Popular MDA patient and volunteer Jolley dies at 29

A 29-year-old man who overcame enormous obstacles in life and inspired a host of friends in the process died Saturday.

A memorial service for Eddie Jolley, a cast member at MGM Grand hotel-casino, will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4545 New Forest Drive.

Jolley, who suffered from muscular dystrophy and was confined to a wheelchair, died of congestive heart failure at his office, according to an MGM spokesman.

The personable man worked in the benefits department and special events in the Grand Garden Arena. He went to work for MGM in December 1993 as a tour guide.

Tracy Gniewek, Jolley's supervisor, described herself as his "friend and co-worker" and said employees at MGM considered themselves part of his extended family.

"He was always very outgoing and always had a smile on his face," Gniewek said. "He was always willing to help anybody and was extremely determined."

Jolley came to Las Vegas from New Hampshire.

"The climate here was better for his illness," Gniewek said. "He loved the city of Las Vegas and became upset when people bad-mouthed it."

She noted that Jolley always put other people's problems before his own.

"He was a true example of a hard-working, loving person with a positive attitude," Gniewek said.

Jolley became involved with the local Muscular Dystrophy Association after moving to Las Vegas. Director Joann Malone met him a year ago.

"He started volunteering for different events," she said. "And he started to blossom. He began to develop self-esteem and self-confidence -- he just bloomed."

She said in September he won the MDA Personal Achievement Award.

"That gave him the confidence to build on in other areas of his life," Malone said. "He joined Toastmasters to be able to talk about the MDA and became involved in an MDA task force and became its chairman.

"We, along with MGM, nominated him for the Governor's Choice award and he was first-runner up in 1997.

"He was a peer counselor at MDA summer camp, talking about muscular dystrophy and proving that having a disability doesn't mean you don't have the ability."

Jolley's parents are deceased. He is survived by two brothers and a sister in the northeastern United States.

"Eddie was virtually homeless at one time," Malone said. "He was divorced. His disease was progressing. MGM gave him a job, and the MDA gave him a family.

"Life just turned around for him. He had just moved into a brand-new apartment. He had a new wheelchair. He'd received a promotion at work. He was at a high. He died at a time when he was the happiest."

In addition to being involved with activities at work and with the MDA, Jolley was involved in Corporate Challenge, was on a para-transit committee and was a Toastmaster.

Jolley was named Las Vegas Corporate Challenge Volunteer of the Year in 1997.

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