Bonita Spence passes away....

[pap49cba]

Mel Greenberg @womhoopsguru
#NCAAW Sad to hear of passing of referee Bonita Spence. Always had great conversations and thinking of her the word integrity comes quickly.

 

[ScarlettB]

I couldn't help but think of Clockgate whenever I saw Bonita, but she really seemed to enjoy refing the games she worked. RIP.

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

If so, very sad. I know a lot didn't care for her, but I always thought she was a straight shooter. Called them the way she saw them.

 

[01Neaggrad02]

I am sorry to hear of her passing. Personally I did not care for her as a ref.... but it is sad to hear she passed away.

 

[Icebear]

I thought she had stepped up her officiating over the last 5-8 years and had become one of the better officials.

Very sorry to hear of her death.

 

[huskiemaniac]

So sorry to hear of her passing...way too young to be gone...

 

[Phil]

Oh, I am so sorry to hear this. I got a chance to chat with her in St. Thomas, and I came away thinking much more highly of her than I had before.

 

[UConnChapette]

I just heard this on my drive home from work and gasped out loud in shock. I was one of the most critical of her as a ref. But it is easy to be critical of someone doing a job that you wouldn't have a hope of doing a fraction as well. I am sure she gave it her all every time out on the court.

Far too young to have passed on. R.I.P. bonnie Bonita.

 

[calpedaler]

Geno Auriemma ‏@genoauriemma 30m
Lost a good official today. Lost an even better person. Prayers for Bonita Spence and her family.

 

[cferraro04]

Geno, classy as ever... I was pretty vocal at times regarding some of her bad calls but her good ones out paced her bad ones by a mile. Probably up there blowing her celestrial whistle...God Bless Bonita and her family.

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

Nice tweets from numerous WBB folks, including Mike Carey among others.

The most telling - from Sharnee Zoll - commented that Bonita "always let me mess with her without a T" and I think was the person called her a sweet lady.

A bit disappointed that Bonita's passing has yet to be noted on ESPN's WBB page.

 

[meyers7]

Sorry to hear. Wonder what happened? Unless I've missed something the past year?

 

[Kevin G]

God Bless Bonita! RIP

 

[pap49cba]

Sorry to hear. Wonder what happened? Unless I've missed something the past year?

Bit of a mystery. According to Mel Greenberg, no one seems to know the cause of death.

LINK

 

[meyers7]

Bit of a mystery. According to Mel Greenberg, no one seems to know the cause of death.

LINK

Nice write up by Greenberg though.

 

[jsloanjr]

RIP and may the Good Lord bring you home........

 

[Artifact]

As a person, I have never wished anything negative, personally, against Bonita. But, as a woman's basketball referee, I had deep reservations about some of her 'calls'. Please, God forgive me & may He call her into his "Eternal Reward'.

 

[EricLA]

That is just so sad. I agree with Ice - I also thought her officiating had improved over the years. Prayers to her family and friends...

 

[RoyDodger]

She was only 51 and there is still no explanation for her death at such a relatively young age.

This appears to be the most recent article on her passing: from the Chicago Sun-Times.

 

[Fiftyish]

Very sad news. Much too young for a women that appeared healthy enough to ref women's professional BB.

 

[I'maUConnFan]

Thanks for the link to Mel Greenberg's blog. I remember watching Clockgate and being furious at the decision. I've never heard anything about whether there were repercussions for the officials. The Tuesday, September 19 blog entry reveals that Bonita Spence tried to alert the other two officials to the problem, and they waved her off. Interesting reading. From the responses posted on that blog and elsewhere, it looks as though coaches and players regarded her as a much better official than many of we fans did. And they're the ones who really count, so I think that's how I'll choose to remember her.

 

[ThisJustIn]

The latest news is particularly: Cause of death identified as suicide.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/22/s...nce-a-referee-who-drew-cheers-dies-at-51.html

 

[VAMike23]

The latest news is particularly: Cause of death identified as suicide.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/22/s...nce-a-referee-who-drew-cheers-dies-at-51.html

That's very sad indeed. I hope her soul is at peace - I wonder how many knew her well enough to know that she was on that road.

Prayers for the departed and also for those close to her at what I'm sure is a very difficult time.