remembering eli
Today we mourn the loss of our family. Eli Welsh was everything the Barracudas stands for. He was a captain, friend, husband, father, and many other things; and in each and every single one he excelled and raised everyone else up around him. His joy and love was infectious.
We will miss him.
We love you Eli.
A quote from the club President, Ben Calverley:
“Eli and I used to talk about coming to Barracudas games in 50 years. About sitting in the clubhouse we would undoubtedly have in the stadium we would have certainly built, as two old men watching and reminiscing over a beer or 3.
The most absurd thing about that picture, the bit I never in a million years considered, is that he would not be there with me.
From day one of this team, of me knowing him, he has embodied everything you would want; first in a player, and then in a captain, friend, and as family.
He loved fiercely, opening his heart and at times even his home to anyone who needed it.
Amber and Mason are our family. Please support them, make sure they know that.
I hope this poem strikes you as it did me. It’s by Langston Hughes, and it goes like this:
‘I loved my friend.
He went away from me.
There’s nothing more to say.
The poem ends,
Soft as it began,
- I love my friend.’”
There is a GoFundMe for Eli’s surviving family Amber and their son Mason. Please consider donating.