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Richard Adam "Dick" Sterne, Sr. Obituary

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Richard Adam "Dick" Sterne, Sr.

Cumberland, MD

October 27, 1943 - October 9, 2021

Richard Adam "Dick" Sterne, Sr. Obituary

RIDGELEY – Richard Adam “Dick” Sterne, Sr., 77, died Saturday October 9, 2021, at home in Ridgeley, WV, from heart complications. He was preceded in death by his parents, Adam Elwood Sterne and Flossie Sweitzer Sterne. He was also preceded in death by special friend and second mother, of Rowlesburg, Vera Hayden. Dick was born October 27, 1943, in Cumberland. His family moved to Rowlesburg, WV, where he would begin second grade and graduate from Rowlesburg High School in 1961. He was voted Honor Man that year. He played high school basketball and baseball and was named 1st Team All County Basketball his senior year. He also attended West Virginia Boys State in 1960. He attended Frostburg State University where he was a starting guard for the Frostburg State JV Bobkittens and then transferred to Allegany Community College to play basketball and baseball including being named Baseball Co-Captain in 1963 and a part of the first winning season in 1963-64. He later earned an Associate’s Degree from ACC. Dick served 11 years for the US Army Reserves 265th Chapter based in Cresaptown. He spent the next 18-1/2 years working for the Celanese Fiber Corp until its closing as he was the last employee in the plant to leave the gate. He would remain active in the sports community playing Penn Mar Baseball for the Cumberland Astros leading the area in stolen bases in 1967. He loved playing fast pitch softball for several teams including McLaughlin’s & Walter N. Yoder Softball Teams as leadoff batter and center fielder. After Celanese closed, he and wife Jane decided to purchase the Original Sports Shoppe in November of 1981 where they remained the owners 40 years later along with manager Carl Nazelrod. They always helped local youth organizations or anyone in need while always under the watchful eye of Earl Nonnenmann, stopping by or writing letters yearly giving encouragement to stay open even during hard times. Leaving his playing days behind, Dick would begin coaching sports including in the JCP Soccer League, Wiley Ford Little League, Ridgeley Hot Stove, and Fort Ashby High School Rec Baseball Teams highlighted with a league championship in 1991. He would later break into the high school coaching ranks at Frankfort High School in both basketball and baseball, as well as baseball for Bishop Walsh and Hyndman High Schools. What most remember him for is his devotion to this community and could easily be declared “The Mayor of Youth Sports”. He was involved in Bi-State Little League, Cumberland Hot Stove, JCP Soccer, and the CAYFL Football League where he served as commissioner and held officer positions in many of those leagues. But his biggest commitment was to The Dapper Dan Club serving as President, Vice President, or Treasurer. His main focus for the club was serving as the Dapper Dan Dinner Chairman for nearly 20 years taking over for George Stevenson. He would be honored by the Dapper Dan being named Dapper Dan Man of the Year in 1992, recipient of the Henrietta Schwarzenbach Civic Service Award in 2010, and the Dapper Dan Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014. He also received CAYFL Appreciation Award in 1997 and was named CAYFL Man of the Year in 1998. Dick was an active member, past bartender, and Secretary of the Good Fellowship Club. Even days before his death, he was organizing memberships. He was also a member of the Moose Lodge #271, Fort Ashby Kiwanis, Cumberland Outdoor Club, Cumberland Elks, Cumberland Eagles, Cresaptown Eagles, and the Sons of the American Legion Post 13. He also served on the Board of Directors for Friends Aware and was a part of the Red Cross Volunteer Disaster Services and volunteered for Toys for Happiness during its creation. He was proud of the K-Bar Powerball Lottery Ticket Club which never seemed to win a penny. In his spare time, he belonged to various bowling, skill pool, and golf leagues. But what he always wanted to talk about were the accomplishments of his kids and grandkids and how proud he was of each and every one of them. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Jane (Fleming) Sterne; children Ann Marie (Sterne) Mowry and husband, Wally, of Hyndman PA, Richard Adam Sterne, Jr. and fiancée, Danielle Kennell, of Ellerslie, MD; grandchildren, Colten, Ryan, and Lindsay Mowry, Zach and Katie Sterne, and Maddie Poland. He is also survived by life-long friend, Harolyn Sherman, as well as many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends. Viewings are Thursday, October 14, 2021, 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. at Scarpelli Funeral Home, P.A., 108 Virginia Avenue, Cumberland. Funeral services will be held at the funeral home on Friday, October 15, 2021, at 11 a.m. with the eulogy given by Mark Manges. Military honors will be accorded by Ft. Cumberland Post 13 Honor Guard. Friends and family will be gathered immediately following the service at the Good Fellowship Club at 224 Virginia Ave in Cumberland. Honorary pallbearers are Gene Bender, Les Cameron, George Humbertson, Skil Lease, Bobby Marker, Ed Martin, Ron Mease, Bacon Miller, Carl Nazelrod, and Jack Spangler. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made in his honor to the Children’s League located on Willowbrook Road in Cumberland as it the beneficiary of the Dapper Dan Club. Condolences may be left at www.ScarpelliFH.com.

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