Ward Melville Alum, LAX Standout, Brendan Cody Dies

Former Ward Melville lacrosse star, Brendan Cody passed away on Sunday from a rare from of cancer. He was 44.

Cody was considered as "one of the premier athletes to have come out of the Ward Melville high school athletic program", his friend Bob Betcher told Lax Magazine.

A three-sport-athlete, he was captain and all-state football selection in 1987 and captain and New York State offensive MVP on Ward Melville's 1988 state title winning lacrosse team, the first appearance in the state tournament by the school in 10 years. 

According to Betcher, Cody was the start of Melville's strong presence in lacrosse.

"This was a catalyst for the state championship runs that later Melville teams would make, Betcher said in an interview with Lax Magazine."

He won a national title at Nassau CC and went on to Johns Hopkins in Maryland where he played midfielder and led their team to the NCAA Division I Final Four. Cody resided in Maryland. 

In 2003 Cody was inducted into the Ward Melville Athletic Hall of Fame.

Cody is survived by his wife Lauren, and his two daughters Kaitlyn and Linsey as well as his father Richard Cody of Vermont; and his brother Shawn and his wife.

Visitation is Thursday at McComas Funeral Home in Abington, Maryland from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. A funeral mass will be held on Friday at  St. Margaret Catholic Church in Bel Air Maryland. 

A fund and trust for the family, and donation checks can addressed to Lauren Cody, and sent to: Bob Betcher, 11 Dover Ct., Wading River, N.Y. 11792.