The Fightstrong Foundation is proud to present the Dave Wolff Award, an accolade that honors the extraordinary legacy of David John Wolff. David passed away peacefully on Friday, August 20, 2010, at his home in South River, surrounded by his loving family. He was 45 years old. David bravely fought a long and courageous four-year battle with Leiomyosarcoma, a rare form of cancer.
Born on December 25, 1964, in New Brunswick, David was raised in North Brunswick and moved to South River 15 years prior to his passing, where he created a loving home for his family. A proud graduate of North Brunswick High School's Class of 1983, David furthered his education at Rider College, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree.
For 15 years, David dedicated his professional life to Covance Inc. in Princeton, NJ, where he served as a Senior Clinical Data Manager. Beyond his professional achievements, David was a cherished member of Emanuel Lutheran Church in New Brunswick. His community knew him not only for his professional contributions but also for his tireless volunteer work. David was a dedicated coach for baseball and South River Pop Warner football for the past nine years, pouring his heart into activities that his children were passionate about.
David was a man of many interests. He loved traveling, gardening, and exploring history. One of his favorite pastimes was vacationing at the Jersey Shore, creating cherished memories with his family.
The Nigro family got to know Coach Dave from sports growing up, where they shared a special bond with the Wolff family. Joseph's brother Mario played with Dave's youngest son, Hunter. Dave and Joseph's father, Joe, coached together and became very good friends. The Wolff family and the Nigro family became family. David was passionate and cared deeply for many. When he was diagnosed with Leiomyosarcoma, he never wanted to miss games, events, or any important moments. He always showed up.
Joseph enjoyed watching Coach Dave from afar, where he coached his brother. He does not share the same memories that Mario does, but he holds onto the memory of Coach Dave always wanting to be his coach. Although he never fully got the chance to coach him, he showed up for one baseball game and kept the book. Joseph's connection with Dave deepened when he got sick himself. He began to pray to him daily, feeling like Dave was a guardian angel who would help him battle cancer in a different way. Dave gave him clarity and relief, and Joseph felt he could be open and honest with him. This continues with any part of life. Joseph and Fightstrong felt it was time to honor Coach Dave by recognizing a patient that fought cancer in the exact way Coach Dave did.
The Dave Wolff Award is more than just an honor; it is a tribute to someone who embodied resilience, dedication, and community spirit. It recognizes an individual who mirrors David's unwavering commitment to fighting life's challenges and contributing positively to their communities. This award is presented to an individual who has endured adversity with cancer but faced their challenges with a full-of-life spirit, positivity, and unyielding courage.
We are happy to honor our friend and Ewing’s Sarcoma survivor, Jack Lupo, as the first-ever Dave Wolff Award recipient. Jack's journey exemplifies the spirit of the award, demonstrating the same resilience and positivity that David was known for. Jack's story of survival and his commitment to living life to the fullest, despite his battles, make him a fitting recipient of this prestigious award.
Meet Jack Lupo
Meet Jack, a resilient young man who began his unexpected battle with cancer during his junior year of high school. On Tuesday, May 23, 2023, Jack woke up with severe ankle pain, prompting a visit to the ER. As an athlete, Jack had been dealing with this pain for the majority of his lacrosse season, but he was determined to finish the season out, due to his role as the team’s goalie. Luckily, Jack was able to do just that with his season ending the night before.
Upon arrival at the emergency room, the doctors examined Jack, which led to an x-ray. The x-ray did not show a break in the bone, which caused the doctors to send Jack home with a wrap around his ankle. However, an hour later, the family received a call that the radiologist saw an aggressive appearing lesion and that Jack needed to get an MRI, ASAP. The call was received at 1:00 pm, and Jack was in the MRI machine by 3:30 pm.
Once the MRI was read, Dr. Zito let the family know that it did not look good, and Jack would need a biopsy. Within a few days, Jack and his family were sent to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center to meet with Dr. Prince. Jack was notified that he needed a PET scan, several MRIs, and a chest CT. Within the next week, this all happened, but the family still had no answer on what they would be facing.
On June 8th, 2023, Jack had his bone biopsy. The family began to have hope that this was just an infection, but within a few days, it was confirmed that it was Ewing’s Sarcoma. Within a few weeks, Jack had started his first of his thirteen-round chemo regimen. Each round consists of three weeks, causing the family to stay in New York for the week of his chemotherapy treatment.
On September 6th, 2023, Jack had a fourteen-hour surgery, where the doctors removed six inches of his bone in his leg. From here, they inserted a robotic rod that will help him regrow his bone. Jack must use an external remote, twice a day, to activate the rod, leading to the regrowth of his bone.
To say the least, Jack has been through a lot, but when we had the opportunity to meet the family, he was full of joy and faith. You could tell that Jack was going to get through this just by the way he carried himself. With Jack’s strong desire for golf, we had the opportunity to donate a brand new Callaway bag, three Titleist Vokey wedges, a Blue Tees Golf Players+ Speaker, and a gift card for him to get more golf clothes!
As we celebrate the recipients of the Dave Wolff Award, we remember David not just for his battle against cancer but for his remarkable ability to inspire and uplift those around him. His legacy continues to motivate us all to live with purpose, compassion, and strength.