Obituary of William David La Sala

La Sala, William D. "Bill", age 65, of Asheboro, NC, died Sunday, December 29, 2013 at home. He was born November 5, 1948 in Paterson, N.J. and resided in Paterson and Wayne until he retired to North Carolina in December 2011. He is predeceased by his parents William and Jean Annis LaSala along with his brother, Joseph Tafuri. He is survived by his wife Mary Daly LaSala and sister Marie of Santa Barbara, California, cousins Jeanne and Bill Farkas and children, Anthony and Marion LaSala and children, sons Juan Griles and Onix Ortiz, and Carmen Hererra Ortiz, the wonderful friend who donated her kidney to extend Bill's life. He is also survived by his closest friends, Tom and Anne Cooper and many others whom he loved. He was raised in Paterson and later moved to Wayne, NJ in 1986. He attended Paterson Public Grammar Schools, Eastside High School and received his Masters of Engineering degree from Newark College of Engineering (NJIT), and a teaching degree from William Paterson University. After one summer coaching Little League Baseball in 1969, he determined that his calling was not in thermodynamics but in the dynamics of teaching and guiding youngsters, and that his true passion was coaching. Bill taught in the Paterson Public School System for more than 33 years with a coaching career that spanned more than 36 years. In addition to an outstanding career as an educator, his work on the courts and ball fields is legendary. A former coach at Don Bosco Tech and John F. Kennedy High School, he provided more than 500 youngsters with wholesome outdoor activities as program director and part owner of the Arrowhead Day Camp. He truly loved guiding and being with children and dedicated his life to helping them grow and to be successful. He also tackled duties as vice chairman and commissioner of the Paterson Municipal Youth Guidance Council, commissioner and director of baseball operations for the Paterson Recreation Advisory Council, commissioner and president of the Paterson Old Timers Youth Baseball League, the North Jersey Junior Basketball League, and the Paterson Midget Basketball League. The baseball league was his true passion, and Pennington Park was his home. An honoree many times over, he received the Al Moore Jr. Community Award of the Lou Costello Sportsman Club, Man of the Year by the Paterson Municipal Youth Guidance Council along with numerous other citations for his devotion to sports. Thanks to Bill's guidance, coaching and character-building skills, several athletes in North Jersey have moved from Little League, to major league or made monumental contributions to sports. However, his most coveted award has been the love and dedication he received from his students, players, coaches, and lifelong friends. Visitation will be held from 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM on Friday, January 3rd at Festa Funeral Home in Totowa, NJ. A private memorial service for family will be held on Saturday. Donations may be made in Bill's honor to the American Diabetes Association and the Paterson Old Timers Youth Baseball League, 384 E. 21st St., Paterson, NJ 07513, c/o Abraham Aguayo.