Written by :
Published on :
It's official: Ken "The Shrink" Weitzner is dead.
Rumors and speculation about his alleged death have been rampant all over the Internet since the weekend, when stories about his passing began to surface.
However, nothing had appeared in any mainstream media about the death, so many were skeptical and thought it just another wacky Internet rumor.
That has now changed.
An obituary for Weitzner appears in this morning's Virginian-Pilot, a newspaper based in Hampton Roads, Virginia.
It is the first mention in any mainstream media outlet of the death, and confirms the rumors.
An obituary for Weitzner's wife, Jackie, also appears in today's Virginian-Pilot.
No cause of death is given for either death.
Furthermore, the Coroner's office has advised that they are in possession of both bodies.
Earlier Internet reports stated the Weitzners committed suicide, but as a rule, newspapers normally do not list the cause of death in an obit if it is suicide.
Weitzner, 53, originally from suburban New York City, lived in Chesapeake, Virginia, a suburb of Norfolk.
He started one of the first sports betting-themed websites on the Internet, The Prescription (www.therx.com), in the mid 1990s.
He later sold the site and then started another similar site, Eye on Gambling (www.eog.com).
The obituary in the April 12, 2010 Virginian-Pilot is basically the same obit posted over the weekend by a Virginia funeral home on its website, but now it's official.
The newspaper obit reads: "Kenneth and Jacqueline Weitzner passed away Saturday, April 10, 2010. A memorial service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 13, at the Great Bridge Chapel of Oman Funeral Home & Crematory, 653 Cedar Road, Chesapeake. The family will receive friends following the service at the home of Kasey and Derek Donahue, 404 Cedar Lane Court, Chesapeake. Friends are invited to sign the online guest book at www.omanfh. com."
The newspaper obit can be seen online at:
By Tom Somach
Gambling911.com Staff Writer
