Taravella AD dies from COVID-19 complications
Taravella athletic director Jason Stein has died at 46 due to complications from COVID-19, according to a tweet from Taravella principal Mary DeArmas.
“There are a lot of people in the Taravella community right that are just devastated by the news,” said Shawn Cerra, the Broward County Athletic Association Director of Athletics and Student Activities. “He was just a very special individual who, really, the kids connected with, and they knew he was a go-to person for them. They could trust him. I miss him so much.”
Cerra said Stein had been in the hospital since late July. Only 7.1% of the deaths attributed to Florida residents from COVID-19 complications have been among those younger than 55.
“Fortunately his family was by his side when he passed,” Cerra said “He was a good guy, a really good guy. I know there’s been an outpouring of love and support from every angle.”
Stein coached Taravella’s baseball team from 2004-2011. He was the Sun Sentinel’s Broward County large-schools coach of the year in 2008 and took over as athletic director in 2011.
“One of the things that stood out to me was how passionate he was about the sport and his family,” Cerra said. “Just knew there was something special about him.”
Cerra was the principal at Taravella from 2002-2016, and he said Stein was one of his closest friends.
“He was probably one of the most loyal people that I met,” Cerra said. “He truly cared about my family and my wife, my kids. I always told the faculty and staff that if there was one person I had to go into battle with, it was him because I knew that not only would he be fighting for the right cause, but he wouldn’t leave me behind if I got hurt, and he knew that I wouldn’t leave him behind if he got hurt. We just had that kind of bond. He was just a pretty special guy.”
Condolences poured in from around Broward County on social media on Thursday.
“Having worked with Coach Stein for the past five years, it has been tough to see what Jason and his family have gone through these past few months,” Cypress Bay athletic director Scott Selvidge posted.
“My sincere condolences to the Stein and Taravella families during this time.”
The Coral Springs Police Department account also posted a condolence message.
“Coach Stein was a dear friend to our department and many of our Officers. It is with a heavy heart we hear of his passing. Our thoughts and full support are with the students, faculty, and the family of Coach Stein,” the Police Department posted. “May he rest in peace.”