Barstool Sports' Cody 'Beef' Franke, A Lake Co. Native, Dies At Age 31

A "sudden medical issue" has claimed the life of Lake Villa native Cody "Beef" Franke, who recently became a Barstool Sports personality.

Franke, 31, a former golf pro, died at a wedding in the Dominican Republic over the weekend, his colleague, Dan "Big Cat" Katz, announced Monday morning.

"Barstool lost a member of our family this weekend. Just tragic news. You will never find a nicer more genuine person than Beef," said Dave Portnoy, founder and owner of Barstool Sports, on social media. "It's hard to even process it right now. Just another cruel reminder that tomorrow is never promised an d to live each day to its fullest."

Last November, Franke received an e-mail, which he thought was a "fake e-mail," from Portnoy who said there were some members of his team who'd found Franke's social media page and liked it, according to PGA.com. At the end of last year, he'd been named the new Head Golf Professional for the Fore Play Golf Podcast, Barstool Sports’ popular golf platform.

Franke worked as a golf pro at golf courses in California and Wisconsin prior to joining Barstool Sports.