In what can only be described as a heartbreaking turn of events, a beloved Massachusetts referee's life came to a sudden end while he was officiating a high school basketball game. Sixty-year-old Don McGillicuddy collapsed during the final moments of a Watertown versus Old Rochester Regional matchup on Friday night and tragically died shortly thereafter.
Efforts to save McGillicuddy were immediate, with school staff, Watertown police, and members of the community providing aid until emergency services arrived. Despite initially being revived, the ref suffered a second heart attack en route to Mount Auburn Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, NBC10 Boston reported.
As news of the tragedy spread, the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association, along with Watertown Public Schools, offered their condolences. "The MIAA expresses condolences to the family of the game official, and will continue to provide support to its officials, member schools, student-athletes, coaches, and fans affected by this tragedy," the association stated in a release quoted by WCVB. In light of the incident, a subsequent boys basketball game was rescheduled out of respect and to provide the community time to cope with the loss.
The gymnasium was cleared swiftly as officials responded to the emergency. Watertown Public Schools said in a statement obtained by WCVB, "We are thankful to everyone who provided medical assistance to the official and supported fans in the moments after this incident." School counselors were made available to students grappling with the traumatic event on the following Monday.
McGillicuddy, described by those who knew him as a dedicated and passionate official, would have celebrated his 57th birthday the following month. He leaves behind a fiancé, two children, and a granddaughter. In a statement to NBC10 Boston, the official's daughter, Erica DeJesus, shared the painful memory of receiving the call from her brother Wayne, urging her to hurry to Watertown that fateful night, a testament to the swift and shocking nature of their loss.
