David L. Lutz, Sr., Palmer Township (1933-2023)

David L. Lutz Sr. ("Dave"), 89, of Palmer Township, passed away on Friday, January 19, 2023 at Country Meadows Personal Care Community in Bethlehem.  Dave was born in Muncy, PA on November 2, 1933 to the late Charles and Anna (Welteroth) Lutz.  He was predeceased by his beloved wife and true love Martha (Dippolito) Lutz in 1992.

Born in a small farmhouse during the Great Depression, he would live in the towns of Williamsport and Wellsboro during his childhood as his parents tried to support their family.  His parents would eventually settle in Matamoras, PA. He graduated from Port Jervis High School, NY in 1951 where he excelled as a four-sport athlete in football, basketball, baseball, and track and field.  His senior year, he would quarterback the football team.  Before he enrolled in college, professional baseball scouts were already pursuing him.

In 1952, he would be the first person in his extended family to attend college at East Stroudsburg University where he played on the football team.  That summer he was invited to tryout at a practice with the 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers at famed Ebbets Field.  He would later play four years of professional baseball, one with the Baltimore Orioles and three with the St. Louis Cardinals reaching the upper ranks of the Cardinals minor league teams in Beaumont, TX and Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.  Playing with the Hamilton Red Wings he was named team MVP.  Following that season, he was offered a full-time job, and being a child of the Depression and recently engaged to be married, he decided that the offer of a steady full time career was a better opportunity than pursuing his baseball dreams.  A few years later, he would pitch in the Blue Mountain League in Pennsylvania.  In the 1957 season, he set the record for most strikeouts in a season, a record which stood for many decades.  He was inducted as a charter member into the Blue Mountain League Hall of Fame in 1984.

Along with being a professional baseball player, he was also a professional musician, playing piano for numerous bands in his early years.  While playing piano in a band at The Glenwood Hotel, a resort in the Pocono Mountains, one of the most romantic love stories ever told would begin.  In 1953, a model from New York City, Marty Dippolito, was vacationing at The Glenwood.   Marty entered and won a dance contest at the resort.  The band leader would announce that first prize was a kiss from the tall handsome piano player.  From that kiss, a summer romance blossomed which led to a never-ending love story.  Dave and Marty would continually fall in love over the next three years. In the beginning of 1957, he would live through one of the most whirlwind weeks unheard of by today's norms.  In the span of one week, he would graduate from East Stroudsburg University on January 24, 1957, marry his ultimate soulmate Marty in a gala New York City wedding on January 27, and start a new job as a teacher in the Easton Area School District a few days later.  He and his new bride Marty would honeymoon at the Hotel Easton and settle and raise their five sons in that town for the rest of their lives.

He worked as a teacher and administrator for the Easton Area School District for 36 years.  He started his teaching career at Wolf Junior High School in Downtown Easton.  Eventually, he became a fixture at Shull Junior High School on Easton's South Side where he was the football coach and earned the accolades of many Shull students for years to come as one of their favorite teachers.  He was also an assistant coach for the Easton Area High School baseball team.  Soon after, he would earn Master's degrees from NYU and Temple Universities and served many years as an administrator for the Easton Area School District.  He retired in 1993.  He also taught piano lessons at Brader & Son music store in Easton for many years.  He served and participated in numerous community organizations including board member for the Easton Area Public Library, and a member of the Easton Schoolmen's Association and the Sertoma Club of Easton.  Dave was a faithful parishioner for many years of St. Jane Frances de Chantal Roman Catholic Church in Easton.  He was an avid golfer and fisherman often seen enjoying his corn cob pipe during both activities.

Before his retirement in 1993, he endured a hardship that many people sometimes lose sight of, that nothing on Earth is meant to be perfect, only Heaven is perfect.  His only true love, Marty, would pass away unexpectedly.  Enduring the grief and sorrow after Marty's death, he still continued to be a central pillar of strength to his family of five sons, which he and Marty considered their greatest gift and legacy.

He was a steadfast loving and devoted father and grandfather helping and supporting his sons and daughter in-laws with the raising of their own families.  To his sons, he never offered any direct advice on how to be a great husband and father, his own example and actions were a substitute for words.  He instilled in his five sons the importance of studying and working hard.  And of course, he supported their own love of sports as all of his sons would be two-sport athletes at Easton Area High School.   As a grandfather, he spent countless hours with his grandchildren babysitting, chauffeuring, proud spectator of all their activities.  For all the time he spent doing this, he required the fee of one martini.

He was predeceased by his parents Charles and Anna (Welteroth) Lutz of Matamoras, PA, his loving wife Martha (Dippolito) Lutz originally from Flushing, NY, his brother Eugene (age 3 months) who he always considered his guardian angel, brother Charles "Joe" Lutz of Jeanette, PA, and sister Rita (Lutz) Pencek of Port Jervis, NY.  He was also predeceased by a daughter-in-law Mary Beth (Stringer) Lutz devoted wife of his son Anthony.  Also, predeceasing him were his brothers-in-law Richard, Robert, Victor, and Stanley and two sisters-in-law Frances and Josephine who he always considered his own brothers and sisters.

Surviving are his sons David Jr., and wife Dawn of Palmer Township, son Anthony of Milwaukee, WI, son Joseph and wife Kim of Williams Township, son James and wife Tina of Gaithersburg, MD, and son Thomas and wife Anne of Schnecksville.  He is survived by 16 Grandchildren, Andrew, Catherine, Kaitlyn, Lauren, Julia, Macey, Taylor, Olivia, Sydney, Aidan, Mia-Joy, Joey, Amelia, Isaac, Tommy, and Esther Joy, and two great grandchildren Reese and Rowan and a soon to be born great grandson.  He is also survived by two sisters-in-law Annette and Terry.

Calling hours will be held on Thursday, January 26, 2023 from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM at Morello Funeral Home, Inc., 3720 Nicholas Street, Easton (Palmer Twp.). An additional calling hour will be held on Friday, January 27, 2023 from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM at St. Jane de Chantal Church, 4049 Hartley Avenue, Easton followed by a Mass of Christian Burial.

In lieu of flowers: Please consider making a donation to the charity of your choice.  Dave was a supporter of The National Wildlife Foundation support.nwf.org/page/41814/donate and also finding a cure through the Huntington's Disease Society of America hdsa.org. Online condolences may be made at www.morellofunerahome.com.