Voi Tunuufi’s parents say the former Husky’s death has devastated his loved ones, with teammates, friends and the UW community rallying around the family.
SEATTLE — Alofa Tunuufi said she was awakened around 2 a.m. on May 4 by police knocking on her door. Within minutes, her world changed forever.
“I was devastated when the police told me Voy didn’t make it to the hospital that night,” Alofa said. “It’s unreal until now that he’s gone.”
Her son — former University of Washington defensive lineman Voi Tunuufi — was killed in a car crash near her home in Utah. He was 23 years old that year.
“Then they told me he didn’t make it to the hospital, and I thought not, Voy was in the back because I looked and the lights were still on in the barn,” she said.
Now, as the family tries to cope with the unimaginable loss, they are sharing memories of the young man they say meant everything to them and so many others.
“He was a great role model to everyone around him and to my family,” Alofa said.
Voy was born in 2003 and his parents said he started playing football when he was 7 years old. He continues to play defensive line at the University of Washington from 2021 to 2024.
But his parents say the thing that most defines him has nothing to do with football.
“He loved his sisters very much,” Alofa said. “He liked to be silly sometimes, he liked to joke, he joked a lot.”
Perhaps most memorable: “He laughed louder than anyone else.”
His father, Lauama Tunuufi, said he never missed a football game for his son, from Little League to high school. If given the chance, he would also travel to Seattle to watch Voy play for the Huskies.
“I haven’t felt this way before, and I know I lost my mom, my dad, and I miss them,” Rauma said. “But losing a son, I don’t know if I’ll ever forget it.”
Now the grief extends far beyond the family.
Former teammates, friends and members of the UW community flooded social media with tributes and messages of support. one Online fundraiser has been created Help the family with funeral expenses.
“The boys from Seattle, UW, are hurting too, they miss him,” Rauma said. “That was our family in Seattle and we will never forget them. There are a lot of memories on that field that my son played with them.”
He said he hopes to return to Husky Stadium one day.
“Maybe one day I’ll go to a game there because I believe if I came to UW-Seattle, Voy would be there,” he said.
As support continues to pour in, Alofa said she is discovering how many people her son has impacted.
“There are so many things about Woy that I didn’t know about him until he passed away on Monday,” she said. “There were lots and lots of kids showing love and support.”
She said Love accurately reflected her son’s character.
“I know a lot of his friends liked him because of his personality,” Alofa said. “He put everyone before him.”
Voy’s parents say they are holding on to their faith and memory even amid their overwhelming grief.
“I’m so proud of him,” Alofa said.
“We miss him very much,” Rauma added. “But I know we’ll see him again.”
