For a half century, David Shue worked with youngsters in Barberton, helping them keep the city’s sports tradition thriving year after year.
Mr. Shue, who died Aug. 2 at age 76, left his mark as a builder of athletic facilities, sports coach and developer of numerous youth programs.
“He pretty much had his finger on the pulse of youth organizations,” said Dave Cooper, president of the Barberton Sports Hall of Fame.
Mr. Shue was a 1994 inductee of the organization, receiving the O.C. Barber Award for service to the community. His accomplishments included building the Varsity Teen Center, a drug- and alcohol-free nonprofit organization, sponsoring teams and taking charge of Toys for Tots for many years.
He also built the Pete Burroughs Memorial Basketball Facility in south Barberton and a playground at St. Augustine School.
Cooper said Mr. Shue “knew what was needed” in Barberton for youth activities, “and he was responsible for a lot of them. He did a lot of coaching and sponsoring and forming of organizations.”
Cooper said what motivated Mr. Shue was that “he had a love for the town. When he started out there was pretty much a high mark for Magic athletics. We were successful in major sports, and he wanted to see it continue.”
A veteran of the Ohio National Guard and the U.S. Air Force, Mr. Shue owned and operated Barberton Auto Wrecking for 30 years.
Calling hours will be from noon to 2 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. today at Campfield Hickman-Collier Funeral Home, 566 W. Park Ave., Barberton.
There also will be calling time from 11 a.m. until the 1 p.m. funeral service Saturday at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Burial Park in Fairlawn.
Memorials can be made to: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
Jim Carney can be reached at 330-996-3576 or jcarney@thebeaconjournal.com.