obituaries

Jim Atherton (2010), the Scranton Citizens Voice called him the "Dean of Area Basketball," died at age 80. His 651 wins put him in the Pennsylvania Basketball Hall of Fame,
find obit article HERE

John Bach, 2016 coached Penn State University, Fordham, assistant with the Bulls, U.S. Olympic team, HERE

Emerson Baynard (1997)-Chester H.S. "About 40 people turned out for his graveside service, a far cry from the hundreds of thousands who once roared his name in praise in the late 50's and early 60's," HERE

Timothy M. Bartholomew (2008)- died in the locker room after he officiated an overtime playoff game, HERE

Ralph Beard, who was involved in a point-shaving scandal, University of Kentucky, HERE

Michael Blackshear (2005), a former Simon Gratz basketball star (class of '02) passed of injuries suffered in a shooting. He had also played for Temple, where he was the Owls' leading rebounder in '04. HERE

Hal Blitman (2012), won the state title at Darby-Colwyn High in 1962 and 1963. Died at age 83 in Georgia. HERE

Randy Brenner (2014), age 63, he coached both boys and girls basketball at Susquehanna Twp. " He was small in stature, but a giant among men." HERE

John Challis, brave teen age athlete dies of cancer at 18, his story was on ESPN, HERE

Jeff Churchill (2008), the varsity boys basketball coach at Penn Manor High School died suddenly. He was 31. HERE

Mike Cuddy (2014), the varsity boys basketball coach then athletic director at Mt, Carmel High School in Auburn, NY HERE

Ron Cygrymus (2011), he was the basketball coach at Pittsburgh Bishop Canevin for 40 years HERE

Jack Dailey (2008), he coached and played for one of the long time top adult semi-pro American Legion teams for 21 years, HERE

Jeff Dailey (20007), hit 128 three pointers for Notre Dame Green Pond; he died in a house fire while at East Stroudsburg University, HERE

Harry DeFrank, he was a member of the Pennsylvania Basketball Hall of Fame before he joined God's Hall of Fame, HERE

Charles DeVenzio (2006)- basketball coach for Ambridge (1967 State Class A Champions), Springdale, HERE

Dick DeVenzio (2001)- Ambridge, Pennsylvania's MVP in the 1967 Dapper Dan Roundball Game, HERE

James Dooley (Oct 31, 2013) - he had 700 wins at five coaching stops, a very well respected educator, the Delone Catholic Squires Basketball team will serve as Coach Dooley's Pallbearers. HERE

John Donmoyer (August 2014)- "His 1,047 varsity games coached was a local record." (Allentown Morning Call, Keith Groller) HERE

Richard Diethorn (2007)- Basketball coach whose teams won 66 straight games, HERE

Al Domenico (2012) the 76ers' longtime trainer who endured a 9-73 season in 1972-73 and enjoyed a championship run in 1983, died at age 83. HERE

Kenny Durrett (2001)- described as the greatest basketball player ever to come out of Pittsburgh, HERE

Armen Gilliam (2011) Former UNLV star and Altoona Campus Coach dies at age 47 while playing pickup basketball, HERE

Eddie Griffin (2007), widely considered the nation's No. 1 basketball player in 2000 while playing for Roman Catholic High, died in Houston, Texas, of injuries suffered in a car crash. HERE

Don Graham (2009) the top varsity coaches in Pennsylvania history (801-436). He was 83, he coached for 53 years, HERE

Greg Greenday (2010) the Sports Editor for the Chester Daily Local News, he was 61, HERE

Jason Haslam, Bucks County Courier Times sports writer only age 28, who battled a brain tumor, HERE

Arthur Heffner (2010) led Kutztown to three Berks County titles and was the top scorer in the county, WWII vet, HERE

Kenny Herzing (2013) played for St. Mary's Central Catholic in the 1948 PCIAA State Championship Game, HERE

Justin Fisher Henry (2004), Lewistown High School athlete who lettered in both football and basketball at the University of Rhode Island was struck by lightning in Corolla, North Carolina. HERE

Steve Honzo (1996) NCAA basketball referee from Palmerton who officiated NCAA Final 4 Championship Games in 1965 (UCLA over Michigan), 1966 (Texas Western over Kentucky), and 1968 (UCLA over North Carolina). HERE

Eddie Kassler (2011) "He was John Wayne," said former St. Rose, Sacred Heart and Wallenpaupack boys basketball coach George Werthmuller, who played for Kassler at Oneonta State. HERE

Les Keiter, (Apr. 16, 2009) -he was an announcer for Big 5 basketball in Philadelphia, HERE

Jeep Kelly - "a star for Schenley that won the PIAA championship in 1971 and the best to ever come out of the Pittsburgh area." HERE

Dan Kline, led his team in scoring as a junior, but quit school to join the military after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, HERE

William Kristich (Nov 22, 2012), former Derry Twp basketball coach and the owner of the very successful En-Kay Sporting Goods, HERE

Scott Lang (Dec 2010), the LaRoche College Men's Coach, only 41 died on the practice court HERE

John Laszek (Oct 15, 2010), age 73 Delaware County basketball player and former class president HERE

DeVaughn Lee (Jan 2011) a freshman basketball player at Manheim Central and had attended HOOPS Shootouts, killed in an automobile accident HERE

Rick Majerus (12/1/12) led Utah to the 1998 NCAA final and had only one losing season in 25 years with four schools. HERE

Terry Manning, 2016 led Millersburg

, coached 24 years amassing 487 wins, HERE

Ted Marchibroda, 2016 famous football coach who was also a 1949 All-State basketball player from Franklin, Pennsylvania HERE

Pete Maravich, (1988)-born in Aliquippa, he collapsed after a three-on-three pickup game and died of a heart attack at age 40, HERE

Jim McCoy (2012) -scored the winning points in the only loss ever handed to Wilt Chamberlain in high school, HERE

Julius McCoy, (2008)-led Farrell High School to it's first state title; one of the Eastern Pro League's best players, HERE

Vince Miller, (2009)-played on the Overbrook champions; coached for 27 years at Frankford, HERE

Parry Miller, (November 2011)- a quiet, humble sports fan, the world lost a good man, HERE

Dr. James Naismith (1939)-invented basketball; became the University of Kansas coach in 1898, HERE

Pete Newell, (2008), won the national championship at the University of California in 1959, the Olympic championship in 1960, and whose camp became a required seminar in low-post play for generations of professional stars, died. He was 93, HERE

Pat Nicodemus, (2008)-scored 38 points for Altoona in a 99-91 overtime win in the 1967 D6 championship game, HERE

Todd Rothrock, (2008) age 49, died five months after leading Bethlehem Liberty to the District 11 4A title, HERE

Howie Ruppert, (2008) age 64, the Shaler coach died just as the basketball season started postponing game, HERE

Ray Saul, (2009) age 82, the retired Sports Editor of the Hazleton Standard-Speaker HERE

Pat Shute, point guard on the 1967 Bishop Guilfoyle State Championship team, HERE

"Brickie" Snyder, (2014) age 92 was All-State in 1940 from Lebanon, was a B-17 tail gunner in WWII. HERE

Stan Sutphen, (2013) the former coach of the Easton Red Rovers who also helped form the Pennsylvania Basketball Coaches Association HERE

John Swogger, (2012) the legendary fast break coach for the Mercer Mustangs (two state titles) and the Altoona Mountain Lions, HERE

Edna Tarbutton, (2009) she set the national record winning 281games in a row and 8 state titles in a row in Louisiana, HERE

Jerry "Tark the Shark" Tarkanian, (2014) age 84 was the very successful and well know coach at UNLV, we met him at the King of Prussia Basketball Clinic, HERE

Preston F. Thompson, a founding member of the Chester Sports Hall of Fame, age 69, HERE

Horace Walker (2001)- Chester H. S., an all-American at Michigan State, played in the NBA, then remarkable corporate career, HERE

Pete White Jr (2015- was the backcourt leader of the 1984 Williamsport "Millionaires" State Champion basketball team and the Valedictorian of his high school class, HERE

Harry "Hap" Wolfe (2010)- coached at East Brady High School and St. Mary's Area High School, a true gentleman of the game, HERE

Contributors to the Obituary page, Dave Burman, Tony Labriola, Jack Brown, Mike Gaffey, Ted Silary.