Bill and Robyn Wolfe at the 91 Harvest Festival in Las VegasA Pennsylvania elementary school wrestling coach was among the 59 killed in a mass shooting at a concert in Las Vegas late Sunday night.
Bill Wolfe, Jr. served as an elementary school wrestling coach for the Shippensburg Area School District near Harrisburg. He and his wife Robyn had attended the Route 91 Harvest Festival near the Las Vegas Strip when shots rang out from the 32d floor of the nearby Mandalay Bay Resort, killing 59 attendees and wounding hundreds more.
The sniper, 64-year-old Stephen Paddock, killed himself in his hotel room as police broke in to stop the shooting.
The couple, who was attending the Jason Aldean concert to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary, had become separated during the shooting. While Robyn Wolfe was uninjured, friends and family were unable to locate Bill Wolfe for more than a day. His death was confirmed by Shippensburg police on Facebook at approximately 10 a.m. Eastern time Tuesday.
"It is with the most of broken hearts, the families of Bill Wolfe Jr. and his wife Robyn share that Bill has been confirmed to be among the deceased as a result of the mass attack in Las Vegas. Please continue to hold our entire family as well as those affected across the nation in your unending prayers.
"At this time we ask that you respect the family's privacy during this horrific time.
"Thank you."
The Shippensburg Greyhound Wrestling Facebook page confirmed the police report minutes later, along with a plea for prayers for the family, and donations to help with expenses.
"We are broken-hearted to share that Bill did pass. If you are able please consider donating to the GoFundMe we have setup. There will be many unanticipated expenses in the coming weeks for the Wolfe family. You can mail donations as well. We will post more information as it becomes available. Until then please keep them close to your heart in prayers of comfort and peace. Thank you again for your outpouring of support."
As of Tuesday morning, the GoFundMe page had generated nearly $4,000 of its goal of $10,000.
For those who would prefer to make a donation by mail, checks may be sent to: Wolfe Family Fund, 1475 Orchard Rd, Chambersburg, PA 17202. Please make checks payable to Shippensburg Wrestling Boosters along with a note of designation.
The ABC-TV affiliate in Pittsburgh reported that the Shippensburg community held a prayer vigil for Bill Wolfe and the other victims of the Las Vegas mass shooting on Monday evening at Doc Norcross Stadium in Shippensburg. Hundreds of people turned out for the event.
Shippensburg High School varsity wrestling coach Tony Yaniello told the Patriot-News that Bill Wolfe has been the head elementary coach for about two years. Prior to that, he was an assistant coach at the high school and long-time president of the booster club. In addition to coaching wrestling, Wolfe had also mentored a local Little League baseball team.
"He's built a legacy as a coach in the community," Yaniello told the Philadelphia Inquirer. "There's so many people who are upset about this. He's going to truly be missed."
In addition to his coaching, Wolfe had a long career in engineering. Most recently, he had worked in Carlisle, Pa. at Dewberry, an engineering consultant group based in Fairfax, Va. Prior to that, Wolfe had worked at Carl Bert & Associates, Surveyors, working as a lead engineer.
"Other than family, there was no one that I was closer to professionally and personally, as he was a friend and good Christian brother in the Lord," company president Carl Bert wrote in an email Tuesday. "He was a class act in every way."
Wolfe, 42, leaves behind his wife of 20 years, Robyn, and their two sons, Ethan and Trevor.
UPDATE 10/9/17
A celebration of life service honoring Bill Wolfe, Jr. will be held Friday, Oct. 13. For details, visit http://intermatwrestle.com/articles/18714
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