MORGANTOWN – The impact that Jeff Giosi has had on the Morgantown community was easy to see, just hours after his sudden passing.
Giosi, 40, died unexpectedly Saturday morning. He was the owner of CrossFit Morgantown along with his wife and WAJR Personality Sarah Giosi. Sarah addressed her husband’s passing in a Facebook Live video on Sunday.
“This just happens, it just happens,” she said. “That moment was always going to be his moment.”
She explained doctors believe a genetic aortic aneurysm, a condition that ran in his family, likely caused his sudden death and that an autopsy will be performed to confirm that.
Meanwhile, Facebook exploded with hundreds of stories how the Long Island, NY native, turned mountaineer had impacted their lives and inspired them.
“I’ve never met someone with such a passion to live life to the fullest and motivate others to be their best self. No matter what kind day you had, Jeff would be at the door ready to lift your spirits and encourage you to be great,” one poster stated.
Giosi first came to West Virginia to compete as a decathlete for West Virginia University and earned All-Big East honors. Later he worked as an assistant strength and conditioning coach for WVU working with the men’s and women’s basketball programs.
He eventually left WVU and the state but returned in 2014 when he bought CrossFit Morgantown. In 2018, Giosi became the first and only CrossFit Trainer in the state to earn his Certified CrossFit Trainer Certification.
A Jeff Giosi Memorial Fund has also been created on GoFundMe with more than 280 donations as of Sunday afternoon.
Jeff and Sarah were married in 2015 and had two sons, Arlen and Mackie.