A Gentleman is Going, Going,
Gone
Softball Scribe Dan Wohl Passes
Softball columnist Dan Wohl passed away on April 30th at the age of 92. Dan was born and raised in Flatbush, Brooklyn, graduated from Union College in Schenectady, and from Columbia University. He also served with the Armed Forces in World War II. Upon retirement from a long career as a beloved physical education teacher and school administrator in Brooklyn, Dan translated his devotion to sports into a labor of love in the interest of Long Island senior softball. He loved working to provide seniors with an opportunity to keep active, keep connected, to do what they loved.
Finding six or seven guys who wanted to play softball, he built up pick-up games at Caledonia Park. Dan also played for the Huntington Baymen, a team with approximately 11 original members, which grew, through his efforts, to 21 seniors. Happy to be interviewed by several news stations for special interest stories, he remained an active player until declining health finally robbed his strength several years ago. He wanted for others what he wanted for himself, a physically active and rewarding life and that is what he pursued and promoted.
Dan also served as president of the Long Island Senior Softball Association for over 12 years, expanding it to not only 60+ seniors, but 70+ players, and fostering the growth of the organization to between 600 and 700 seniors who regularly played. While loving competition, what was more important to Dan was that every man who wanted to play was able to find a game. He was very proud of his Hall of Fame affiliations: Huntington Softball Hall of Fame, LISSA Hall of Fame and ASA Hall of Fame, but prouder still to visit the fields and indoor sites and find the guys enjoying themselves.
The column which he faithfully wrote for the 50+ LifeStyles was his way of celebrating team victories, reaching out for new players of all abilities, and encouraging good sportsmanship and attention to health and safety. Danny leaves a void in many hearts and lives, but one would have to admit that he really hit a home run .... and he would want all of us to step away from the sidelines, join the game and most of all, keep playing to the best of our ability.
It’s springtime wherever Dan is and you know he’s 18 years old with his cleats on, banging the ball like Joe D and fielding flies like the Say Hey Kid.
Enjoy the games, Dan … and hit a homer for us every now and again … How about that?