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From the FHYAA Football Commissioner:
On a very sad note, I just received news that Rocky Belk, Commissioner of Gum Springs Football, passed away last night [July 15, 2010]. Rocky has been seriously ill for the past 6 months and has battled back several times in his struggle to survive. Our sincere condolences go out to his family during this tough time
Here is the note I received Monday from Martha Coleman, VP - GSYAA, followed by a copy of her earlier letter dated Friday, July 16th:
Good afternoon,
A memorial service is planned for this Thursday at 6:00pm at Harvest Assembly, 8008 Fordson Road, Alexandria, VA.
Warm regards,
Martha Coleman
[July 16th letter]: As some of you may know and others not, Anthony ‘Rocky’ Belk passed away last night. Just as we began our reorganization of GSYAA, Rocky stepped in and took the position of Football Commissioner and did an excellent job. People knew who he was and because of him, we gained much respect from FCYFL. We were happy and I must say, extremely proud, to have Rocky on our team. We were and, because of his contribution, still are on our way to being a great organization. We appreciate the time that we shared with Rocky while he was with us.
To family and friends, please know that Rocky fought a long and hard battle, but he suffers no more. His journey on this earth is done and he has gone onto be with the father where he can rejoice and be at rest. Let us all remember the life of Rocky, who he was and the contributions he made in our lives.
Remember, the journey of life is just a path,
On earth to lead our way;
A place to stop and rest awhile,
For we were never meant to stay.
As soon as we have details on arrangements, we will forward.
Warmest regards,
Martha Coleman
VP- GSYAA
Rocky Belk (Anthony Lovett Belk) was born on June 20, 1960 in Alexandria, Virginia. After high school, Rocky attended the University of Miami. He made his professional debut in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns. He played for the Cleveland Browns for his entire 1 year career.
Before his career as Football Commissioner with GSYAA, Rocky also coached at Washington-Lee High School.
"Football sets the tempo for the school, if you have a good program, everybody's happy. But you've got to make sure it's not about the wins and losses."
--Rocky Belk
The Washington Post, October 10, 1995, "Area Football Coaches Scrambling to Recruit Immigrant Players"
2009, as GSYAA Football Commissioner
Playing with the Cleveland Browns
Playing for the University of Miami "Champions"
University of Miami football players celebrate the Peach Bowl victory
"Rocky Belk sprints for a touchdown" -Fortress 1979, pg.111
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Beverly Malone (Burke)
I am so sorry to hear of Rocky's passing. Please send my condolences to his family. He did have such a bright beautiful smile.
Diana Lopez
My dear friend, Rocky absolutely brightened the lives of those of us blessed to know him. He was a rare combination of focus, caring and silliness. He is missed by many. He will always live in our hearts.
Terry Kinder (Alers)
Thank you to Dr. Ben Pearl, who wrote the following tribute to his friend, Rocky, on his blog site:
Rocky Belk died last week and the Arlington community was left with one less voice for the people that have none. Success did not come easy for Rocky. He was an athlete on the bubble; enough talent to make it all the way to the NFL but scrapping
every step of the way. Because Rocky had to carefully piece together his athletic career, he came to understand what it took to achieve his advanced education goals one piece at a time and he never forgot those that were not empowered with the same knowledge and voice along the way.
I met Rocky on the school yard one day while I was watching my daughter, Sirena, play in gym class. We had a conversation about youth, sportsmanship and life in general. We became friends that day and worked on a local project for the Arlington Career Center on better choices for student athletes. One night we went out to dinner at a restaurant off the GW parkway near closing and he got there first and they refused to serve us. I'll never know how much of it was racially motivated but that was Rocky's impression and it was upsetting to see that sort of thing play out for a man that was so giving of his time in the community. A few months later we saw "The Express, the Ernie Davis Story" together and I'm sure Rocky could relate to some of the scenes growing up particularly since he was also a Cleveland Brown for one season, a bit of life imitating art.
Rocky told me that when the Browns won a game the fans in his town home community would shovel snow in front of his door to greet him after the game. A celebratory snow in. He had skills but could not stomach the politics of pro football. The quarterbacks were partial to the players that they were used to and it affected who played. Sam Rutigliano was probably a bit ruthless for Rocky's taste. Nonetheless he got to experience a couple touchdowns in the pros and made good on his promise and ended up with a Sports Illustrated appearance while at the University of Miami. He got to catch more than few with hall of famer Jim Kelly when he played for the Hurricanes.His heroic exploits were more about what he did off the field.
Although he was always full of hale to greet his prized possessions,the children at Longbranch Elementary where he served as head gym teacher, Rocky had a very sensitive side. It was his big heart that in part played into his failing health at the end because he did not put the same level of focus on himself as he did on others. He had tremendous respect for the educational institutional process and for his
fellow faculty and head principal Felicia Russo. That process was so important to him because it was the ultimate equalizer. When Rocky finished up at school he gave more of his time to the Gum Springs Community Center near Fort Hunt where he went to high school.
Can we summarize a man's legacy, his life's work, in a memorial plaque? It would be kind of cool for students that knew him to tell those coming in that ask who was this Rocky Belk and what did he do? Those that knew him could tell them that Rocky Belk from Gum Springs followed his dreams and made it all the way to the NFL working every step of the way and after he got there he never stopped giving back. What motivated him was simply his love for the children he taught.
In the end, for those that knew him, it really doesn't really matter whether a plaque with Rocky Belk's name inscribed on it is put out at the horseshoe kiss and drop where the Longbranch students start their morning; because in the end every child and parent that Rocky touched will remember him at that horseshoe full of hale and with a big,easy,giving smile.
Terry Kinder (Alers)
This lovely memory of Rocky is from Karen Gorman, mother of Owen Gorman, Nottingham Elementary School:
I was so saddened to learn of Rocky Belk's passing. Rocky was my now 10 year-old son's P.E. Teacher at Nottingham Elementary, when my son was in pre-school there. The class was a mix of hearing impaired preschoolers and hearing preschoolers, who served as model peers. My son was one of the model peers. Rocky towered over the preschoolers, but was as gentle a man as I have ever met. He embraced these small children, and they embraced him. My son also attended birthday parties hosted by Rocky - with his equipment, he could transform a bare multi-purpose room into the most fun birthday event ever. When you met him, you knew that you were around someone special, someone who grounded you, and made you feel connected. He was always positive, affirming, and other-centered. My son had a little trouble with the letter "r" back then. So, when he said, "Mr. Rocky," it came out "Mr. Wocky." He never said a word to my son, but this delighted Rocky! He pulled me aside one day and confided that no one had ever called him "Mr. Wocky" before. We feel his loss deeply, as I am sure so many other friends and family members do.
Guest Account II
Rocky was too young to go...... He will be missed by many children and staff at Long Branch elementary School..... He was a great teacher and friend...... He made you laugh and always helped you out when needed...... He was my 630am talking buddy...... I always felt safe when Rocky was around...... I will miss him greatly......
Shelley Roberts
Terry Kinder (Alers)
This note was sent to me from Eileen Crawford
Terry Kinder (Alers)
Rocky touched so many, many lives throughout his career beyond high school. Here is another blog site with a beautiful tribute to Rocky by Mary, a mother of kids who attended the elementary school where Rocky was employed:
In loving memory of Rocky Belk
Posted by: Mary Smaragdis on: July 22, 2010
http://mmarymary.wordpress.com/2010/07/22/in-loving-memory-of-rocky-belk/
Thank you, Patti, for finding this.
Guest Account
As I prepare for the new school year, I am acutely aware that one of our best loved colleagues will be missing. Rocky was the morning meeter and greeter for the kiss and drop circle. He stood outside in all weathers opening the car doors and helping each student out with a cheerful smile and comment. It was a great start to the day. As a teacher I liked a particular parking spot near this circle and I looked forward to seeing Rocky every day. We would exchange more than meet and greet, talking about families, children, schedules and incidents in our lives. When I took my class to the gym for their p.e. sessions, our conversations would continue and we exchanged anecdotes. The children loved him and always looked forward to his class. He always managed to make learning fun. Rocky left us too soon but he will be remembered fondly by all who knew him.Anne Zuidema
Janet Carper
I'm really saddened to read that Rocky Belk passed away.
It was wonderful to watch the YouTube video of him scoring a touchdown with the Cleveland Browns... I didn't know he had gone on to the NFL, though it's not surprising that he did.
I have what may seem like a silly memory, but it has stayed with me, which is telling...sometimes in just a moment, you get a sense of the goodness in someone, and those are the things which sometimes transcend time and other circumstances, and make a lasting impression. It was at our Homecoming pep rally, and as cheerleaders, we had prepared a little routine, involving some of the members of the football team. The guys were all seated in chairs, in a row, and the routine ended with us sitting on their laps! And I remember being really thrilled that I had Rocky Belk...I mean, the star football player, after all...I was like, wow! And he was so gentlemanly about it, didn't make me feel silly or awkward, there was a gentleness and sweetness in him that really came across. And I remember this flash, where we smiled at eachother, in the fun of this bright moment. His sweetness was very clear.
Terry Kinder (Alers)
From "A Thanksgiving tribute: Rocky Belk" at The Brown Log blog, a fan site devoted to the Cleveland Browns.
The anonymous blogger ends his thoughtful remembrance, noting:
"Football players bring great joy to us fans by their magnificent feats of athletism and courage, however let us not forget on this Thanksgiving day, that as great as it is to have witnessed Brian Sipe, or Greg Pruitt, Bill Nelson, Marion Motley, Jim Brown, Doug Dieken or countless others fill our Sundays with memories, that the real heroes in our world are the folks who go out without recognition day after day, and help others.
So on this Thanksgiving Day, let's thank God that folks like Rocky Belk touch our world and remember, they are the heroes."