Pro beach volleyball star Mike Whitmarsh, 46, found dead

[Volley...@hotmail.com]

Ex-USD hoopster, beach volleyball star Whitmarsh, 46, found dead
By Bill Center
Union-Tribune Staff Writer
http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/feb/17/bn17mike-whitmarsh-found-dead/?zIndex=54456

6:55 p.m. February 17, 2009

SAN DIEGO – Mike Whitmarsh, an Olympic silver medalist and a champion
on the pro beach tour after leading the University of San Diego to its
first major basketball title, was found dead Tuesday morning at a
friend's home in Solana Beach.

The Medical Examiner's Office said Tuesday night that Whitmarsh, 46,
was found in the garage of the home on Shoemaker Lane.

Whitmarsh, who was married, regularly resided with family in San
Diego, but occasionally stayed with the friend in Solana Beach, the
Medical Examiner's Office said.

Whitmarsh was unresponsive when his friend found him. Medical
personnel who responded to a 911 call confirmed the death, the office
said.

The cause of death was pending an examination.

A product of Monte Vista High and Grossmont College, Whitmarsh led USD
to its first West Coast Conference basketball title in 1984. Two years
later, he took up volleyball and became one of the leaders of the AVP
tour.

In 1996, Whitmarsh teamed with Mike Dodd to win a silver medal in the
Atlanta Olympics. He won a total of 28 pro beach volleyball
tournaments and won nearly $1.6 million during his career.

Whitmarsh is survived by his wife, Cindy, who owns a local fitness and
nutrition company.

"We are all devastated by the passing of Mike," Cindy Whitmarsh said
in a statement. "His family, friends, teammates and colleagues will
miss him terribly. We appreciate your thoughts and prayers during this
most difficult time; it means more than we can express."

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