OBITUARIES - 9/27/19

Sept. 1, 2019

Robert Stephen Flumach

Robert S. Flumach, 77, of Houston died on June 30.

Flumach was a member of Texas Classics 70s from 2013 to 2016. 

During the 2016 LVSSA/SSUSA World Masters Championships, Flumach helped lead his Texas Classics team to a runner-up finish in the Men’s 70 AA Division. 

Born in New York, Flumach grew up in the Canal Zone in the Republic of Panama. He became an apprentice on the locks in the Panama Canal and later became an electrician for the Panama Canal Commission.

Flumach attended Texas A&M University, where he studied Electrical Engineering. After receiving his degree, Flumach returned to Panama and worked in the Engineering Department at the Administration Building in Balboa, Canal Zone.

Flumach retired from the Panama Canal Commission after 23 years and moved to Texas. He worked at Rice University as an Electrical Engineer in the Facilities Engineering and Planning Department in 1991, before retiring in 2013.

Arthur Joseph Kopacz

Arthur J. Kopacz, 78, of Green Brook, N.J., died on Sept. 4.

In SSUSA, Kopacz last played in 2012 with Jersey Jaguars 70. He was also a member of SSL 70 Seahawks, Jersey Masters 60 and P/P Masters Red Door 60.

Kopacz was very involved in Senior Softball with the New Jersey State Senior Softball Association.

Kopacz was the founder/owner of Creative Industries Inc.

James Lee Tharp

James L. Tharp, 72, of Dayton, Tex., died on Sept. 5.

Tharp was a long-time member of SSUSA, beginning play in 1999 with Texas 50. Most recently in 2018, he managed Crossfire 55 and played with Hendricks Sports Management 65. 

Tharp’s Crossfire team won the 2018 LVSSA/SSUSA World Masters Championships in the Men’s 55 AAA Division.

He also played with Dallas Spurs, Houston Fire, Tri-State Diamondbacks, Houston Free Agents, Texas Thunder, Boaz Exports/ASI, and Houston Pride.

Tharp joined the United States Marine Corp in 1963 and served in Vietnam for 13 months and later worked as a Houston Fire Fighter for 34 years. 

Tharp enjoyed a successful Senior Softball career, winning multiple All-Tournament selections, MVP awards, and National Championships. He was inducted into the Texas Senior Softball Hall of Fame in 2014.

Fred Turnier

Fred Turnier, 74, of Mesquite, Nev., died on Sept. 20.

Turnier began playing SSUSA in the late 1990s with the Las Vegas Legends and St. George Seniors 50, and last played in 2016 with TNT 70s in the LVSSA/SSUSA World Masters Championships.

Turnier was a long-time member of Specialists Real Estate 65, while also playing with California Black Hawks 55 and 65, Ryan’s Way 60, SGC/Runner Blue 60, and Las Vegas 60s, among numerous other teams.

Turnier’s wife, Raula, was also a member of SSUSA and passed away in April of 2016.