If you follow Lehigh Valley sports, you know that each year our area produces great teams and athletes who were nurtured by great coaches.
Just this fall, the area had two teams win state titles – Emmaus field hockey and Southern Lehigh football – and another that came close to repeating as a football state champ, Northwestern Lehigh.
We celebrate their accomplishments and appreciate the effort that all the teams, athletes, and coaches put into athletics because, despite its problems, high school and college sports enhance the quality of life in the Lehigh Valley and give us a chance to come together behind our favorite teams and forget about all the strife and hardship that goes on throughout the country and world.
But while we celebrate the newest kids on the block, it’s important to remember those who came before them and laid the foundation in making the Valley one of the best athletic communities in Pennsylvania.
In 2025, we lost so many legendary figures who helped to build what we have; people who provided the fabric of our blue-collar community and were instrumental in making local high school and college sports notable and worthwhile.
We have done this list for close to 20 years, and there has never been a longer list of legends lost.
From greats in basketball such as Larry Miller, Bob “Butch” Heffner, Billy Lentz, Jim Schneider, and Pat Sewards to coaching icons such as Terry German, Ed Stinner, Ed Ruisz and Deny Robison to coaches who later shined as athletic directors such as Les Kish, Lou Wolf, Bob Kearn, and Bob Kratzer to officiating greats like Marty Ondrovic, Rosie Amato and Kevin Hoffman to media members such as Don Herb, Dan Shope, Bob Holder and Larry Sheridan, and to behind-the-scenes figures such as Jim Adams and Chic Kennedy, the local sports world suffered an extraordinary number of losses over the past 12 months.
So, as we celebrate another holiday season and gather with family and friends on this Christmas Eve and over the next week, please remember those families who are dealing with the loss of a loved one and may not be as joyful as they used to be during what, for most, is a festive time of year. Give them a toast and keep them in your heart and mind.
With a big assist from and a big thank you to former local sports writer Joe DeVivo, here’s a list of many of the people we lost in 2025 who made local sports a better place (in chronological order):
Mike Ebbert – 91, Dec. 29, 2024: Coached football and track at Lehighton 1959-1971, including 1964 co-champions of Lehigh Valley League. Track team won back-to-back LV League titles 1962-63.
Jeffrey Baker — 66, Jan. 16: Umpire for 25 years, working high school, American Legion and Blue Mountain League baseball games.
Dick Bingell — 88, Jan. 19: Lehigh Valley Softball Hall of Fame member.
Tim Cain — 77, Feb. 4: Sports commentator and news director at WEST and WLEV radio from 1969-1987.
Billy Lentz — 71, Feb. 9: 1971 Salisbury grad led Falcons to a District 11 Class B title in basketball. Lehigh-Northampton League first team and second team Little All-State selection in basketball.
James Frank — 85, Feb. 16: 1957 Wilson grad was a member of the high school and Lehigh Valley All-Star Football Classic halls of fame.
Michael Gaal — 54, March 1: A highly-decorated Special Olympics athlete, Gaal competed twice in the Special Olympics World Games, winning two gold, three silver, and three bronze medals in Minneapolis in 1991. For 37 years, he trained weekly at the Parkettes National Gymnastics Center. He was inducted by Joe Paterno into the inaugural class of the Special Olympics Pennsylvania Hall of Fame in 1996 and was also inducted into the Bethlehem Special Olympics Hall of Fame the same year.
Doug Hilyard — 78, March 8: 1964 East Stroudsburg grad was a member of the school’s Wall of Fame and Lehigh Valley chapter of National Football Foundation Hall of Fame.
Jim Schneider — 69, March 10: First team all-state selection in basketball as a senior at Northampton in 1973. His Konkrete Kid teams won Lehigh Valley League and District 11 titles in 1972 and LV League title in 1973.
Ted Damiter — 66, March 10: Blue Mountain League Hall of Fame pitcher for Egypt Orioles that won titles in 1985, 1987 and 1988.
Ron Cahill — 54, March 12: At the time of his death, he was president of the Lehigh Valley Baseball League and was a longtime advocate of men’s senior league baseball.
Arthur Kreitz — 89, March 13: Captain of Easton’s 1952 football team and first recipient of coaching staff’s James Noble award. Coached football and baseball at Easton.
John Cacciatore — 86, March 14: Coached football, baseball and basketball for Palmer Township Athletic Association.
Lou Wolf — 93, March 29: Northampton football coach 1968-74, whose teams won two Lehigh Valley League titles, and school’s athletic director 1974-92.
Jim Werkheiser — 94, April 18: Coached baseball, basketball, football and golf at East Stroudsburg, where he was a guidance counselor for 35 years. Statistician for Cavalier football, basketball and wrestling teams for 30 years.
Larry Sheridan — 93, April 25: Liberty High and Lehigh University grad served as a wrestling official for 15 years. Voice of Lehigh wrestling on WLVT TV for 26 years. Member of District 11, EIWA and National Wrestling Halls of Fame.
Larry Miller — 79, May 11: Considered the greatest basketball player in Lehigh Valley history by many, Miller led Catasauqua to three District 11 titles and scored a record 2,722 points. Two-time Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year at North Carolina played seven seasons in the American Basketball Association.
Ron Lauchnor — 83, May 15: 1959 Emmaus grad was an all-conference basketball forward at Kutztown University, scoring 1,142 points. Coached soccer, golf and basketball at Muhlenberg College.
John Alich — 89, May 17: District 11 champion wrestler at Nazareth in 1952.
Phil Schantz Jr. — 87, May 27: 1955 Allentown High grad was the catcher for legendary softball pitcher Ty Stofflet on an Allentown Patriots team that won five straight state championships 1963-67. Member of Lehigh Valley Softball Hall of Fame.
John Ebling — 87, May 31: The step-father of Pro Football Hall of Famer Andre Reed, Ebling helped to run the Andre Reed Celebrity Golf Classic and volunteered for the Boys and Girls Club of Allentown, which led to him being recognized n 2023 as a winner of the Unsung Hero Award given by the Lehigh County Office of Aging.
Jack Malarkey — 91, June 5: Principal at Marian Catholic 1977-98. Coached football, basketball, baseball and track. School’s gymnasium was named in his honor in 2021.
Nick Diehm — 89, June 7: Teacher and coach at Saucon Valley for 37 years. As head coach for baseball (1965-84) and soccer (1965-81) he led his teams to six league titles in baseball and three in soccer, including a District 11 championship in 1972.
Les Kish –– 81, June 11: 1962 Phillipsburg grad played on the 1960 football team that won a New Jersey state title and was honored as New Jersey All-State quarterback and baseball second baseman, along with being named Lehigh Valley Scholar Athlete. Played football at Lehigh and then was Allen High football coach and athletic director for 17 years.
Bill “Reds” Condit — 92, June 13: Star center fielder for Allentown Patriots teams that won four straight KASA Major Softball Championships 1963-66. 2013 inductee to the Lehigh Valley Softball Hall of Fame.
Marty Ondrovic — 92, June 25: Longtime official in football, basketball, and baseball. Member of National Football Foundation Lehigh Valley chapter and the District 11 Halls of Fame.
Bob “Butch” Heffner — 86, June 25: The 1957 Allentown High grad pitched for Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians, and California Angels 1963-68. All-State basketball player 1956 and 1957. Pitcher on American Legion state title team in 1956.
Len Smith — 74, June 28: Head baseball coach at Northwestern Lehigh 1974-2009, earning Colonial League Coach of Year honors in 2002. Assistant football coach 1974-2009.
Bill Sproule — 88, July 1: 1955 Coaldale High grad played on Syracuse’s 1959 undefeated national championship football team. Head football coach for five seasons at Bloomsburg. Member of Carbon County chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.
Bobby Williams — 61, July 2: All-State tight end on Notre Dame-Green Pond’s 1979 Centennial League championship team. Played on Penn State’s 1982 national championship team and for three teams in the NFL.
Don Herb — 84, July 10: Had a 35 year-career as a photographer for Lehigh Valley Press weekly publications, most notably taking photos at Parkland High sporting events.
Tommy Zeiner — 71, July 23: Avid dirt track racer for more than 15 years, winning multiple late model feature races at Nazareth and Flemington speedways.
Ryne Sandberg — 65, July 28: Hall of Fame second baseman, who managed Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs in 2011-12.
Jim Nonnemacher — 86, Aug. 12: English teacher for 35 years at Palmerton, where he coached football. Long-time football analyst for high school games broadcast by Blue Ridge Cable TV.
David Donio — 70, Aug. 17: Moravian Academy and Moravian College grad directed cameras for ESPN, MLB and NFL Sports. Worked for Service Electric, directing cameras for Iron Pigs baseball, high school and college sports.
Kevin Hoffman — 64, Aug. 26: Longtime football, wrestling and softball official. 1979 Northampton grad also coached American Legion baseball at Northampton.
Bob Holder — 62, Aug. 30: Played on Whitehall’s 1980 baseball team that went 22-6, won a District 11 title and finished third in the state. Creator and host of “After Further Review” sports radio show on 1470 AM and 790 WAEB AM.
Charles “Zeke” Bellis — 65, Sept. 1: Longtime youth football coach and president of Palmer Township Athletic Association.
Barry Dornich — 79, Sept. 2: Phillipsburg native was a longtime member of Harkers Hollow Golf Club, where he won seven club championships and recorded eight career holes-in-one.
Bill Bonney — 74, Sept. 6: 1968 Pen Argyl grad was the first varsity wrestler to take the mat for the Green Knights’ first team in 1964.
Frank Molchan — 99, Sept. 7: Whitehall grad served as a basketball official for more than 20 years.
John Mackes — 66, Sept. 11: Coached softball at Dieruff 1996-2004 and founded Mountainville Bobcats youth football team.
Philip Simon –– 86, Sept. 17: Fullback on East Stroudsburg’s 1957 Lehigh-Northampton League championship team. At age 71, he won the International Powerlifting Association world championship in the Masters category.
Bob Kearn — 90, Sept. 18: Former chairman of District 11 committee, he worked 35 years in the Easton School District, including a stint as athletic director.
Donald Smith — 87, Sept. 19: 1955 Liberty High grad and 32-year Navy veteran was a fixture at Whitetail Golf Course, where he served as starter ranger for 19 years.
Denny Robison — 83, Sept. 20: Managed the Quakertown Blazers to six Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League titles and was one of the first inductees to the Tri-County League Hall of Fame. Team MVP in basketball at Moravian College.
Ed Stinner — 71, Sept. 22: Head coach of Allen’s 1990 state championship softball team also served as an assistant coach at Parkland and Whitehall. Part of the first class of inductees to the Lehigh Valley Softball Hall of Fame in 2001.
Terry German — 88, Sept. 28: 1955 Allentown High grad went on to score 1,226 points in basketball at West Chester University, where he was chosen to the school’s Hall of Fame. Coached basketball at Parkland and Dieruff and ran Camp Olympic for area youth for several decades.
Ed Ruisz — 70, Oct. 1: 35-year career as a teacher and coach at Palisades. Guided girls track team to 166 straight dual meet victories. As head football coach, led Pirates to their first winning season in school’s history.
Ed Dreisbach — 88, Oct. 4: Played on Fountain Hill basketball team that won the first of three straight District 11 titles and reached the Class B state final in 1956. Lifetime .313 hitter for the Bethlehem Cardinals and member of Blue Mountain League Hall of Fame.
Dan Shope — 72, Oct. 6: Former sports writer for the Evening Chronicle and business writer and Sunday columnist for the Morning Call.
Paul Romano — 76, Oct. 10: Head boys basketball coach at Stroudsburg in the 1970s and 1980s.
Robert Hosier — 76, Oct. 15: A 1967 Easton graduate who was a Big 33 football selection, he went on to become a successful football and track coach at Pennridge over a span of 49 years.
Pat Sewards — 72, Oct. 16: As a senior at Allen on Feb. 19, 1971, playing for his father, legendary coach Milo Sewards, he scored an East Penn League record 62 points. Led the league by averaging 26 points per game and was named league MVP.
Chic Kennedy — 85, Oct. 20: President of Northampton County American Legion Baseball League for 38 years, as well as coaching Easton, Forks Township, Roseto and Hellertown teams. Coached Palisades to first league baseball title in 48 years in 2005.
John Covert — 95, Oct. 30: Coach of cross country and track programs at Lehigh University 1967-92. Men’s cross country teams won six ECAC championships and six ICYA titles. Member of Lehigh’s Athletic Hall of Fame.
Tom D’Angelo –– 81, Oct. 27: Girls tennis coach at Notre Dame Green Pond for the past 10 years.
Charlie Bartolet — 88, Nov. 4: Head wrestling coach at Hellertown and Saucon Valley 1960-85, producing nine individual state champions, one team state title, two District 11 team titles and 11 league championships.
Jim Egizio — 88, Nov. 9: 1954 Allentown Central Catholic grad starred in basketball and baseball. Longtime NCAA Division 1 football official worked the 1988 championship game between Miami and Oklahoma.
Bobby Kurtz — 97, Nov. 12: Second-team All-State quarterback for Allentown High in 1946. Played five seasons of minor league baseball for the St. Louis Browns, topped by a .340 batting average with 132 RBI in 1948.
Steve Roth — 82, Nov. 19: 1961 Dieruff grad was MVP of the Huskies’ boys basketball team.
John “Buck” Yelovich — 85, Nov. 26: Three-year letterman in football and baseball at Liberty, he went on to letter for four years in football at Moravian, earning the prestigious Hound Award.
Jim Adams — 82, Nov. 27: Member of Lehigh Valley Softball Hall of Fame and former president of the Allentown Patriots, who was best known for building one of the best press boxes in Lehigh Valley sports.
Fred Schuster — 84, Nov. 27: Coached football, basketball, baseball, and volleyball during a 36-year career at Nazareth.
Rosie Amato — 83, Nov. 28: Standout wrestler and football player at Easton, he played offensive tackle at North Carolina State. Recognized as one of the top high school wrestling officials in Pennsylvania and 25-year football official in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Bill White — 82, Dec. 1: Coached middle school basketball in Stroudsburg for 46 years. Founded Mountie basketball camp and ran the Greater Pocono Basketball Tournament for more than 40 years.
John “Mick” Moroney — 82, Dec. 3: Member of Bethlehem Catholic’s 1960 state championship basketball team.
Andrea Rothrock — 83, Dec. 7: Taught social studies and government for 30 years at Catasauqua, where she started the girls’ field hockey team and was the team’s first coach.
Jerry Grube — 85, Dec. 11: Bangor resident was a member of the Pius X Hall of Fame for his instrumental work in building Alumni Stadium. Longtime player on the powerhouse Holiday Jacks softball team in Palmer Township.
Bob Kratzer — 79, Dec. 21: Longtime Whitehall teacher, coach, and athletic director was just three days shy of his 80th birthday when he died earlier this week.
