Soccer ref collapses at game, dies in Tacoma

By Ryan Divish | The News Tribune • Published September 06, 2007

For those who knew and loved him, the news of John Glore’s sudden death came as a shock.

Glore, 63, a longtime and respected soccer referee, died Tuesday evening at Tacoma General Hospital after falling ill during the high school varsity girls soccer match between Peninsula and Gig Harbor.

“It was completely out of the blue,” Steve Glore, one of Glore’s sons, said on Wednesday. “My father was the most active and energetic man. He was always on the go. By looking at him and the way he acted in his day-to-day functions, he was in perfect health.”

Glore started not feeling well with about 15 minutes remaining in the Tuesday match and asked to switch places with Aaron Hagman, the assistant referee.

At that point, Bruce Snell, a longtime trainer with U.S. Soccer who was watching, intervened.

“Bruce said he could see there was something wrong and told John to sit down, but John went down to one knee and then he collapsed,” said Jim Hagman, a referee who often worked with Glore.

Snell and an EMT on hand tried CPR to revive Glore until paramedics arrived. It was at that point that Steve Glore was notified.

“The ambulance driver called my cell phone and said he was doing better and that by the time he had gotten to the emergency room he was alert and talking,” Steve Glore said. “But when I got to the emergency room, the doctor pulled me aside and said he had taken a turn for the worse and they were having a hard time keeping his heart stable.”

John Glore died a short time later.

“I was expecting to maybe stay overnight with him and then bring him home the next day,” Steve Glore said. “I wasn’t there 20 minutes and the doctor said he couldn’t revive him.”

The cause of death has not been released, according to Steve Glore.

The development stunned the local soccer community.

“Everyone is really saddened by the news,” said Steve Abberger, the president of the Pierce County Soccer Referees Association. “I’ve never heard of anything like this happening. It’s very upsetting for players, coaches, referees and everybody.”

For Steve Hagman, it was especially painful.

“What hits home hard is just thinking about John and his family,” Hagman said. “The whole shock of him being gone and picturing him gone is hard for me.”

Glore refereed soccer for more than 30 years and 500 matches in Pierce County since moving from California.

It was more than a second job or a hobby.

“It was his passion,” said Steve Glore. “Growing up, he coached my teams, reffed games, he even got me into reffing and he used to even play in gentlemen’s leagues. It’s what he’s known all of his life.”

As a referee, Glore was known for his patient and calm demeanor.

“He was fantastic referee,” Jim Hagman said. “He was very patient with the coaches and players. He was really good about explaining his calls, and I never once saw him lose his cool with a player or a coach. I love working with him.”

His on-field demeanor and energy was typical of the type of person he was off the field. “A lot of people do it for the money, but he didn’t,” Steve Glore said. “He loved what he was doing and never wanted to just sit around.”

John Glore was employed by Boeing at the time of his death.

“He probably could have retired seven or eight years ago, but he liked to work,” Steve Glore said. “ ... He wasn’t the type to lay around and watch TV.”

Glore is survived by his wife, Linda, his sons, Steve and Johnny, and a daughter, Debbie.