Dan Apol, the lone American referee at the 2016 Olympics and Paralympics in beach and sitting volleyball, passed away on November 15th. He was 44 years old.
Apol was a veteran of all levels of officiating. He spent 15 years officiating in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference and was in his 16th year with the Mountain West Conference. Apol suffered an aneurysm while officiating a game between Colorado Christian and UCCS in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He was immediately attended to by medical professionals, but ultimately Apol succumbed.
“It is hard to adequately describe the shock and sadness all of us at USAV feel over Dan’s passing,” said USA Volleyball CEO Doug Beal. “He was too young and far too engaged in a full and vibrant life. It seems much too simple and easy to say, ‘he will be greatly missed and long remembered.’ Our thoughts and prayers are with Bonnie and his family.”
“Dan was doing what he loved when he passed,” said Glenn Sapp, the Commissioner of USA Volleyball’s Rocky Mountain Region. “He has represented the RMR in so many wonderful capacities from driving a fork lift at the RMR Showdown, to representing the Region and USAV at the Olympics.
“On a personal level, I have known Dan for almost two decades and he is a friend and there to help on either a personal or professional level and I know I will miss him. I will always keep in mind Dan’s favorite quote, ‘Don’t mess up!'”
Apol referred both beach volleyball at thee 2016 Olympics and sitting volleyball at the 2016 Paralympics. Rio was his 2nd Olympic Games – he was also the lone American referee in beach volleyball at the 2012 Olympics in London. He has also previously worked the 2006 U-19 World Championships and the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio where he refereed the gold medal game.
Apol is survived by his wife Bonnie.
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