CHANDLER, AZ — A Valley high school swim team, already devastated by the loss of their coach, is now mourning the loss of two parent volunteers, who passed away just hours apart this week.
Tony and Lisa Vasquez, who organized the booster club for the Chandler High School Swim Team, passed away on Tuesday and Wednesday, after fighting COVID-19 for weeks. The married couple were also parents to a 17-year-old daughter, a senior on the team.
It was the second heartbreaking loss for the CHS swim community, which lost longtime swim coach Kerry Croswhite to COVID-19 in July.
"Hearts of gold who gave selflessly," said Shannon Moxley, an assistant coach who started a GoFundMe page to help cover the funeral and medical expenses for the Vasquez family. Moxley said the couple had dedicated themselves to helping the team recover after Croswhite's death.
"He (Tony) kept telling me how the kids had been through so much already. He said, I want to make this all really special, because they deserve it."
That sentiment was echoed by head coach Bob Chen, who took over for Croswhite.
“They knew what the Chandler swim family felt like,” he said. “They wanted to give these kids a season. They gave so much time, above and beyond what normal parent volunteers do.”
News of the couple’s death hit hard in the CHS community, even as it was preparing to honor Croswhite. On Saturday, the school is scheduled to dedicate its pool in his name, a recognition of his 15 years of service.
To help, visit the GoFundMe page here.
