George Boiardi was born on July 30, 1981, and grew up in the Washington, DC area with his parents, Mario and Deborah, and sisters, Elena and Caroline. He attended the Landon School, where he excelled both academically and athletically, earning 11 varsity letters in Football, Hockey, and Lacrosse. These achievements led George to Cornell University, where he pursued a major in history and was a member of the Men’s Lacrosse team. On the field, George’s heart and athleticism earned him Rookie of the Year honors in 2001, and he went on to be a four-year starter and serve as a captain of the 2004 squad. Tragically, on March 17, 2004 George Boiardi lost his life at the age of 22 while competing in a game on Cornell’s Schoellkopf Field.
In 2017 George was honored with the Spirit of Tewaaraton award, which is given to an individual involved in the sport of lacrosse who nobly reflects the finest virtues exemplified in the game, and who, over the course of his or her life, has made a significant contribution to society and to the lives of others.
An accomplished student, athlete, and campus leader who was committed to helping those less fortunate than he was, George lived by the motto that “well done is better than well said.” Taking this to heart, George planned to serve with Teach for America on South Dakota’s Rosebud Reservation following his graduation.
Despite his many academic and athletic accomplishments, George is remembered most for his vibrant personality, his ability to inspire his peers, his willingness to put others before himself, and his desire to help those around him. These were the values that George embodied, and those are the values that the Mario St. George Boiardi Foundation strives to promote and carry on.
“Those of us who walked even one stride with George are grateful for his impact, for his time... Like all great leaders of our generation, George led for others, not for his own reward.””
