Reese H. Dalzell's Obituary
Reese Harrison Dalzell was born in Clairton, Pennsylvania to Alice and Stanford Dalzell on December 15, 1937.
He was a graduate of Clairton High School class of 1955. He served as a reservist in the United States Army and was stationed in Fort Rucker, Alabama during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. In 1963 Reese married Nancy Jean Dalzell, a marriage that lasted nearly fifty-five years until Nancy's death. Reese was a retiree of Hercules Chemical Corporation.
In his youth, Reese developed a strong interest in baseball. He became a good player and as a young adult played semi-professional baseball in the McKeesport Daily News League for a number of seasons. After he finished playing baseball, Reese continued his involvement with the sport as a baseball umpire while also playing on various slow-pitch softball teams. Reese also served his community as president of the McKeesport Baseball Association for thirty years, an elected volunteer position in which he spent countless hours to help provide summer recreational baseball to thousands of young people in the city of McKeesport. Late in life, he participated in many text chats with his son and grandsons about Pittsburgh Pirates, Pitt Panthers, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Pittsburgh Penguins games. Reese was a longtime fan of the vocal group The Lettermen, enjoyed comedy movies, and television shows.
Although he had a lifelong interest in baseball, Reese's family was the center of his life. He loved his family with all his heart. Whether grandparents, parents, wife, children, or grandchildren he cared for everyone. Reese especially enjoyed taking family trips, building up a treasury of precious memories at destinations such as beaches and theme parks. In retirement, he and Nancy took numerous day and overnight trips, shopped, and visited their grandchildren. In his later years Reese developed special relationships with his grandsons through frequent texting and conversations on sports, religion, and daily struggles of life, becoming a source of wisdom, strength, and encouragement for them.
Reese spent the last 5 years living with his daughter, son-in-law, and at varying times one or both of his granddaughters. Throughout these years together, Reese spent countless nights with them watching movies and television shows, playing with the dogs, and talking with everyone and cherishing every minute he had with them. Those times of laughter and love will forever carry on in our hearts.
As a Christian, Biblical values informed his life such as Jesus' command "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you," (Matthew 7:12) and the Apostle Paul's teaching "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." (Romans 12:18). Accordingly, Reese formed many friendships owed to his personable demeanor, kindness, and respect for others. Reese lived a life of loyalty to God, family, and country. Those who knew him well also know he was more than can be adequately expressed in this writing and that he will be profoundly missed.
Reese is survived by his children Carol Cox (Michael) and Gregory Dalzell, Sr. (Sally), and his grandchildren Erin Avila (Juan), Sara Cox, Gregory Dalzell, Jr. (Amanda) and Paul Dalzell. In 2018 Reese was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy Jean Dalzell.
Private services have been entrusted to the JEFFERSON MEMORIAL FUNERAL HOME, INC., 301 Curry Hollow Road, Pittsburgh, 15236.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions in Reese's name may be made to a charity of your choice.
Condolences may be left at www.jeffersonmemorial.com
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