Former Rocky Player Loses Battle with Brain Cancer

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By Chelsea Rabideau

Story Published: Nov 14, 2011 at 6:13 PM MDT

Story Updated: Nov 15, 2011 at 2:22 PM MDT

BILLINGS - A former Rocky basketball player lost his nearly 2 year battle with brain cancer last week. His coach and friends say he'll always be remembered for the lives he managed to touch.

With a 7 foot wingspan and a passion for the game of basketball, Tony Eatinger is what his former Rocky Mountain College coach calls a "freak athlete." He was a senior assistant for Rocky's NAIA National Championship team in 2009. Coach Bill Dreikosen says, "He never ceased to amaze us in basketball games, I mean the shots that he could block and the shots that he would change with his wingspan."

Quick-witted, intelligent, a loyal friend and loving husband to wife Morgan. When friends needed a boost, they turned to Tony. Childhood friend Ryan Gomendi says, "He was one of the best. I've met so many people in my life, anytime I needed to cheer up or just get a good laugh, I went to Tony."

Ryan knew Tony from high school. They were teammates and roommates at Rocky. "He's been in my life for so many years and to lose him this way, he's going to be missed by a lot of people," says Ryan.

Doctors discovered a tumor in Tony's brain in early 2010. Surgery and intense chemotherapy couldn't keep the cancer at bay. Tony died in Helena on November 9th. "One of the last coherent conversations he had, he was making fun of one of our friends and it was just, I won't say what he said, but it was hilarious," remembers Ryan. But, it was just so Tony, always trying to make you laugh."

"Life is very short and we've got to live in the moment and I think that's one thing that I really learned from Tony is to have a great attitude no matter how dull it looks or how great it looks, but have a great attitude and live in the moment," adds Coach Driekosen. He says Tony will forever be a member of the Battlin' Bear family.

A memorial fund has been set up to defray Tony's massive medical bills. To donate, you can go to any Wells Fargo bank and ask to give to the Tony Eatinger Memorial Fund. Visitation will be held Tuesday at Retz Funeral Home Chapel in Helena.

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