'Smart, Caring' College Football Player From Ramsey Dies Suddenly

RAMSEY, NJ — Ramsey High School alumnus and collegiate football player Marc Tarabocchia died suddenly Tuesday.

Tarabocchia, 20, was a junior at Stonehill College in Easton, Massachusetts. He was an offensive lineman for the previous three seasons.

"The entire Stonehill community is deeply saddened by the passing of Marc Tarabocchia," said Dean O'Keefe, Stonehill's head football coach. "We send our most sincere condolences to Marc's family, friends and loved ones, his fellow students and teammates during this difficult time."

A prayer service was held for Tarabocchia at Stonehill Tuesday afternoon. Stonehill did not mention how Tarabocchia died in its press release.

Tarabocchia was an accounting major. He was named to the Athletic Director's Honor Roll for the fall 2017 semester and to the NE10 Commissioner's Honor Roll and both semesters last year.

"I would like to send my deepest sympathies and prayers to Marc's family," said Eli Gardner, head football coach at Stonehill. "I will remember Marc as a caring and smart individual, and good friend to all within the football program here at Stonehill."

He was a 2016 honors graduate of Ramsey High School where he lettered in football, wrestling, and track and field. Academically, he earned high honors all four years and the scholastic "R" Award.

Tarabocchia has two siblings, Tyler and Dylan.

Ramsey High School track coach Matt Wynne said Tarabocchia was "a tremendous young man" who "always had a positive spirit about him" and "always had a smile on his face," NorthJersey.com reported.

The New Milford High School football team expressed its condolences to the Ramsey High School football team on Twitter.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com

Photo: Marc Tarabocchia (Courtesy of Stonehill College, used with permission