O's mourn the loss of a treasured member of the family

The measure of someone's life is not it its longevity but it's about the people you touch and impact along the way. The Orioles organization is devastated today with the news that a very loved member of the family, public relations director Monica Barlow, died at just 36 after a long battle with lung cancer. You only have to spend a few moments today on Facebook or Twitter to see the many lives Monica touched. I want to take this moment to pass along my deepest condolences to her husband Ben, her parents and entire family. Also to the Orioles family going through a tough time today from Baltimore to Sarasota. The words warm, friendly, class and grace come to mind when I think about Monica and how beautifully she carried herself and handled something that just didn't seem fair. Monica probably would not be comfortable with all the tributes pouring in for her today. But those passing along their thoughts can't help but try to express their feelings with such sincere and heartfelt words. If you haven't yet, please take a chance to read Roch Kubatko's beautiful tribute here. In November 2012, Jamie Costello of WMAR-TV in Baltimore aired this wonderful story about this wonderful woman. You can see more of the grace and class we all saw in Monica the last few years when she talked about her battle in this interview with Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. The Orioles issued this statement from managing partner Peter Angelos a few moments ago: "It was with deep sadness that I learned of Monica's passing this morning. In her 14 years with the club, she was a beloved member of the Orioles family, starting as an intern and becoming Director of Public Relations. Over the past four and a half years, the work Monica did to raise awareness and funds for cancer research was a testament to her dedication to helping others. The strength and resiliency she displayed by not letting her illness define her was a great inspiration to all who knew her. Her loss will be felt deeply by not only our front office staff, but also our manager, players and coaches, with whom she worked on a daily basis. On behalf of the club, I extend my condolences to her husband, Ben; her parents, Wayne and Ramona Pence; her brother, Jonah; her sister, Natalie; and her family and friends."