MADISON, Wis. -- 25-year-old Ben Belzer, Gov. Tony Evers' personal assistant, was killed in a tubing accident over the weekend, the governor's office said Monday.
Belzer joined the governor as his personal assistant in February of 2019. He was raised in La Crosse and was a graduate of UW-Madison, according to a news release.
“Kathy and I and my team are stunned by the loss of Ben this past weekend. It’s unimaginable that he’s gone," Gov. Evers said in the release. “Ben was simply incomparable. He was remarkably talented and, even at 25, thoughtful and mature beyond his years. He was exceptionally bright and inquisitive, and he had a thirst for knowledge and understanding of our state and our world."
"He brought out the best of us with his wit, never shying away from a laugh even in the most frustrating of times. Ben was always optimistic about how we could be part of making this world a better place. He brought an unrelenting joy and drive to his job and the work we do each day, and it resonated with every person we met, everywhere we went."
Belzer was one of five people that Gov. Evers kept his interactions limited to during the COVID-19 pandemic, the governor said.
“We are devastated by Ben’s death, and our thoughts and prayers are with Ben’s family and friends as we all mourn the loss of an exceptional young man who was taken from us far, far too soon.”
