ITHACA, N.Y. -- Jim Case, beloved longtime Associate Head Athletic Trainer during his more than three decades at Cornell, passed away suddenly on Saturday, March 14. He was 55.

Case worked closely with the football and men's lacrosse teams and was part of fabric of both programs, working with countless student-athletes during his 32 years with the Big Red. 

He joined Cornell in August 1988, just months after receiving his master's degree in physical education from Western Michigan. Case earned his bachelor's in sports medicine with a minor in exercise science in 1986. He spent time as an intern with the Detroit Lions and served on the training staffs of the 1990, 1994 and 1998 World Lacrosse team tryouts. He served as trainer for the 1994 national team at the World Lacrosse Championship in Manchester, England, then again in 1998 in Baltimore, Md.

While often behind the scenes, as trainers prefer to be, Case stood tall for the department during some of its most challenging times. He was instrumental in the response to the death of men's lacrosse student-athlete George Boiardi '04 and helped the program find ways to continue to honor his legacy. More recently, his practical sensibility helped the department's reaction to the current health crisis, and his voice will be missed as it recovers over the coming months.

Case is survived by his wife Ladeen, daughter Devin, and sons Carson and Collin. Details of any service will be shared as they become available.