Navy Lineman's Funeral Expenses Covered By Online Donations

ANNAPOLIS, MD — A family friend of U.S. Naval Academy Midshipman 1st Class David Forney has created a online fundraiser to help Forney's family with funeral expenses. As of Feb. 26, the campaign had generated $9,915, and was not accepting new donations.

Forney, 22, a senior from Walkersville, Maryland, died Thursday night after being found unresponsive in Bancroft Hall, Patch previously reported. The cause of death is being investigated; foul play is not suspected. A CPR-certified midshipman administered resuscitation efforts and he was taken by emergency responders to Anne Arundel County Medical Center in Annapolis, where he was pronounced dead.

A political science major, the offensive lineman would have graduated May 22 and was scheduled to be assigned to commission as a cryptologic warfare officer, the academy said in a statement. Forney was a three-year letterman and named First-Team American Athletic Conference and First-Team All-East.

David Pease organized the fundraiser on behalf of Forney's mother, Erika Forney. He shared on the GoFundMe page that he's known the Forney family since he was 10 years old. Forney's dad, Rick, was his first professional baseball manager, Pease said.

"My heart hurts so much for them right now, and I'm incredibly saddened by their loss. A time like this shouldn't leave anyone in financial distress," Pease wrote. "Therefore, I am hoping our community can help the Forneys with whatever they need during this incredibly tough time.

"This GoFundMe is a tribute to David Forney, and all proceeds will go directly to the Forney family (Rick, Erika, Rebekah, Chris and Erik) to aid funeral/memorial costs. Thank you in advance to my local baseball community, as well as all those who are sending many thoughts and prayers," Pease wrote.

GoFundMe is a Patch business partner.