Ashley Gallant: You Will Be Missed
Matt Bodenschatz | Faceoff Factor News
Aug 16, 10:40 PM | Hype this story!
Tonight, I write this to inform the FF community of extremely sad news that some here already know.
Avid Pittsburgh Penguin and hockey fan, and loyal FF writer Ashley Gallant has passed away, leaving behind a legacy that has touched many more than just those who have met her in person.
“Ash,” as she was known to so many, spent significant writing about hockey for FF, but it wasn’t her writing that was so special, it was the thought and passion she put into it.
Along with fellow FF writer CJ “Stoosh” Jiuliante, Ash edited a weekly “Lacing Up” column that featured a point, counter-point style discussing current events in the NHL and the world of hockey.
On April 14, “Lacing Up” went on hiatus due to Ash’s health issues.
That was her last hoorah on FF.
The news I report today comes 16 days late, as we at FF just found out. Ash passed away July 31, but she will not be forgotten.
A Facebook group has been established by Ash’s friends and family to memorialize her.
At FF, we have yet to establish plans, but we are asking for suggestions from readers as to what we can do to show our support to Ash’s family during what promises to be a very trying time.
Please include suggestions below.
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Ashley Gallant
1982-2009
Ashley Gallant of Riverview passed away Friday July 31st at the Toronto General Hospital following complications due to congenital heart failure at the age of 27. Born in Moncton June 30, 1982 she was the daughter of Abel and Geraldine (Doucette) Gallant of Riverview.
Ashley was an avid fan of the Pittsburg Penguins, a graduate from Riverview High School in 2000, she completed her first degree in Biopsychology from the Atlantic Baptist University in 2004, and she received her second degree in Nutrition in 2008 from Mount St. Vincent University. She was presently completing her dietetic internship at the Moncton Hospital.
Besides her parents she will be dearly missed by her brother Tyler of Riverview, maternal grandmother Florence Gallant of Urbainville, PE, as well several aunts, uncles and cousins.
Ashley was a recipient of a wish from the Children’s Wish Foundation in 1999; therefore the family would appreciate memorial donations in memory of Ashley to be made to the Children’s Wish Foundation.
Comments
Ray aka WildcatRay
Aug 16, 11:28 PM
My condolences to her family. We all feel her loss.
Frank
Aug 17, 02:43 AM
That’s horrible, horrible news. Best wishes to her family and friends during this time.
DaBich
Aug 17, 06:43 AM
I think my heart just hit the floor. I’m speechless. I will pray for her family in this difficult time.
Kyle Dreibelbies
Aug 17, 06:53 AM
Ash was a great writer and really put her heart and soul into the team. I send my condolences as well.
Jesse Marshall
Aug 17, 09:34 AM
Ashley was a good human. One of the smartest and most passionate hockey fans I’d ever had the pleasure of working with.
She will sorely be missed by her friends all over the world.
She got to see the Pens hoist the cup before she left us.
nate
Aug 17, 10:43 AM
Sad to hear, I always enjoyed reading her columns with Stoosh. Way too young.
Pens1967
Aug 17, 10:51 AM
My sincere condolences to Ashley’s family and friends here at FF. It’s always a sad occasion when one so young passes away.
Moq
Aug 17, 10:52 AM
Terrible news indeed. Good articles and, yes, way too young.
My condolences.
KG
Aug 17, 11:15 AM
Wow, what a sin. Way to young. Sad, sad news. My prayers are with her friends and family…
Mike Wilson
Aug 17, 11:24 AM
Not only a good human and a passionate hockey fan, but also she had so much fun doing everything she did involving the sport she loved. It’s hard to believe she’s gone.
My prayers to her family and friends as well.
TIM
Aug 17, 11:55 AM
Just got back and saw this. Hy hear goes out to Ashley, her friends family, and every on here at FF. Nothing more to say. She will be missed.
Julie
Aug 17, 12:41 PM
Here is a suggestion…one of my favorite articles/series by Ashley was the 101 Reasons to Love Hockey. I propose framing this article (maybe some of the writers could autograph the matte) and presenting that to her family from the writers and readers of Faceoff Factor.
Stoosh
Aug 17, 01:59 PM
I like Julie’s idea.
Might I also suggest finding a way to gather a group donation to the Children’s Wish Foundation in her memory as well?
It’s amazing to me the ways in which a person can impact the lives of so many others, despite likely never having actually met many of us outside of the confines of emails, blog comments and Facebook posts. Nevertheless, I considered her to be a friend and I’m sure so many others in our community here and over at The Pensblog did as well.
I’m glad she got to see the Pens win the Cup, and I know she’ll have one of the best seats in the house for every Pens Cup or Team Canada gold medal from here on out.
My thoughts and prayers go out again to her friends and her family, with whom I know she was incredibly close.
Matt Bodenschatz
Aug 17, 02:24 PM
I, too, like Julie’s idea. My question is, how do we fit it within a frame?
Does anyone have artsy skills to put something nice together?
I also like Stoosh’s idea of collecting donations to send to the Children’s Wish Foundation.
I’ll be setting up a paypal account soon.
Dabich
Aug 17, 04:44 PM
Count me in!
Julie
Aug 17, 06:42 PM
I’m exploring options for putting the article into a poster-type frame. I’ll get back to you as soon as I can. If anyone out there knows how to do such a thing or has a better idea, please let me know.
Pens1967
Aug 17, 08:50 PM
Matt,
You can get frames, matte and glass at Michael’s craft stores. I think they also do framing if you don’t want to do it yourself. I recall one of my former co-workers got a framed picture of F14s signed by all his colleagues and it is a treasured possession.
I’d also suggest contacting the Penguins and tell them Ashley’s story and the family’s desire for donations to “Make A Wish”. I’d be shocked if you couldn’t get a game worn or autographed shirt or game used stick that could be auctioned on Ebay for that cause. I know Santonio Holmes auctioned his SuperBowl worn gloves for sickle cell anemia research which raised quite a bit of money for them.
Tyler Gallant
Aug 17, 10:16 PM
My name is Tyler and I am Ashleys brother. I just want to say thank you all! I knew Ashley was an avid writer here, and I’m sorry I overlooked you all.
At her funeral the priest told us to continue her unfinished legacy. I’m sure your thoughts and stories will embody that message. I think she may have even gotten the name Lacing up from a brain storming session we had. If anyone wants to continue on writing ‘Lacing Up’, you are by all means welcome.
DaBich
Aug 17, 10:29 PM
Hi Tyler, thanks for thinking of us. You have our heartfelt condolences. Ash will be missed here as well…
Matt Bodenschatz
Aug 17, 11:21 PM
Tyler, we’re all so sorry for your loss. Ash’s genuine personality showed through in her dealings with this online community. I can only imagine how special she was to know in person.
Ash’s legacy will remain with FF, as she will be considered a staff writer for as long as this site exists. We also hope to resume the “Lacing Up” series in her honor.
Thanks so much for stopping by, and please send our deepest condolences to your family and friends.
Brian Metzer
Aug 18, 01:38 AM
Very sad news guys…thoughts and prayers to Ash’s family, friends, and the great hockey community here that she was such a big part of. I am sure there are many out there who are as shocked and saddened by this news as we were in hearing it over the weekend.
Zack Dawson
Aug 18, 10:08 PM
I didn’t know Ashley personally. Never had the pleasure of meeting her.
However, the one thing I knew about her was that she was a true lover of the sport of hockey. She loved the game and was a real student of it as well.
Everyone that I’ve talked to has said she was a truly sweet person and have had nothing but good things to say about her. It’s just so sad that someone so young has left us. My condolences go out to her family and friends.
Matt Bodenschatz
Aug 21, 02:37 PM
@Tom, I have contacted the Children’s Wish Foundation and am awaiting a reply as to what is the best method to donate: en mass or on an individual basis. Once I hear from them, I will move forward with donation instructions.
DaBich
Aug 24, 06:40 AM
Tom, did you just step on Matt’s toes?
Matt Bodenschatz
Aug 24, 09:34 AM
Yeah…pretty much. And the link doesn't work. I've put a working donation link on the front page of FF.
Dabich
Aug 24, 10:00 AM
Really Tom, if you want to run a blog, you should start your own. Shame on you!
Matt, I’ll wait for your link.
Matt Bodenschatz
Aug 24, 11:05 AM
I’m not so much worried about the toe-stepping as the fact that I was waiting to hear from the Foundation before posting a link.
Dabich
Aug 24, 12:46 PM
Well, some people are rude and need to step back once in a while.
I’ll do the link at home, anything we need to know Matt, as far as filling it out?
Matt Bodenschatz
Aug 24, 03:03 PM
Simply fill out the form and indicate that your donation is to honor Ashley Gallant.
Matt Bodenschatz
Aug 25, 04:53 PM
UPDATE
The Gallant family was sent a bouquet of flowers from the FF community.
I’m also working on a project to frame Ash’s 101 reason’s to love hockey, and am in continued work (as time permits) to acquire something from the Penguins to auction off on eBay in Ash’s name, with donations going to Children’s Wish Foundation.
And, again, a donation link has been placed at the top of the front page of FF. Please be as generous as possible.
Thanks!
Dabich
Aug 26, 08:28 AM
Awesome stuff, Matt. FF is showing what it’s made of…good, caring, hockey-loving people!
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