Larry Stark's Obituary
Longtime Lorain educator and Coach, Larry Stark passed away Tuesday, June 30, 2015 after a brief illness. He was born June 13, l942 in Elyria to beloved parents, Norman and Carol Stark.
He graduated from Elyria High School in 1960 and Kent State University in 1964.
Born and raised in Elyria, Oh, Larry moved to Lorain in 1977 when he married the “love of his life”, Val and settled in the home “on the shores of old Lake Erie” that he loved so dearly.
Larry began his teaching career with the Lorain City Schools at Masson Jr. High in 1968 and transferred to Southview High School when it opened in 1969. He taught Health and Physical Education at Southview for 35 years, retiring in 2000.
“Coach” Stark was a highly successful Basketball and Tennis coach at Lorain Southview High School. He began as an Assistant Basketball Coach to longtime friend, George Simonovich, and took over the head coaching position in 1975. In his 25 years as head coach, he was Conference Coach and Lorain County Division I Coach of the Year six times. He coached the prestigious Ohio North All-Stars to victory over the South All-Stars in 1981. He was so proud of his Lorain Southview High School winning several basketball Sectional and District championships, but even more proud of his “little school from South Lorain” making it to the State Regional Finals three times. As great as his basketball tenure was, his record as the Saints Tennis coach is even more amazing. He served as the Saints Tennis Coach his entire tenure, 1969-2000, compiling 13 conference championships and over 300 career tennis wins. He was selected Conference Tennis Coach of the Year 13 times. He dearly loved the families of South Lorain and was loyal to them and Southview High School for 35 years. So many of his former players and students not only remember his as a great teacher and coach, but as a mentor, dear friend and “father figure”. He will always be remembered as a man of integrity who inspired so many people.
In his youth, Larry was an all-star baseball player for the Elyria Little League program, and for Elyria High School. He played basketball in Jr. High and for the Elyria Pioneers in his High School years. He also boxed “Golden Gloves” in college. But tennis was his main love. He was inducted into the Elyria Sports Hall of Fame in 1980 for his tennis prowess. He was classified as “perhaps Elyria High’s greatest tennis player” – winning the only Ohio Tennis crown in school history in 1959 with Doubles partner Jim Guest. He won 38 straight singles matches for the Pioneers –which stands to this day as a school record. He went on to star at Kent State University, taking the Mid-Am Singles title in 1962 and Doubles championship in 1963. He won 10 Elyria City Men’s championships in Singles, 12 in Doubles and six County titles.
Larry was also inducted into the Lorain Sports Hall of Fame in 2000 and in March of this year was inducted into the Lorain County Coach’s Hall of Fame.
Larry is survived and will be missed dearly by his loving and devoted wife of 38 years, Valerie (nee McConihe), four children: Wayne (Karen) Stark, David (Karen) Stark, Courtney Vail (Eric) and Michael (Heather) Stark. Grandsons: Connor, Cameron and Mason Stark. Granddaughters: Sierra Vail and Alexis and Natalie Stark. Beloved nieces and nephews, Celeste (Ray) DelBrocco, Allan (Barbara) McConihe, Jim (Amy) McConihe, Allison Burdewick and Paul Takacs. Several Great-Nieces and Great-Nephews, and dearly loved “sisters”, Alayne Gordon and Barbara McConihe.
He was preceded in death by his loving parents Norman and Carol Stark, in-laws Allan and Thelma McConihe and brother-in-law, Thomas McConihe.
Visitation and a Celebration of Larry’s life will be held Sunday, July 19th from 1-6 p.m. in the Dovin and Reber Jones Funeral & Cremation Center, 1110 Cooper Foster Park Rd., Amherst.
The Lorain Sports Hall of Fame will have a special service beginning at 6:00 p.m., immediately followed by a family memorial service.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Friendship Animal Protective League, Elyria OH., or the Love-A-Stray Cat Rescue in Avon, Oh.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.dovinreberjones.com
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