Cal Poly football player Keith Marco passed away from a pulmonary embolism.

Marco, a junior food science major, was 21.

Per Mustang News:

The Mayo Clinic defines a pulmonary embolism as a blood clot that blocks and stops blood flow to an artery in the lung.

Marco grew up in Redondo Beach, California, and attended Redondo Union High School, where he played on the offensive and defensive line.

At Cal Poly, the left guard redshirted in 2021 and 2022. He appeared in one game against San Jose State on Sept. 9, 2023.

“We are saddened to announce that offensive lineman Keith Marco passed away this week from a pulmonary embolism. Our condolences go out to his family and friends. He will be missed by all at Cal Poly,” Cal Poly Football stated.

Cal Poly Football wrote:

Cal Poly Athletics is saddened to share the news that Keith Marco, a three-year member of the football team, passed away this week.

Keith, a junior offensive lineman majoring in food science from Redondo Beach, Calif., passed away June 5 from a pulmonary embolism. He will be highly honored for saving other lives as an organ donor. Keith was a member of the Cal Poly football team for three years and was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity.

Keith was known for always smiling and making his teammates and friends laugh, cooking for them, having contagious positive energy and bringing people together.

The university and athletic department are in touch with Keith’s family and is extending its full support to them and his friends. Our thoughts are with them, his friends, and teammates as they grieve their loss.

“The California State University has revised its systemwide COVID-19 Vaccination Policy and no longer requires students and employees to be fully vaccinated, but it is still strongly recommended,” Cal Poly stated in a summer 2023 update to its COVID-19 policy.

In December 2021, Cal Poly required students, faculty and staff to receive a COVID-19 booster.

Cal Coast News reported:

Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo announced Wednesday that it will require students, faculty and staff to receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot by Jan. 20, or six months after they have received the final dose of their original vaccination.

The campus will continue to accept medical and religious exemptions. Those who do not receive the booster, will need to be tested every three days during the quarter.

“The major message of this note is simple: Get a COVID-19 booster as soon as you can!” Cal Poly President Jeffrey Armstrong wrote in an email to the campus community. “Fighting a pandemic is a group effort. I have been very proud of how well our community has done so far, and I ask you to keep doing the right thing, for everyone’s sake.”

The California State University System will require students, faculty and staff at its 23 campuses to receive boosters by Feb. 28. Individual campuses can mandate an earlier date.

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