Bodybuilding champion Hayley McNeff died last Friday, with the news confirmed on Wednesday.
She was 37.
According to an obituary published on Boston.com, the death of the Concord, Mass., native was “unexpected but peaceful.”
“Hayley was like a beam of light in this world. She had boundless energy and was very determined to achieve whatever she set out to do,” Hayley’s dad, Dave, told People in a statement. “She set her sights on bodybuilding and fitness and achieved the highest success that sector offered. She loved us and we love Hayley very much, we miss her madly.”
McNeff’s family is set to hold a service on Saturday and has asked for attendees to make a donation to the National Alliance on Mental Illness in McNeff’s honor.
Per the obituary, McNeff graduated from Concord-Carlisle High School and University of Massachusetts Amherst, and was an accomplished bodybuilder in the 2000s with state titles in Maryland and Delaware. She was also part of the 2005 documentary “Raising the Bar,” which highlights the world of the sport.
“The quest for getting huge will never end,” McNeff said about her career in the documentary. “There’s no limit. I hope there’s a day that I’ll be able to look in the mirror 100% of the time and be like, ‘Yeah man, I’m huge.’”
After retirement from the sport, McNeff decided to pursue a graduate degree in psychology.
“She had a gift for making those around her laugh and feel welcomed,” the obituary reads. “Her energy and determination was a constant in her life and she always accomplished what she set out to achieve. She treasured her friendships and nurtured strong, lasting relationships with those who knew her best. Hayley will be deeply missed by her parents, siblings, extended family, and friends.”
Upon hearing the news of McNeff’s death, bodybuilding coach Dave Palumbo posted a tribute message on Instagram.
“I’m sad to hear of the passing of former woman bodybuilder @hayleysmash (HAYLEY MCNEFF) … she left us way too soon,” he wrote. “She was a good soul, super intelligent and had tremendous potential as a bodybuilder. She appeared in @dave_pulcinella RAISING THE BAR videos back in the day and I was proud to be able to call her a friend. Prayers to her family and friends. R.I.P. @official_rxmuscle.”
McNeff is one of many bodybuilders who have recently passed away.
Zunila Hoyos Mendez died at 43 in June after she was killed in a hammer attack. A month prior, Gui Bull died at 30.
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