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Florida State legend Monk Bonasorte passes away

Bonasorte devoted his life to Florida State.

Florida State legend Monk Bonasorte passed Saturday night after a battle with brain cancer. He was 59. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Bonasorte family. If you knew Monk, then you probably did not know anyone who cared more about Florida State football.

A Message from FSU Vice President and Director of Athletics Stan Wilcox

It is with a heavy heart we share the news of the passing of our wonderful co-worker and friend Monk Bonasorte.

"I am heart-broken to share the news that Monk has passed,” said Vice President and Director of Athletics Stan Wilcox. “Monk was a loyal, dependable giant of an athletics administrator whose hard work and dedication to Florida State and Florida State Athletics extended into the larger FSU and collegiate athletics communities.

Monk was a devoted, highly-respected athletics staff member who was beloved by all who came to know him.

He spoke as an alumnus, a former football student-athlete, an FSU Hall of Fame student-athlete (#42) and a passionate administrator who worked tirelessly to make Florida State athletics the best that it could be.

His strength, experience and courage were invaluable.

FSU may have lost one of its brightest stars but the legacy that Monk leaves will endure in all of our hearts and minds forever.

Our thoughts are with Beverly, TJ, Rocky, and the entire Bonasorte family."

MONK BONASORTE

For the past nine years, Senior Associate Athletics Director Monk Bonasorte served on FSU’s executive athletic staff with oversight of internal operations as well as oversight of Florida State’s football and women’s soccer programs. He also supervised equipment, athletic training, coach’s video and strength and conditioning.

Bonasorte was also one of the Seminoles’ all-time great football players lettering from 1977-80 at safety. He ranked second in school history with 15 career pass interceptions, and his eight interceptions in 1979 ranks as the second highest total in school history. He was inducted into the FSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1995.

Prior to joining the athletics department in 2008, Bonasorte was the president and executive director of FSU’s Varsity Club, where he helped build it into one of the top organizations of its kind in the country.

Bonasorte spent seven years working with the Elmont Sports Group prior to his duties with the Varsity Club. He served as the marketing director for two seasons for the Tallahassee Scorpions indoor professional soccer team. He served as the director of marketing for the Tallahassee Tiger Sharks (1997-99) hockey team and was the Vice President and General Manager for the Tallahassee Thunder of the Arena Football League from 1999-2003.

He is survived by his wife Beverly and sons TJ and Rocky.