- Date Of Birth: February 8, 1928
- Date Of Death: July 16, 2015
- State: Arizona
Elmer J Lehotsky, 87, of Scottsdale, AZ, rounded third and headed for home on July 16, 2015. Much of his life was devoted to teaching youngsters teamwork, work ethic, pride and a sense of accomplishment through sports. Born February 8, 1928 to John and Mary (Klimek) Lehotsky in North Jackson, OH, Elmer graduated from North Jackson HS in 1946 and attended Youngstown State University. He had a life-long interest in aviation, beginning as a teenager when he washed airplanes to earn money for flying lessons, and served in the Civil Air Patrol during WW II. He married high school classmate Jordan Alexander (nee Rutheda Riggs) in 1948 and 1993. They moved to Jefferson, OH in 1948 where he helped organize the community’s first Little League program. Between 1953 and 1963, Elmer managed the Jefferson Red Sox Little League team to a 242-45 record, including 49 wins in a row. He was selected Jefferson’s Citizen of the Year for 1954; in 1996, the Jefferson Little League named a baseball field in his honor. In 1963, Elmer moved his family to Williamsport, PA where he served as a full-time staff member at Little League International Headquarters for the next 38 years. He was a certified Little League, PIAA and NCAA official for baseball, softball and basketball, and called games on all levels for nearly 25 years. In 2003, Elmer and Jordan retired to Scottsdale, AZ where he worked with the Arizona Diamondbacks Charities organization to build Little League baseball fields in under-served areas of the Phoenix Metro area.
In addition to his wife, Jordan, Elmer is survived by six children, Alan (Susan), Janice Pepperman (Denny), Linda Tucker (Tommy), John (Anne), Scott (Dorothy) and Sherryn Adair (Dave). He is also survived by twelve grandchildren, Steven (Caitlin), Elise, Zoe (Doug), Jon Ross (Stephanie), Ryan (Erin), Ross (Surani), Kaylan (Paul), NIck, Tim, Christine, Alicia, Susie and six great grandsons: Jack, Anthony, Anders, Nicolas, Dante and Logan. He is also survived by his brothers, Bill and Jim and one sister, Ruth. He leaves several nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews as well. He was predeceased by his daughter Terri, brother Dick and sister Dorothy.
