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Obituaries: October 2024 โ€“ January 2025

Feb. 1, 2025

Ben Ellsworth

Ben Ellsworth, 76, of Placerville, Calif., died peacefully on Oct. 7, 2024.

     Ben was a well-known player and coach in the Sacramento area, coaching the Ain’t No Saints 60s team, formerly the Sacramento Saints, for most of the 2000s and early 2010s.

     The name “Ain’t No Saints” was certainly a play on words, as Ben was a graduate of bible college, a pastor of 21 years and a family service counselor for a funeral home for 16 years.

     “Ben was a great teammate and good friend for many years on the Sacramento Saints,” said Terry Hennessy, Ssnior Softball USA’s chief executive officer and former Sacramento Saints teammate. “I'll especially miss his humor and insight.”

     In addition to his faith, Ben was known as a devoted family man, never missing family events, and sports lover. “Ben loved playing and coaching softball and was a passionate supporter of senior softball,” according to his online obituary. “A die-hard San Francisco Giants fan, Ben was never far from the ballpark.”

 

Gene McCloskey

Gene McCloskey, 74, of Lewes, Del., died on Dec. 6, 2024.

     Gene started playing with Senior Softball USA in the early 2000s, but sports, specifically baseball and softball, began at the early age of 9.

     According to his baseball memoir, written by Gene before his passing, he played little league, often winning championships and titles. By high school and college, he was playing baseball and basketball, being one of the first two freshman ever on the varsity baseball team at St. John’s University of Queens, N.Y. Gene was even offered a chance to play with a Detroit AA affiliate but declined so he could continue his education and his promise to his new wife, Nancy, and his mother.

     Later in life, he spent 18 years playing senior softball with the New Jersey Hitmen, winning over 20 national championships and the Triple Grand Slam in 2017 and 2022.

     “He loved life as long as it included playing baseball/softball,” said his wife, Nancy. “It helped make him an even better husband and dad.”

     “Gene was a wonderful teammate,” said teammate and good friend Dale C. Hood and his wife Linda. “We absolutely do not win… the Triple Crown without the two outstanding plays that Gene made late in the Championship game. He was a thoughtful and caring person and friend to all, teammates and opponents. We all will miss him.”

     In addition to New Jersey Hitmen 55-70s, Gene also played with the Metro Hitmen 60s and High Street Bucs 65-70s.

 

Russell S. Curtis

Russ Curtis, 79, of Las Vegas, died peacefully on Dec. 8, 2024.

     Russ was a long-time Senior Softball USA and Las Vegas Senior Softball Association member, with two and a half decades of membership with SSUSA.

     “Russ enjoyed playing golf and bowling, but his passion was softball,” according to his online obituary. Growing up playing softball, he and the neighborhood kids created a softball game called “Doll Head.” They used a doll head for the ball. His sisters would donate their dolls, and they would rip the heads off to play. They only used dolls that had soft heads because they wouldn’t break windows and would go really far, so they could hit home runs, according to the obituary.

     After moving up to typically softball in high school, “[h]e was blessed to be able to play competitive softball well into his 70s. Some of his softball accomplishments included being inducted into the National Senior Softball Hall of Fame in July of 2008, the LVSSA Hall of Fame in 2009, and numerous World Championship awards.”

     Russ also served as the field commissioner for LVSSA from 2007 to 2024 for men under 65.

     Russ will be remembered by many SSUSA players and by his LVSSA friends for playing with numerous years with Tharaldson’s 65s, 70s and 75s (NV) and Ryan’s Way 60s (UT).

 

Shirley Rowland

Shirley Irene Rowland, 86, of Dewey, Okla., died on Dec. 22, 2024.

     Shirley was the beloved wife of Senior Softball USA national director Otis Rowland as was known for supporting senior softball players everywhere she went.

     She grew up in small town Oklahoma, and through her life, had many jobs, including owning and operating her own Pizzeria and working for a petroleum company. After her retirement, she met Otis and the two later married.

     “Shirley was a wonderful addition to our senior softball family,” said Fran Dowell, executive director of SSUSA. “Shirley was an assistant director along with Otis and she helped everyone with her beautiful smile. She is missed by all and I was honored to have her as a friend.”

 

Del Drake

Delbert “Del” Drake, 86, of Star, Idaho, died on Dec. 23, 2024.

     Del has been with Senior Softball USA since the mid-to-late 1990s and was instrumental in forming the Idaho Senior Softball Association.

     Born and raised in Southern California, he joined the Navy after college and was stationed in San Deigo. After the Navy, we opened an HVAC business which he kept until his retirement and move to Idaho.

     In Idaho, he founded the Idaho Senior Softball Association, a wood bat league for men 60 years or older, which still operates today. The association was among the first largely successful senior softball organizations in Idaho and helped build senior softball and SSUSA’s presence in the state.

     “Del Drake helped to build Senior Softball in Idaho for more than two decades and was an excellent ambassador of our sport,” said Terry Hennessy, SSUSA’s chief executive officer.

     “Del Drake was such a huge supporter of softball in Boise,” said Fran Dowell, SSUSA’s executive director. “He planned many wood bat tournaments that turned out very successful. He was such a great friend of mine… and will be missed so much.”

     In addition to substantially growing senior softball in Idaho, Del also played on Idaho Trips 70s, Northwest 70s (ID) and Lighthouse 75s (CA).

 

Ryan Layton Pickles

Ryan Pickles, 42, of Winter Haven, Flor., died on Jan. 8.

     Ryan was the assistance director for the City of Auburndale, Fla., in the Parks and Recreation division, and formerly worked with Central Florida Sport Marketing, now called Visit Central Florida Sports, which sponsors the Spring National Championships and the original Tournament of Champions.

     “Ryan was instrumental in helping us launch the original Tournament of Champions in Florida,” said SSUSA’s CEO Terry Hennessy. “He helped us grow the TOC to the premier softball tournament in the country.”

     “Even though Ryan hadn’t worked for Central Florida Sports for a few years, he would always ask about Terry, Fran, Dave and all the folks he knew and loved with SSUSA,” said Mark Jackson, director of Polk County Tourism and Sports Marketing.

     “He was a very strong advocate for the sport and organization. It is with fondness and love that our thoughts and prayers go out to Ryan’s friends and family,” added Mark.

 

Robert Woodroof

Bob Woodroof, 77, of Dana Point, Calif., died on Jan. 13 after a long battle with cancer.

     Bob started with Senior Softball USA in the mid-2000s. He coached and remained a valuable Major Plus player well into his 70+ division.

     John Kulisich, a friend and assistant coach to Bob, remembers “his teams won the major plus world championships in 2005, 2009, 2010 with GSF and 2014 with Full Circle. He was a great guy and a great coach.”

     Bob’s devotion to his team and players earned him an induction into the National Senior Softball Hall of Fame in 2010 as a player, and he helped many other players earn inductions in the years after.

     “Bob Woodroof was truly a legend in our sport,” said Dave Dowell, SSUSA’s master scheduler. “His teams always played at the highest competitive levels, and they wouldn't have it any other way. "Woodie" was also a key member of the SSUSA's Major Plus Task Force in 2008 that re-wrote the rules for that division. His insights and expertise made SSUSA, and anyone who got the privilege of knowing him, better for the experience.”

     “I'll miss that wry smile that showed every time just before he was about to say something incredibly funny,” added Dave.

     Bob will be best remembered for playing and coaching with GSF 60s (AZ), Full Circle 60-65s (CA) and Omen 65-70s (CA).


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