Barstool Sports has lost something unique.
Production engineer Jonathan Stanko has passed away after a battle with cancer, founder Dave Portnoy has paid tribute to on social media.
He was 32 years old.
Stanko announced in a May 2024 blog post He had stage 4 stomach cancer and was given about 14 months to live if he did not respond to chemotherapy.
Stanko has been a production engineer at Barstool since 2021 and was “liked by literally everyone he worked with,” he said. Portnoy wrote a heartfelt post about X.
“In my 20 years at Barstool, this is the first time I have had to deal with something so heavy. Tomorrow is never promised to anyone, so no one should ever take a day for granted. Warning,” Portnoy wrote in a eulogy for Stanko.
Other Barstool employees also paid tribute to their colleague.
In X's post, Barstool personality Dan “Big Cat” Katz expressed feelings of loss. “Absolutely heartbreaking” and “incredibly unfair.”
“Stanko was the best and played an important role in everything we do at Barstool. He is an incredible talent and a great friend to everyone. We will miss him very much. May you rest in peace and avoid cancer,” he wrote.
Producer Connor Griffin wrote: On social media, he said he was “always inspired by Stanko's work ethic and kindness.”
“He has offered to run the whole process.” [Ben Mintz] “Seeing Mintzy 10K carrying a full-frame camera really opened my eyes to what a warrior he is,” he continued.
“He was truly one of Barstool's greatest masterpieces. He will be sorely missed.”
Prior to joining Barstool, Mr. Stanko worked in the athletic department at Iona College as assistant director of athletic communications.
“We are deeply saddened to share the passing of our beloved member Jonathan Stanko.” @Iona University and @IonaGaels Dear families and classes of the Class of 2014,” the school's athletic department said in a statement.
“Jonathan dedicated more than a decade of his life to our athletic department and left a lasting mark on our community and the countless lives he touched. His kindness, unwavering dedication and contagious spirit It will be a part of us forever.”
Steve Kurzow, who worked with Stanko on both Iona and Barstool, wrote emotionally of Stanko's friend.
“It was an honor to be your best friend for 14 years. I couldn't have asked for a better friend, roommate, and colleague.” Mr. Kurtzow wrote a eulogy..
Stanko is survived by his wife, Emma;
