilton and McGill communities.

"While our hearts are broken with Ben's sudden departure, the family feels blessed that due to the pandemic shutdown, we have spent the past six months, shoulder to shoulder, enjoying family dinners, twilight golf matches and epic Poker, Monopoly and Yahtzee games," said a statement released by the family.
 
Visitation is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020 from 3-9 p.m. at Bay Gardens Funeral Home (William J. Markey Chapel), 947 Rymal Road East, Hamilton, Ont., (905) 574-0405. Due to COVID restrictions, a private memorial service will be held by invitation only, the following day. Cremation has already taken place. In lieu of flowers, the family has suggested a donation to Food4Kids Hamilton to honour Ben's community service with youth.
 
Condolences may be left online and messages can be emailed to the family at memoriesofbenzwolak@gmail.com