BC Wheelchair Basketball Society extends our condolences to the family and friends of renowned wheelchair basketball coach Jerry Tonello. Tonello passed away at the age of 59 after a long battle with brain cancer.
"We are saddened by the passing of Jerry Tonello," said BCWBS Executive Director Sian Blyth. "His impact on the wheelchair basketball community was immeasurable and he will be terribly missed."
Tonello played a crucial role in the Canada’s men’s wheelchair basketball team’s decades of success. He led the team to gold at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, was associate head coach at the Beijing 2008 Paralympics where the team won silver, and was assistant coach of the gold medal-winning team at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games as well as the Atlanta 1996 Paralympic Games, where the team placed fifth.
Tonello is survived by his wife Ann-Louise and sons Matthew and Zachary.
