Farewell, Joe

One of soccer’s best was laid to rest yesterday. 



Joe Dadura and daughter, Kacy.

My good friend Joe Dadura (left with daughter, Kacy) died suddenly Tuesday and yesterday the Egizi Funeral Home in Washington Township became a soccer shrine to one of the best youth coaches South Jersey will ever see, but more important one of the best men South Jersey will ever see.  Joe was a good soccer guy, no doubt, but he was a dedicated and loving family man as well.

Joe and I met years ago when we both took the course for the USSF “F” license, the basic certificate given to soccer neophytes.  (I was given a waiver because of my playing and refereeing background, but the instructor was so good I took the course anyway.)   It was several years later – in the fall of ’91, if memory serves me correctly - when Joe came up to me at Ark Road where our daughters, Kirsten Partenheimer and Jenny Dadura, were on the same Medford Strikers U-13 team.  Joe said he remembered me from the F license course and we became reacquainted – a friendship that lasted 20 years and will never be forgotten.  Later Joe’s older daughter, Kristi, joined the team for a season.

Jen and Kristi left the team after a year or so, Kirsten after the second year.  I stayed on coaching and my son, Scott, two years younger than Kirsten, played for the Strikers, so I was still with the club and later was elected to the Board.  In that capacity I had a call from Joe in the summer of 1993 asking about bringing over a new team he was forming, on which youngest daughter, Kacy, played, to the club.  I enthusiastically recommended him to the Board and the U13 team was accepted.

In the fall of 1994 I watched Joe’s team play a lot – and that season the boys and girls’ State Cup semi-finals were both Strikers-Voorhees.  Boys won, but Joe’s girls lost in a close game.  I watched that semi-final and I could see the potential.  And as the team improved from U13 to U14, it also improved from U14 to U15. 

In the summer of 1995, as Joe’s girls were getting ready for high school, he called one night and asked if I would help him coach the team.  He thought the team had a chance at winning the State Cup the following spring.  (New Jersey plays state cups in the fall for U14 and below and in the spring for U15 and above.)  I accepted, anxious to work with a group of such skilled players and a friend whom I respected as a coach and a person.

The skilled players turned out to be not only that but an exceptionally nice group of young ladies who worked hard on and off the field.  As Amanda Rambo said on her Facebook page, “We were a team and a family.”  Indeed we were – Joe and I used to comment how lucky we were to coach such a motivated bunch and not have any prima donnas or problem parents.  All the girls who finished with us went on to play in college, most at a D-1 level. 

Just a few of the memories included winning the State Cup at U15 by beating the defending champion Voorhees in a shoot-out; coming back to win again at U16; winning JAGS (where for some reason we usually did not play well) at U17; winning the Dallas Cup against a California team; traveling to regionals (where we also struggled for some reason); playing at WAGS every year; going to breakfast or lunch after practice before State Cup games; the college recruiting; watching many of the girls play in college.

I can remember like yesterday standing on the sidelines at Ft. Dix as the 1996 U15 State Cup Final went to a shoot-out and Joe and I just looked at each other, shrugged and said, “Nothing we can do now.  It’s in their hands.”  (Their very capable hands – or rather, feet – as we made all five PKs to win the first of two Cups.)  If any former players, parents or even opponents, want to share any of their memories of Joe, I'd be happy to post them.

Joe and I had a good rapport with opposing coaches from a number of high level teams including Bethesda, Kolping (Cincinnati) and New Hyde Park, Long Island and it was not unusual for an opposing coach or parent to comment what a class act Joe was.  An example was at the Walkill, NY college showcase in November of ’99.  We were talking to a girl from one of our New Jersey rivals who mentioned that a coach from a college in which she was interested would not be able to see her team play but was there for our game.  Joe offered to give her a jersey and put her in the game for 15 minutes for one of our girls who had already committed, just so the coach could see her play a bit.  

We traveled, we played good soccer and we had a lot of fun.  In the 13 years since the team graduated Joe and I talked frequently and always remembered the good times and caught each other up on what our families and the players who were part of our extended families, were doing.  And they did very well.  Most earned their college degrees, some advanced degrees.  Carli Lloyd from our team went on to international stardom in soccer.  Many of the girls are mommies now and I keep in touch with most on Facebook.

About ten years ago Joe was seriously injured in a horrible motor vehicle accident at work.  He made a miraculous recovery and went on to coach another team with Kacy and got to see seven grandchildren born.

The shock and sadness over Joe’s passing was reflected in many Facebook posts, but so too was the love and respect everyone had for Joe.  

Amanda Rambo wrote, “Today was a day of sorrow, but it was also a day to remember someone that meant alot to me and to so many others. He gave me a chance to play on such an amazing team The Medford Strikers (state champ 2x) for so many years. He gave me many memories that will last a lifetime and ill never forget. We were a team and a family. You will truly be missed Mr D.”

Carli Lloyd said, “One of the saddest days ever being at my club coach for the Medford Strikers funeral. I was one of the 5 girls to start and finish with that team. I will forever cherish all the wonderful moments we had together. Thank you Mr. D for everything you did for me.”  She then went to Detroit and dedicated her goal in the 50th minute against China to Joe.

And Quinn Washington remembered the good times: “Mr. D.... remembering all the good times. this man saw something in me when I was rejected from NJ select n started a new team...Medford strikers. Turned a bunch of rejects into state champs twice! Not to mention we ALL went on to play in college. Some of best memories were spent with this team/family. To the Daduras, my extended fam I love u all n Mr.D lives through us all. RIP Mr. D greatest coach EVER.”

            

            You couldn’t have said it any better, ladies.  Mr. D. will always be in our hearts.

            Farewell, good friend.