We were saddened to hear of the passing late last week of longtime Jets fan Michael Manganiello from acute myelofibrosis, a rare bone marrow disease.
Fans may remember that in late April/early May 2012, many Jets set aside their very busy schedules to hold a May 1 "Match for Michael" event at the Doubletree Hilton Hotel in Eatontown, NJ, to raise funds for Michael and find a bone marrow donor.
Mike Pettine, now the Cleveland Browns head coach, then the Jets' fourth-year defensive coordinator, was the organizer of the mission of mercy. And "Coach Pett" brought along a number of his Green & White friends, among them head coach Rex Ryan, QB Mark Sanchez, DT Sione Po'uha, LB Aaron Maybin, and Bob Wischusen, radio voice of the Jets.
Manish Mehta of the Daily News reported that Manganiello, who owned a heating, ventilation and air conditioning company, was 46. He is survived by his wife, Margo, twins Michael and Sophia and son Johnny.
The family requests memorial donations to be made in Michael's memory to the Manganiello Children's Education Fund c/o PO Box 8097, Red Bank, NJ 07701.
