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BOARDMAN -- David A. Veitz, 86, passed away peacefully Friday afternoon, Aug. 14, 2026.
Dave was born March 1, 1940, in nearby Beaver Falls, Pa., the son of Anthony and Mary Corssini Veitz. He moved to Youngstown's North Side in 1946, where he attended St. Columba Grade School.
It was during that time legendary area coach Nick Johnson introduced him to football and basketball, instilling in him and his many other teammates the virtues of loyalty, honesty and most of all, fair play.
He attended Ursuline High School and earned three letters in football under the watchful eye of legendary Fighting Irish head mentor Tom Carey.
A member of the school's undefeated 10-0 squad as a sophomore, he graduated in 1958 and went on to attend Youngstown State University, earning his Bachelor of Science degree in business administration in 1963.
He was a member of Alpha Phi Delta fraternity.
Upon graduation he moved to Michigan to work for the JCPenney Company, spending the next 15 years working in retail management in the state known as the "Land of Lakes."
While living in Ann Arbor, it was during that time he got interested in officiating and often worked high school junior varsity basketball games in and around the Detroit area. Many times, he officiated at legendary Cobo Hall prior to Detroit Pistons home games.
Dave moved back to the Youngtown area in 1976, settling in Boardman, where he started working in industrial sales for Youngstown Rubber and the B.W. Rogers Company.
In 1981, he got back into officiating volleyball and fast-pitch softball. He drew multiple OHSAA sectional, district, regional and state assignments and worked the girls' softball state semi-finals at Akron's Firestone Park in 2015. Over a five-year period, he also officiated Division I women's basketball contests in the Northeast Conference.
Dave was a past president of the Mahoning Valley Basketball Officials Association, the Youngstown Metro Umpire Association and the Mill Creek Senior Golf League. From 2003 to 2017, he served as basketball assigner of officials for the 21-team All-American Conference and was the women's basketball observer for the Horizon League.
He served as an ASA Slo-Pitch umpire for 10 years, working both men's and women's leagues in both Mahoning and Trumbull counties, twice drawing the plate assignment for the Coors Silver Bullets-Youngstown Men's All-Stars game at Pemberton Park.
He was also behind the plate for the Ladies LPGA Stars-Youngstown Women's All-Stars contest at High Point Park that was held during the annual LPGA Phar-Mor Classic days. A highlight of his Division I basketball officiating career was working the University of North Carolina-Robert Morris contest. Dave's fondness for the hardwood game has also had him working the Salvation Army Men's League for six years each Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., also assigning up-and-coming officials to work those contests. Dave was honored as an inductee in the Curbstone Coaches Hall of Fame Class of 2017 for basketball.
His wife, the former Barbara Barrett, whom he married Jan. 25, 1964, passed away in May 2022.
Dave will always be remembered lovingly by his daughter, Angela (Bobby) Garwood; two sons David (Annette) Veitz and Anthony Veitz; seven grandchildren, Alix (Zach) Hertel, Sami (Robert) Naughton, Kay Veitz, Sarah (Graham) Smith, Betsy Garwood, David Veitz and Luke Veitz; seven great-grandchildren; and a sister, Elaine Veitz.
Per Dave's wishes, there will be no services.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the professional care of the Rossi Brothers and Lellio Funeral Home, 4442 South Ave., Boardman.
Family and friends are encouraged to offer prayers for the family and support by visiting the Book of Memories at www.rossifunerals.com.
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