Former Lake Orion softball coach Denny Davis passes at age 65
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
LAKE ORION — Denny Davis was always known as mild-mannered coach who calmly told jokes and almost always wore a smile while in the dugout or on the sidelines for nearly 40 years.
These jokes and friendly smile were silenced over the weekend.
Davis, the former Lake Orion varsity softball coach who retired from his head coaching spot in 2009, died Sunday morning of a heart attack. He was 65 years old.
“We saw him in here on Good Friday and Denny seemed like the good old Denny,” offered Lake Orion Director of Athletics Bill Reiss. “We’re all still in shock by all of this. He seemed in great spirits and in good health a week-and-a-half ago. The community lost a great member on Sunday morning. Denny’s passing leaves the community with a huge void.”
Denny Davis
Davis coached multiple sports in Lake Orion spanning more than three decades at both the high school and middle school/junior high level. He most recently helped coach middle school football at Scripps Middle School and also coached freshmen girls volleyball at Lake Orion High School for many years to go along with his softball duties.
“Denny will be hard to replace. Even though he wasn’t a varsity head coach anymore, he had great experience and versatility being able to coach multiple sports. He loved to teach and coach kids,” added Reiss. “He will be greatly missed by all.”
Davis retired as an economics and social studies teacher at Lake Orion in 2003 and has served a part-time teacher at Class D Catholic high school Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes for the past decade. He attended church at Our Lady of the Lakes for many years.
Davis graduated from Lake Orion in 1965 and remained in the area for most of his life until Sunday’s passing. He coached softball from 1978-2009 and his 503 career victories ranks 55th on the state’s all-time list for high school varsity softball victories. He also coached several league and district titles and helped the Dragons reach the Division 1 state quarterfinals in 2004.
Services will be held at Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church on Thursday. Visitation will take place from 10-11 a.m. with the mass following immediately afterwards.
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