2017 RSMGC – July Update
We are sad to announce that one of our 2012 RSMGC Recipients has passed away.
Wally Prough passed on July 4, 2017 at a hospital in Florida. Steve Johnson (President, Renaissance Management) was at his bedside with his wife Kathy when he passed. Unfortunately his children were called to fly in that morning and got there 2 hours after he passed. Wally had turned 60 in December, and had lasted 24 years with his transplanted heart. In recent years he endured a bypass on the transplanted heart, and contacted Muscular Dystrophy on top of that, forcing him to be wheel chair bound for the final 5 years of his life.
Wally was an inspiration to all, as he faced the hand he was dealt with courage and dignity, never wallowing in self pity.
Over the years he set goals such as seeing his kids through high school, then college, and finally to walk his daughter Gina down the aisle, which he did last year. His oldest son Jeff (Steve Johson’s god son) played collegiate hockey at Brown and was captain his senior year. He played 3 years with the NJ Devils minor league team, which was amazing as Jeff is 5’7″ and weighs 150 lbs. Jeff is engaged to Meredith Berman, daughter of ESPN legend Chris Berman and works at Fordham University in fund raising…
Ryan the next son is studying to be an RN, and moved to Florida to take care of his dad. He was his constant sidekick, and escorted him everywhere he went. Geena, the baby, was on an NCAA championship hockey team at Wisconsin, as was on the Olympic Developmental squad. She lives in Chicago, is married and works in sales and marketing for a national company…
The RSMGC family requests you please keep his wife Kathy and their children in your prayers.
There will be a Memorial Service/Reception on Friday, July 7th at 4:30 PM at the Polo Grill & Bar in Parrish, FL. True to his nature, Wally had requested that whenever his moment came, he “just wanted a party and for people to have a good time”, accordingly both the prayer service and reception will be intimate and relatively informal.
May god bless his soul and he rest in peace forever.