Bob Pysher remembered as tireless volunteer
If Bob Pysher failed to vacuum the carpet at the Niagara Falls Falcons clubhouse, that may have been the one and only function he didn’t perform for the organization.
The Niagara Falls native was an indispensable member of the Greater Niagara Baseball Association, volunteering for virtually every task and spending countless hours giving back to the game he loved.
Pysher died earlier this month at the age of 57 but his legacy lives on.
“Everything in this building he has touched,” former GNBA volunteer Joe D’Abramo said from the Falcons clubhouse where he and Pysher spent an immeasurable amount of time over the last several decades volunteering together.
Pysher coached for several seasons before transitioning to the GNBA board in 1997, including a decade as president. In 2022, he was honoured with a 25-year volunteer award by the City of Niagara Falls.
D’Abramo said Pysher was the board’s voice of reason.
“A lot of stuff he may have discussed or brought forward may not have been the popular vote, or what everybody else was saying, but it was what he learned from experience over the years,” D’Abramo said. “He always had the vision in his head. He was the smartest man in the room when he walked in.”
Pysher also volunteered with the Niagara District Baseball Association.
“He double dipped. He always had a knack of predicting what would happen. He knew his stuff, no doubt,” D’Abramo said.
D’Abramo remembers no chore being too insignificant for Pysher.
“He coached his own son growing up and then later on he got re-involved with coaching with another group of kids and I would be in here doing something and I would catch him at the batting cage with one boy and the mom sitting in the car or helping a catcher with footwork,” D’Abramo said. “Above and beyond the team practices, he would always take time out to do that stuff. He was devoted, no doubt.”
D’Abramo is feeling the loss on a personal level as well — the two met in Grade 9 at A.N. Myer and quickly developed a close bond.
“He was my partner in crime,” D’Abramo said. “Between this and slo-pitch together, we’ve put in teams, played darts, played euchre for 45 years together. We would just get together to play crib to kill an afternoon.”
D’Abramo said Pysher hated to lose.
“He was very competitive. He wanted to win at everything. His competitive nature was amazing and it never stopped,” D’Abramo smiled.
Pysher, who worked for the Region of Niagara for over 17 years as the fleet service manager, was also the GNBA’s liaison with city of Niagara Falls, representing the organization at council meetings or when there were issues with the parks and recreation department.
“He was the guy,” D’Abramo said.
Geoff Allen, who acts as GNBA vice-president, is concerned Pysher’s loss will leave the organization with a gaping hole too big to fill.
“Being a newer member to the board, we’re learning, we’re trying to figure it out,” Allen said. “These guys are bringing 25 years of experience. The transfer of knowledge we are going to lose . . . it’s very difficult to get good, reliable volunteers and you lose the transfer of knowledge of Niagara District, GNBA, OBA championships, coaching, equipment, rules.
“You lose one guy, how do you replace the many hours?”
Pysher is survived by his loving companion of 10 years, Jennifer ‘Jenny’ Martineau, daughter Ashley Pysher (Craig Rohe), son Jeremy ‘Jake’ (Renee) Pysher, grandchildren Sam, Kennedy and Avery. Beloved son of Lorne and Sharon Pysher and brother of Kim (Roch) and Lori Pysher, as well as uncle to many nieces and nephews.
A funeral service will be held Thursday, March 28, at 1:30 p.m. at Grace Gospel Church (5855 Valley Way, Niagara Falls), with a Celebration of Life to follow at the Regency Athletic Resort (8068 Mountain Road, Niagara Falls). Memorial contributions may be made to the Greater Niagara Baseball Association and would be appreciated.
Any money received in memory of Pysher will go towards memorializing his name for his long years of contributions and his hard work.
Money can be sent by etransfer to gnbadeposits@gmail.com
Please note in the remarks that the money is memorial contribution in honour of Bob.
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