Global Gossip

The bodybuilding and figure world lost one of its greatest assets on September 26, 2008. The head expediter for the IFBB/NPC, Steve Stone, died suddenly prior to the finals for the 2008 Olympia.

Most people do not know who Steve was, but if you ever competed at the national or pro levels, you knew who made the shows run as smoothly as they did.

Show Expediter Steve Stone Passed Away 9/26/2008.

Read more about this tragedy here:

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/steve_stone_death.htm

http://www.ifbbpro.com/news/steve-stone/

One of the reasons Jen told us that she was doing the Olympia was for her step brother, Todd. She reminded me that life is short and you never know when your health may be stripped from you.

Todd was battling cancer and recently found out that his chemotherapy did not work. Earlier this week the doctors gave him 2 weeks to 2 months to live. Unfortunately, Todd passed away last night.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Jen and her family.

I originally wrote this on HARDBODY.com but I wanted to share this tragedy with the bodybuilding world here. Many of you know Amanda and followed her career. It is with great sadness I report this new.

I’ve been on the phone all morning with those closest to Amanda Jo. Everyone’s story is consistent at this point. The last time anyone heard from Amanda Jo was on Monday night. Her family and friends tried to reach her but there was no response. They contacted the police and filed a missing person’s report as this was unlike her. She hadn’t been to the gym in a couple days and Amanda never missed a workout. When she hadn’t logged onto myspace or been to the gym, friends knew something was wrong. She was preparing to do the Europa Super show, a show which she had won two times before.

Amanda was very close to her family and her father’s health had been failing as of late. AJ loved to be on her MYSPACE page. She enjoyed using the “mood” feature on the site and checked her email there several times a day. I had been talking with Amanda about her returning to the stage and we were planning out a photo shoot for the Europa. I’m numb as I write this as she was an amazing woman who I cared about as did many in and out of the fitness industry. She was anxious to return to competition and show everyone how hard she’d been working since the Olympia. We joked about being hungry and how dieting can be challenging.

News is still being collected but it appears her ex-boyfriend Dave Jacobs shot her and then turned the gun on himself. The two were found in his home of Texas. Dave Jacobs has been in the news over a steroid bust and was recently convicted for the incident. Despite friends and family encouraging Amanda to keep her distance from him she fell back into his control several times. Dave’s mentality was one that if he couldn’t have Amanda Jo no one would and at this point it appears he took it to the ultimate extreme.

UPDATE: the New York Times article is now available.

The NPC and IFBB lost a dear friend this week when John Organ passed away in his Florida apartment. I loved this guy, he was always easy going and upbeat. I covered the West Palm Beach show for the last two years and it was always a pleasure. Just last weekend I was telling a makeup artist friend of mine that I was going to make the trip a bit longer and do photo shoots on the beach again. The show’s future is still undecided at this point but I will keep you posted on any news. John will be missed by many and at age 49 you never know when your time is up.

Rest in Peace my friend.

Below is the information for his funeral arrangements as well as his obituary. You can leave a tribute to him and his family here. Thanks to Bodysport.com for the link.

Visitation:
Sunday May 25, 2008
2:00 pm until time of Service

Visitation Location:
Quattlebaum Funeral Home, 1201 South Olive Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL 33401.

Service Date:
Sunday May 25, 2008 3:00 PM

Service Location:
A Reception will be held at the Funeral Home immediately following the Service

John Porter Organ, 49 years old, of West Palm Beach, FL, died at his home on Tuesday, May 20, 2008 following sudden cardiac arrest. Born in Hammond, Indiana, he was a resident of the Palm Beach area since 1963 and graduated Forest Hill High School, Class of 1976. John was a well known Personal Fitness Trainer who operated “Bodies Are My Business”; and was a trainer at Ultima Fitness Downtown. He was also a Nationally Accredited Judge for fitness competitions; and organized and promoted many bodybuilding and fitness shows.

John is survived by his mother, Joan M. Leary (James) of Lake Worth, FL; and father, Orlin J. Organ, Jr. of Eldorado, IL; four siblings, Gary Organ of McLeansboro, IL, Sherry L. Fieser (Brad) of Deland, FL, David L. Organ of Lake Worth, FL, and William “Joey” Thomas (Gena) of Tallahassee, FL; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews.

A Memorial Service will be held at 3:00 PM on Sunday, May 25, 2008 at Quattlebaum Funeral Home, 1201 South Olive Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL 33401 with Rev. William Michaels, Associate Pastor of Trinity Church International, officiating. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Sunday beginning at 2:00 PM, and at a Reception immediately following the Service. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in John’s memory to: American Diabetes Association, Memorial Program ADA, 1500 West Cypress Creek Road, Suite 104, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33309 www.diabetes.org.