Matt Dobek, the Pistons' former PR director, passed away this past weekend. He was 51-years-old.
↵Dobek was hired in 1981 by former Pistons executive Tom Wilson. In light of the news that the Pistons were for sale, Wilson resigned in February 2010 and immediately accepted a job with the Red Wings. Dobek, who was vice president of public relations at the time, was subsequently fired by the Pistons in May 2010 for disclosing a strictly confidential agreement to potential buyers. Dobek was escorted from the team's headquarters by security and did not receive any type of severance package from the organization.
↵The Pistons organization was quite literally Dobek's life. SI's Jack MacCallum described Dobek as "loyal," a "company man," and somebody who did his job as well as anyone, "especially considering the diversity of personalities on the Bad Boy Pistons of the '80s and early '90s."
↵Dobek was extremely close to Mr. Bill Davidson and former head coach Chuck Daly -- he was a spokesperson at both of their funerals. He has his fingerprints on all three of the organization's championships (1989, 1990, and 2004) and served as the communications director for the Dream Team in Barcelona, Spain in 1992 (the Dream Team was coached by Chuck Daly).
↵In the past year, enduring the losses of Bill Davidson, Chuck Daly, and his job was apparently too much. Dobek was found dead in his home on Saturday and his death is being ruled a suicide by hanging, according to reports.
↵It's a crying shame something like this happened to somebody so highly revered. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends. Rest in peace, Mr. Dobek.