MacsLive: Ilan Tokayer Z”l 1985-2011
MacsLive and the Jewish community lost a beloved friend when Ilan Tokayer unexpectedly passed away on March 3, 2011. Ilan was enrolled in the graduate program at UC Davis, studying to be a winemaker. He left his mark wherever he went. Over the course of his brief time in California, Ilan had a tremendous impact on both his university colleagues and the Jewish community.
Ilan Tokayer Z"L
“It was obvious to all this was a young man of substance with the talent and tenacity to realize his vision.”
– David Mills, Chair, Viticulture and Enology Graduate Group, UC Davis
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After moving to the west coast, Ilan immediately involved himself in the Jewish community in Sacramento, which was not surprising considering Ilan’s extensive involvement and commitment to Judaism back home in New York. Whether contributing his part to Yeshiva University, Bnei Akiva, the Center for the Jewish Future, or the State of Israel, Ilan was an idealistic spirit who was active in the causes he believed in. He left an indelible mark on the Jewish community in Sacramento, sharing his passion and love for Judaism with his adopted community. Ilan had a gift for infusing Shabbat with his unique spirit, surrounding his table with guests or leading the community in prayer with his special tunes.
Ilan was also among the finest broadcasters to grace the MacsLive booth. He not only understood the intricacies of the game of basketball, but was able to relay them to his listeners with a simplicity and ease that made for a great broadcast. He was known for his astute commentary and his seamless banter with his play-by-play partners.
Ilan’s talent was not limited to the broadcast booth. He contributed as a sportswriter for MacsLive and was the co-creator of MacsLive’s Sarachek blog, “A Little Bit of English.” He could always be counted on to help with the labor-intensive task of setting up and breaking down MacsLive’s media center, and was always ready to lend a hand whenever something needed to be done. Working for MacsLive can be a bit of a frenzy and can get quite stressful, but working with people like Ilan often made things a bit easier.
Many of us at MacsLive developed friendships with Ilan. He was warm and outgoing and always a pleasure to be around. His tragic and sudden passing has left us with a deep sense of loss. The outpouring of love and support was tremendous, evidenced by the turnout of more than a thousand people at his funeral and shiva. Ilan was a wonderful person, a tremendous broadcaster, and most importantly a dear, dear friend. We miss him terribly.
We dedicate our broadcast of the 20th Annual Red Sarachek Tournament in Ilan Tokayer’s memory. We are working with Neta Ilan, a charity founded by his family, which focuses on “global education, leadership, charitable acts of kindness, and the growth and development of the land of Israel.” Please visit www.netailan.com for more information and how to donate to this truly wonderful cause.
[posted on www.Macslive.com]
Published on: 03/21/2011
by Moshe Kook
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