WARREN, Ohio (MyValleyTributes) – Gary J. “Coach” Games, 78, was born December 9, 1945 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a son of Delbert and Gloria (Berger) Games. He passed away at home on June 7, 2024 with his wife, Patti, at his side holding hands.
Coach will always be remembered by his loving wife of 56 years, Patricia Leon-Games; three sons, John of Hawaii, Scott (Bonnie) of Virginia and Michael of Warren, Ohio; sister, Linda Dockman of Florida; two granddaughters, Grace and Olivia Games and many nieces and nephews.
Besides his parents, Gary was preceded in death by his sister, Karen Thompson; in-laws, William Sr. and Nellie Leon; brother-in-law, William, Jr. and Richard Leon and daughter-in-law, Kelly Games.
As a youngster, Gary’s father worked on a tugboat, pulling barges up and down the Ohio River to West Virginia and Kentucky. He would be gone for months at a time, leaving his mother to raise three children during a tough time. He learned the game of baseball and became a pretty good pitcher, playing in summer leagues and in high school and eventually one year at Youngstown State University.
In 1964, Gary graduated from Dormont High School (now Keystone Oaks). To earn money for college, he worked several jobs in the Pittsburgh area: a deli shop, restaurant prep cook, national record mart (where he learned of Motown music) and later at Broden’s Ice Cream Company. It was at the ice cream company that Gary’s father was able to get a job in order to stay close to home, however he died at a young age due to health problems.
While going to YSU, Gary met his future wife, Patricia Leon, on a volleyball court. The two later had a Catholic wedding in Youngstown.
Graduating from YSU in 1969 with a BS degree in education, he majored in health and physical education. He was gainfully employed by the Southington (Chalker) School system as a health and physical education teacher (grades elementary through high school). He was also the Baseball and Football coach, beginning his career in coaching.
In Gary’s 30 years of teaching and receiving his master’s degree in elementary in Principalship, he also coached Boys Basketball and Golf, Girls Softball, Volleyball and Basketball throughout many of the Trumbull County Schools, including Warren JFK with Coach John Condoleon and Coach P.J. Notar.
Retiring from Southington School in 2020, Gary decided to substitute teach only in the elementary grades for a few more years, but continued coaching. During his tenure at Southington, he was a representative of the SEA. During contract talks, his philosophy was “Let the teach the vast knowledge they have and not teach to the proficiency test – the students lose out and big money is made by the test companies – go back to the basics…Reading, Writing, Arithmetic.” He also believed that playing outside was the best for better health for his students.
Coach was a perfectionist when it came to shoot a basketball. he could make any shot from the three-point arc. “It’s all in the wrist and keep the elbow tucked in,” as he would explain and show the players, both girls and boys. Gary was inducted into the Chalker Athletic Hall of Fame in 2006 with the 1977-78 Chalker Basketball Teams and Coach Jim Hilbun.
Through the years of teaching and coaching, Gary had met many good friends. Two come to mind: Mr. Jim Hilbun and Mr. Bill Drury. The three of them became “The Three Amigos,” going to Pirate and St. Louis games, golfing and many times to Las Vegas, casinos, horse tracks together. Where you saw one, you saw all three.
The summer months were very memorable while the boys, John, Scott and Michael, were growing up. Burbank Park was home with coaching and umpiring. Some of his favorite memories were family trips with the granddaughters to Myrtle Beach, going to Pirate and Scrappers games, golfing at Forest Oaks, football conditioning and basketball camps. Gary also tutored students that needed credits to graduate.
Yes, Coach Games followed all the Pittsburgh sports teams and would watch the Cleveland Indians at times, but don’t mention politics to him!!
Coach Games could never turn an animal away. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Coach’s name to , The Health Hearts and Paw Project, 909 Martin Luther King Blvd Sw., Warren, Oh 44485.
Calling hours will be on Saturday June 15, 2024 from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at the Peter Rossi & Son Memorial Chapel of Warren, 1884 North Rd NE, with blessings at 1pm. Please wear your favorite sports team jersey.
A special thank you to all for the care and love shown through this difficult time.
Love you PaPa. Forever in our hearts.
Family and friends may visit www.peterrossiandsonfh.com to sign the guest book and send condolences to the Games family.
A television tribute will air Thursday, June 13 at the following approximate times: 6:47 a.m. on WYTV, 9:43 a.m. on WKBN, 10:58 a.m. on FOX and 8:12 p.m. on MyYTV. Video will be posted here the day of airing.
