Hyde Park Little League and the Man Who Will be Missed
A few ominous clouds in the sky look daunting for arriving Hyde Park Little Leaguers this Saturday morning. The weather has been terrific so far this season compared to last though, which some have seen as a sign from above.
Maria Disilva, a mom of both a boy and girl in the league, said, “For the first time in a long time, this league is operating without Wayne, but he left us some beautiful weather as a lovely parting gift, except today I guess.”
The man she referred to with such fondness was Wayne C. Belcher, a staple in the league for over 48 years. Despite not having children himself, Belcher acted as a coach, board member, and mentor to generations of Little Leaguers for nearly half a century.
“He was so beloved throughout this league and community,” said Disilva. “I don’t think a lot of us realized how truly special he was until he was gone. He was just such a nice face to see hanging around and is sorely missed.”
According to his obituary on the website Sweet’s Funeral Home, he passed away suddenly on Christmas Eve of 2018. He was 65 years old. The obituary goes on to say, “Wayne’s true love was youth sports. As a coach and referee, he was active with the Hyde Park Little League for almost fifty years, and the Regina Coeli CYO program.”
In response to the tragedy, the board of the league came together to honor the man who had given so much by establishing a fund in his honor. On the GoFundMe for the ‘Wayne C Belcher Memorial Fund,’ it says, “On December 24th, (Wayne) left us suddenly and left many with a void that cannot be filled. Wayne’s family has asked that donations in his name be made to Hyde Park Little League.”
It goes on to say that the funds raised by this GoFundMe page will be used for renovations of the fields and complex used by the league. The website also mentions that a scholarship in his name is being created, but more information would be available at a later date. There was one more action the league took to honor the man who had given so much. “I’m not sure whose idea it was,” said Disilva. “But the second we heard it, we all fell in love.” The home of the league, previously named the Creek Road Complex, got an updated name on opening day of 2019.
On April 1, the league gathered to kick off the season and honor all that Belcher had given. After all the teams paraded around the bases and the national anthem was sung, the new name of the complex was revealed. The Wayne C. Belcher Memorial Fields will be home to the next generation of Hyde Park Little Leaguers for the foreseeable future.
“It was a beautiful moment,” said Disilva. “A really bittersweet one for the league. I think we all would have like to say goodbye properly, but now his name will be with us and this league forever.” (Photos courtesy of Belcher’s public obituary at: https://www.sweetsfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Wayne-C-Belcher?obId=3964960#/photosAndVideos )
