Photo by: Photo provided by Ryan Woods
Joe Lubar, a junior at DU and a pitcher for the club baseball team, died Friday from head injuries suffered three weeks ago in a ski accident at Copper Mountain.
He was 21.
The funeral was held Monday in Milwaukee, his hometown.
He died at St. Anthony Central Hospital in Denver early Friday. He was in the trauma center after sustaining serious brain injuries and broken bones in a skiing accident on Jan. 25.
Lubar was skiing with friends when he lost control on a double black diamond run at the Summit County resort and fell over a 50-foot cliff, according to reports.
At first, he was taken first to a hospital in Summit County and then transferred to St. Anthony Central Hospital in Denver.
Joe Lubar was the grandson of prominent Milwaukee philanthropist Sheldon Lubar, and the son of David and Madeleine Lubar. In addition, Lubar is survived by his brother and his sister.
Lubar’s teammates, sophomore Anthony Zurcher and senior Tommy Appert along with head coach Jared Floyd and manager Marissa Yandall, flew out for the funeral late Sunday night.
Lubar, an economics major, was a starting pitcher on the baseball team. His teammates rushed to be with him when he arrived at St. Anthony.
Although the entire team couldn’t travel to Wisconsin for the funeral yesterday, the members of the team that did travel expressed deep remorse for their deceased comrade.
“Joe was the kind of kid everyone looked up to, the kid everyone wanted to be friends with,” said Zurcher. “He was a leader and always will be a winner.”
“Not only was he a great teammate and friend, but an all-around great kid,” said Appert. “He was a stud, he had everything going for him. We’re going to miss him both on and off the field.”
Lubar’s family has a long association with professional baseball, which teammates said was reflected by his passion for the DU club team.
Lubar’s father, David, serves on the advisory board and finance committee of the Milwaukee Brewers, and both of his parents are investors of the team.
“He was one of the hardest workers on the team,” said Ryan Woods, a senior at DU and the president and captain of the club baseball team. “He always came to practice and was dedicated to improving the team. He really loved the game of baseball and was always giving his all to the team and the sport.”
Woods specifically recited a fond moment in Lubar’s career that occurred last year in a loss to the University of Arizona. The Pioneers were two-hit by the Wildcats, however Lubar provided the team’s two hits even though he was a pitcher and only had a dozen or so at-bats throughout the season.
Woods remembers his fallen teammate as the ultimate competitor.
“I want to win that’s the only reason I play this game,” Lubar said in e-mail to his teammates and coach last season. “I’m sick losing and seeing us give up way too easily, it’s just pathetic and looks like some guys just don’t want to be out there.
“I still have a lot of faith in this team, because I think we have a lot of talent but we got to get pull it together and play like a team. I’m more than willing to work hard and I know I’m going to play as hard as I can this weekend and throw a great game. Winning is all that matters so let’s get it done.”
The baseball team is hosting a fundraiser on Saturday morning at 9 a.m. in memory of Lubar, or “Lubey” as many of his teammates called him.
The fundraiser will be held at CrossFit Conquer, a gym the team usually works out in, located on 1137 South Huron St. in Suite S. The team is asking for $5 donations and all proceeds will go to the Lubar family.
In addition to the fundraiser, his teammates have produced and will be selling t-shirt’s in Joe’s memory with his No. 9 on the right arm. The back reads, “Never stop fighting, Never stop believing.” Contact team member Vinnie Girardi to make a donation or purchase a shirt.
