Memorial to Laverne (Red) Reichert – 1943 - 2004

Kitchener, ON

We regret to inform his many friends that Laverne Reichert passed away early this morning (Monday, May 3, 2004) after a valiant battle with cancer.

Laverne was the Vice President of the Schneider's I.S.C. Alliance, Travel League of Eastern Canada. Laverne was a long time supporter of men's fastball and served in many capacities on various committees with the Ontario Amateur Softball Association (OASA).

Obituaries - May. 5, 2004 
LAVERNE (RED) REICHERT 1943 - 2004 At Freeport Health Centre of Grand River Hospital, on Monday, May 3, 2004, age 60. Laverne was a life member of the Kinsmen Club of Kitchener- Waterloo where he was actively involved in supporting the mentally challenged. Red was an executive member of O.A.S.A. and Kitchener Fastball Promotions. He was employed in sales with Donald Choi Canada Inc. Beloved husband of Rita Sheridan. Son of the late Edward and Sally Reichert. Dear brother of Susan and Murray Stevenson of Waterloo, uncle of Wendy and fiancé James Williamson and Lois and Kyle Dunlop, all of Kitchener. Also survived by an aunt Nelda Wittich of Waterloo, by many cousins and friends. Friends are invited to share their memories of Laverne with his family at the Edward R. Good Funeral Home, 171 King Street South, Waterloo today (Wednesday) from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. The service to celebrate Laverne's life will be held at 1 p.m. in the funeral home chapel on Thursday, May 6, 2004 with Rev. Stephen Weber officiating. Interment will follow in Mount Hope Cemetery, Waterloo. Special thanks to Dr. Williamson and the nursing staff in Union Terrace, 3rd floor at Freeport Health Centre. In memory of Laverne, donations to the Grand River Regional Cancer Centre or the Kinsmen Club of Kitchener-Waterloo would be appreciated as expressions of sympathy and can be arranged through the funeral home, phone 519-745-8445 or www.edwardrgood.com 


Tribute to Laverne
Laverne will leave behind a legacy of commitment to his community and to the sport of fastball. He was often unconventional in approach and not without controversy, but there is no denying his love for this community and this game. We are all saddened by the untimely death of a colleague and friend.

Hawk 
larry.lynch@city.kitchener.on.ca
  


In Memory of Laverne Reichert
Laverne, a long serving executive member of the Ontario Amateur Softball Association passed away May 3, 2004. Laverne first served on the OASA Executive Council in 1990 and Chaired the Men's Committee from 1994 through 1996.

When the editor of the OASA's official publication, the "High & Inside", asked me to write an article about Laverne; I declined, thinking that there must be others more capable and knowledgeable of Laverne than I. However during Laverne's funeral, with time to contemplate his life, I realized that I do indeed have something to say about Laverne Reichert. Although we were from opposite sides of the province we shared many years worth of OASA Executive meetings and a few tournaments. I know about his passion for toy trucks and his extensive support of the mentally challenged, to mention but two aspects of his life. And, since I assumed my current office I've had many telephone conversations with Laverne as he was, once again, an executive member of the OASA. Although he had to be exempted from some of his duties last year because of illness, he had again been elected to serve on the Executive and appointed to the Men's Committee. During those conversations we talked, actually I mostly listened, about the whole range of men's fastball in Ontario and all the external bodies associated with it. During one of the last calls, the one when Laverne told me I should pencil in another's name wherever I had his in my plans for this OASA term, he requested that I continue some of his work in trying to bring past OASA "movers and shakers in Ontario men's fastball" together with the ones who are currently carrying the banner. His ultimate plan would see all Ontario men's fastball enthusiasts pulling together for the sport. 

Speaking of fastball as though it were a huge edifice, Laverne was like the mortar that holds the stones in place. He persisted in trying to hold the players in the game and trying to keep the players that run the game, in the game. Laverne recognized personality interaction problems and tried to mortar variously shaped stones into the construction. He certainly realized, because he told me several times in these last weeks, that the game is far bigger than individuals or committees or executives and boards.

Men's fastball in Ontario needs more Laverne's. He chaired the OASA Men's Committee from 1994 - 96. He will be greatly missed and he will not be forgotten. Right now his name is being inscribed on the OASA Memorial Scroll that continues to occupy its place near the head of the table of every OASA Executive meeting. And, I will endeavor to live up to Laverne's request of me; that I keep trying to bring back together the great fastball organizers that Ontario still has; for the continued fostering of one of the two great games that Laverne Reichert loved, men's fastball.

Among the many groups that Laverne supported, I cannot guess which will miss him most but will state plainly that the OASA will miss him greatly. On behalf of men's and minor age fastball in Ontario, I thank Rita for sharing Laverne with us these many years for the betterment of sport in this province, country and continent.

Sincerely
David Cleugh, President
Ontario Amateur Softball Association

http://www.oasa.ca 

oasa@sympatico.ca

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