Obituaries: Feb-Apr 2023

April 1, 2023

James E. DuCharme

James DuCharme, 78, of Janesville, Wisc., died Dec. 19.

     Playing with Senior Softball USA since 2007, Jim played on several Wisconsin and Illinois teams and in more than 85 SSUSA sanctioned tournaments.

     Jim was born in and spent most of his life in Wisconsin, apart from his four years in the Army when he was stationed in Colorado Spring and in South Korea. After his military service, he worked for Wisconsin Bell Telephone from 1966 to until retiring in 1995.

     His passion was playing [senior] softball, where there was no place too far to travel including most recently winning a World Championship in October in Las Vegas where his team, Libby’s 80s AAA (WI – Formerly Libby’s – Ethic 80s and ProHealth Care 75s), won first place in their division.

     “Jim was a very good man, an excellent ball player and a great friend and will be greatly missed,” said his Libby’s 80s manager, Michael Haney.

Richard Jule Peterson

Richard Peterson, 70, of Scottsdale, Az., died Feb. 26 after battling dementia.

     Born in Illinois, Rick lived most of his life in Scottsdale. According to his online obituary, he spent more than 50 years in the restaurant development and management industry. Through his industry, he built relationships with professional sports teams and eventually senior softball players.

     Fran Dowell, SSUSA’s executive director said “Rick was my neighbor when I first moved to Phoenix,” says Fran. “I have such great memories of his family, then to find out that Rick played for a team in our organization years later made me so excited! A great man, and a great friend to so many; Rick will be sorely missed.”

     Rick was active in several Arizona teams. “Rick was an undisputed team leader on the softball fields who inspired his team with his passion for playing,” according to his obituary.

     Rick played with the CJ & S Express 50s (AZ), Greco/Hitmen 55s (AZ), and Double Nickels 55s (CA).

Ron Boley

Ron Boley, 76, of Portland, Ore., died March 12.

     Ron, born and raised in Portland, worked at the city’s Park and Recreation department in 1969 and became the Portland Metro ASA Commissioner in 1982. Many players will remember him from the Delta Park Complex when the Jim Sherman Memorial/Northwest Championships were held in Portland.

     “As sports supervisor, a position he held for 30 years, he directed the Portland Youth and Adult Basketball Leagues; while at the same time he served as director for American Legion, Connie Mack, and Adult Basketball,” according to ASA’s 2013 Northwest Region Hall of Fame Induction speech.

     "Ron Boley was so welcoming to Senior Softball at Delta Park. We felt so welcome each time and will miss Ron's smile -- always a great memory," said SSUSA Executive Director, Fran Dowell.

     In addition to supervising and directing fields, tournaments, and leagues across many sports, Ron played baseball and football in his younger years and loved softball. Even in retirement, he took “over running the new William V. Owens Softball Complex… [and] was instrumental in getting the new Delta Park Complex built,” according to the induction speech. “Ron Boley is the true Dean of Northwest Region Softball. He has earned our love and respect!”