RUGBY CANADA DEEPLY SADDENED BY PASSING OF JACAZIO

Alexandre Jacazio
June 15, 1992 - September 8, 2017

This past weekend, we were shocked and saddened to learn of the sudden passing of one of our Montreal Irish RFC family members, Alexandre Jacazio (known as Jack to many of us), at only 25 years of age.  Alex’s death, the result of a tragic road accident, has left everyone who knew him devastated and caused shockwaves throughout our tightknit rugby community.

As a dedicated and extremely well-liked member of our club, Alex joined the Montreal Irish in 2012 after being coached by members of the MIRFC at Cégep André Laurendeau.  He quickly became a popular character within the club's social scene and celebrated his 21st birthday with the club during a weekend tour to Toronto where we watched Canada play Ireland.  Alex gave his all to everything he participated in and never seemed afraid to be himself— a glaring example of this was the neon tie-dye spandex onesie he chose to wear for his rookie initiation (making everyone else’s costume pale in comparison). With a smile on his face and a beret on his head, he always had plenty of important issues to debate over a pint.

Alex wasn’t just interested in the social side of the rugby club.  He had become a dependable part of the army of volunteers needed to help get things done.  Always generous with his time and spirit, he helped with everything and anything at the clubhouse. In fact, the letters above the entrance of the clubhouse are his handiwork and will now and forever be a reminder of his dedication to the MIRFC.

During his time with the Irish, Alex was a mainstay in the back row with the second grade team and worked his way into the first grade back row on a number of occasions. As a true club man, he shifted into the backline when the club needed support there and he would consistently step up to play third grade rugby to make sure we had the numbers to get those boys a game. His game was characterized by a tireless work ethic, fierce tackling, and a massive breakdown presence. During many games, a tackle put in by Jack resulted in a huge lift to the men in green.

In giving back to the game Alex also worked with the Irish Wolfhounds junior program and took the Irish further into the Verdun community volunteering as a coach at École Secondaire Monseigneur Richard. He was consistently visible in both Verdun and Lasalle with high school students and made numerous visits back to Cégep André Laurendeau to encourage the athletes there. He was a player that truly grasped what a ‘rugbyman’ is.

Alex is survived by his parents Daniel and Monica, his brother Diego, a number of loving family members, close friends all over Canada and abroad, as well as all his teammates and friends from the MIRFC.  

Rather than holding a funeral ceremony in a sombre funeral home, which would not reflect Jack’s happy and easy-going nature, the family has instead chosen to celebrate his life at a place that he loved: the Montreal Irish RFC Clubhouse in Ste-Julie.  

Details are as follows:

Sunday, September 17, 2017 at 1pm
Montreal Irish RFC Clubhouse
707 rang de la Vallée, Ste-Julie, J3E 1Y1

*MIRFC members, please wear green!