Zachary J. Plantz, a former Notre Dame rugby player and 2015 graduate of the university, died early Thanksgiving morning in a car accident in Naples, Fla.
Plantz, the brother of former Notre Dame football players Tyler and Logan, was 27. A Frankfort, Ill. native, Zac was senior policy advisor for Rep. Dan Lipinski at the time of his death.
Besides Plantz’s involvement on the rugby team, he also participated in the Notre Dame’s Bengal Bouts boxing fundraiser and was a resident of Morrissey Hall during his undergraduate tenure. He was also a graduate of Providence Catholic High School.
Plantz was in the midst of running 60 miles and raising $1,000 for Movember, a charitable organization dedicated to improving men’s mental health. This was his sixth year as a participant; based on early returns, Zac had doubled his goal shortly before his passing.
Since Zac’s tragic death, the Notre Dame community — and beyond — has raised more than $27,000 in his name, as of this writing. If you would like to donate to Movember in Zac’s memory, you may do so here.
The One Foot Down community extends its condolences to the Plantz family, to Zac’s friends and colleagues at Notre Dame, and invites people to share their memories of Zac with us below.
For the brotherhood. @zac_plantz https://t.co/p6lBAwGh2Y
— Tyler Plantz (@Tyler_Plantz) November 28, 2020
We reached our goal of $1000 so we’re doubling it! Do what you can to help raise awareness for #MensHealth. There are too many men out there ‘toughing it out’ and struggling in silence. We’re all having a tough time in this pandemic, so let’s put some good into the world. https://t.co/9Qg8KFXDRQ pic.twitter.com/v3JC98fOUz
— Zac Plantz (@zac_plantz) November 19, 2020
Zac Plantz was a grade ahead of me at ND. We knew each other and had a lot of mutual friends. His passing is an unimaginable tragedy. One thing he was passionate about was raising money for Movember. A donation here would be an awesome way to remember him. https://t.co/1aAQu7o0lg
— Jessica Smetana (@jessica_smetana) November 29, 2020
Zac was a legend and brother to his Notre Dame rugby and Kraken rugby teammates. We will forever miss him. https://t.co/kfU9nqrpma
— Don Greiwe (@DonGreiwe) November 29, 2020