Tony York, brother of 49ers CEO Jed York, passed away on Friday December 7 at the age of 35.
After the 49ers’ 20-14 win over the Denver Broncos on Sunday, head coach Kyle Shanahan dedicated the win to Tony, and announced that Jed spoke to the team in the locker room following the game.
“Before we start I just want to say, you know everyone knows the tragic stuff we dealt with yesterday losing Tony York,” Shanahan began. “This game definitely was for him. Getting to know the Yorks the last two years, the one thing that was so apparent about Tony the times I’ve been around him is that he was the biggest Niners fan out of any of them, and really just out of anyone I’ve been around since I’ve been in San Fran.
“Yeah he is an owner but, just the true fan he was for the Niners always was so fun to watch and something so cool about him. For us to have a win today with what happened to him yesterday, it means a ton and I know it means a lot to the York family. He was a special person that will be missed a lot so prayers are with all the Yorks today, and I know Jed was able to come and we just had a special moment with him in the locker room. I know his parents weren’t, and were there with him, and I hope everyone’s prayers are for him.”
York tweeted a photo of him and his brother after the win.
It’s amazing how sports can help a breaking heart, even for a brief moment. Thank you @49ers for getting Tony a win today. I will miss Tony like crazy. Love you T pic.twitter.com/OMYnqsNqWg
— Jed York (@JedYork) December 10, 2018
Via the 49ers:
A resident of Sausalito, CA, Tony attended Tulane University in New Orleans. An entrepreneur in the Bay Area high-tech industry, Tony founded Koda, a company focused on preparing young people for their first jobs upon graduating college. Koda was inspired by what he called “life-shaping experiences” as a senior at Tulane when Hurricane Katrina devastated the region.
Tony’s true passion lied in philanthropy, a trait instilled in him by his parents and shared closely with his brother and sisters. His compassion for others led him to support a number of non-profit efforts such as the 49ers Foundation and to work closely with incarcerated youth. Tony was a bright student and tremendous athlete, earning letters in football and baseball at Cardinal Mooney High School in Youngstown, whose calling cards were his infectious sense of humor and his kindness.