Richard "Dick" A. Szalay's Obituary
Richard "Dick" Szalay went to be with the Lord on February 9, 2023, after an 8-year battle with cancer. He was born on February 6, 1948 to Casey and Helen (Skolnicki) Szalay and grew up in Lorain. His love of sports, especially baseball, began at an early age and continued throughout his life. Dick began playing Little League baseball in 1955 and played for many Hot Stove teams through 1965. He also played fast-pitch softball from 1974-1986. Dick was a lifetime member of AMVETS and social member of the Knights of Columbus and Eagles.
Dick graduated from Admiral King High School in 1966. He was president of the Bachelors Club in 1965 and enjoyed helping to host many of the annual "doo-wop" dances for years to come. Soon after graduation he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, which included a tour of duty in Vietnam. After his service obligation, he graduated from Ohio University in 1974 with a Bachelor's Degree in Education and later earned his Master's Degree in Education from Cleveland State.
Dick began and ended his teaching career in Olmsted Falls schools where he served as a Physical Education teacher and a football and baseball coach before retiring with 33 years of service. In 2000, the Olmsted Falls Bulldogs won the Division II State Football Championship. The team, along with the coaches, were inducted into the Olmsted Falls Athletic Hall of Fame in 2022. As a coach, Dick was inducted into the North Ohio Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame in 2008 and to the Olmsted Falls Athletic Hall of Fame in 2017. He loved teaching and coaching and over the years began lasting-friendships with many of his players, parents, and colleagues which became his Olmsted Falls family.
Dick married his high school sweetheart, Brittania (Bre) Sasser and they enjoyed 53 years of marriage. Together they raised three daughters; Traci (Joe) Swantek, Mandi Myser, and Mindi (Ian) Husk. They were blessed with five grandchildren: Jenna and Delaney Swantek; Casey and Brady Myser; and Ellen Husk. During his retirement, Dick enjoyed watching his grandchildren participate in sports, cheerleading, and dance being their biggest fan. Retirement also brought time for riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle and cruising with his wife, Bre, in their 1966 Ford Mustang convertible. Many summer days on the lake were spent with his family at their cottage in Marblehead.
In addition to his wife, daughters, and grandchildren, he is survived by his two sisters, Joyce Lazevich and Jane (Bing) Carlson and many loving family members. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Per Dick's wishes, visitation will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, February 27, 2023, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Amherst followed by Mass of Christian Burial at Il:00 a.m. A luncheon will follow in the church hall. A private military burial will take place at Calvary Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations for the Vietnam Veterans would be appreciated.
The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to Mercy New Life Hospice for their outstanding care and support.
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