Fallen Spartans Archive

Former Michigan State All-American Ron Saul has passed away at the age of 73 (1948-2021). A three-year letterwinner under Coach Duffy Daugherty from 1967-69, Saul also earned first-team Academic All-America honors in 1969 and went on to play in the NFL for 12 seasons as an offensive guard. A native of Butler, Pennsylvania, Saul was...

It is with great sadness that the Ricucci Family announces the passing of one of its patriarchs, Robert Ricucci Sr. Born in New York City, Bob grew up in Chicago, and joined the MSU Football Team in 1955. He played for the Spartans from 1955-1959, including playing on the 1955 National Championship team. He returned to campus...

Joseph R. Pryzybycki, age 74, passed away after a several-year battle with degenerative brain disease paired with Covid-19 on November 17, 2020. Joe was born in the outskirts of Detroit in Harper Woods, Michigan, where he developed an early love and investment into sports of all kinds; especially football, baseball, and basketball. He attended Saint...

Donald Lewis Ross, 77, of Johns Creek, Georgia died on September 24, 2020 after a five-year battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. Don was born and raised in East Lansing, Michigan, the son of the late Archie Freeman Ross and Helen Marjorie Ross. As a youth, Don was a proud Boy Scout and achieved the rank of...

Montgomery Jr., Gregory 10/29/1964 – 8/23/2020 Greg was born in Morristown, NJ, the son of Gregory and Diane (Stephens) Montgomery and brother to Charles S. Montgomery(Steve) and Margot Montgomery Moran. Brother in law to Heather and Tommy. Greg took on the name “UG” when he became an uncle to Chase, Quinn, Campbell, Brooks and Hannah....

Paul “Rocky” Rochester, one of the unsung but important defensive contributors to the Jets’ Super Bowl III triumph over the Baltimore Colts in January 1969, died Sunday with his family around him. He was 81. Rochester was born in Lansing, MI, grew up in Floral Park on Long Island, attended Sewanhaka HS there, then took...

John Allen Kettunen, age 74, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, passed away Nov. 1, 2019 at Penrose Hospital surrounded by family and friends. He was born April 21, 1945 in Cleveland, Ohio, the son of Helen and Toivo Kettunen. John was a 1963 graduate of North High School where he was inducted into the North High...

Jesse Williams, a Bellefontaine High School graduate and one of the most talented athletes in Logan County history, passed away Sunday. Williams, a star running back at Bellefontaine who went on to play at Michigan State, had been battling lung cancer. A 1969 BHS graduate, Williams was a multi-sport star for the Chiefs. He was...

Richard P. Anderson, 90, of Maumee, Ohio, passed away peacefully in his home on Sunday, March 1, 2020, surrounded by his loving family. Richard (Dick) was the son of Harold and Margaret (Meilink) Anderson. He was born in Toledo, Ohio, on April 10, 1929, just months before the onset of the Great Depression. He received...

Anthony “Tony” Kolodziej, 83, passed away on Feb 27th after battling Dementia at Bethany Nursing Home in Nashville, TN. Tony was born May 29, 1936 to Anthony & Mary (Rojowska) Kolodziej in Northampton, MA, the youngest of 10 children. He graduated from Northampton High School – earning a letter from 3 different sports but where...