Eastside hosts second Tammy Zywicki memorial game

From left: Lynn Tooley, Maryanne Fox, Dean Zywicki, and David Craig honor Tammy Zywicki’s memory during halftime of the Eastside girls soccer game vs. Riverside.

For the second year in a row, Eastside High School hosted a memorial game for former Lady Eagle soccer player Tammy Zywicki.

Zywicki was an Eastside graduate and star player on the Lady Eagle soccer team from 1986-89. In 1992, Zywicki was tragically murdered after her car broke down on the way to Grinnell College in Iowa. Zywicki was attending school there at the time. She was 21 years old.

Thirty-two years later, her killer remains at large.

Dean Zywicki, Tammy’s older brother, has been a major part of keeping Tammy’s story in the public eye. He attended her memorial game at Eastside High School on April 15.

“We’re very thankful that to this day, Eastside is so supportive of keeping Tammy’s case and story out there,” said Dean. “She was very active as a student here. This place was important to her.”

Tammy—along with being a star soccer player—was a photographer on the yearbook staff, an honor society member, and the school’s treasurer in her senior year. The 2023 yearbook was dedicated in Zywicki’s honor.

“She was very involved here, and when they dedicated the yearbook to her last year, it was cool to see the students finding out more about who she was,” said Dean.

During halftime of Eastside’s game against Riverside on April 15—current Lady Eagles head coach David Craig walked to the middle of the field and spoke in Tammy’s remembrance. 

Dean and Tammy’s longtime friend, Maryanne Fox, joined him.

Fox, who first knew Tammy when both were children, has been perhaps the most prominent non-familiar figure in fighting for Tammy’s case to be solved. 

1989 photo of Eastside High School graduate Tammy Zywicki.

Since 2019, Fox has moderated a Facebook page called “Who Killed Tammy Zywicki?” On that page, people who knew Tammy or have simply taken an interest in her case convene. They share stories, pictures, articles, and facts about the case—all things Tammy Zywicki.

The page is up to 6.5k members. It’s very active, with posts nearly every day and conversation ongoing about Tammy’s case.

“We know that someone out there has information on Tammy’s case,” said Fox. “Somebody knows something. The more people that continue talking about it and keeping her case in the light, there’s always a chance someone will come forward with information.”

Fox says she’s become good friends with Dean over the past two years as the pair have continued leading the charge to keep Tammy’s cold case in the light. Fox hopes the positive attention brought to Tammy’s case—events like Tammy’s memorial games and the dedication of Eastside’s yearbook in her honor—bring Dean and the rest of the Zywicki family a semblance of peace.

“These are things that bring a happier side to everything. It’s hard to find a light in something so dark like this,” said Fox. “To see the community stepping back and honoring her, even though what happened is such a terrible tragedy, I’m hoping [the Zywickis] find some peace in all of it.”

“We know deep down that we need some sort of major breakthrough to make headway on this case,” said Dean. “And we still hope one day that will happen. But for me, it’s really just a blessing to be here and talking about her, remembering her. Being able to talk to people about who Tammy was to me. That’s what it’s all about.”