Dave, "Tuzzy", Johnston
coach, friend, hero, and family man.
It seems a tall order to fill for one person to embody all of these qualities, but for Tuzzy, it was natural.
A Coach: Tuzzy coached cheerleading and gymnastics for most of his life. As a gymnast, he fell in love with the athleticism of the sport, and as a child, he was crowned state champ gymnast. From there, he coached gymnastics and began to get involved with cheerleading. Here is where he found his niche. He coached every age and every ability of young men and woman and excelled as a motivator. Though he was tough at times, the fun, lovable side always came out at practice. Tuzzy wore his heart on his sleeve--when he was mad you knew it and when he was happy, you felt it in your soul! His energy was contagious--he could make every athlete believe that he or she could conquer mountains! And most of the time, they did! For those who were lucky enough to have been coached my this man, memories will remain etched in hearts forever. He was the heart of the NEO program for fourteen years and his spirit lives on in every athlete that takes the floor today and tomorrow.
A Friend: Making new friends was Tuzzy's specialty; he made friends more easily than anyone. He had a presence about him that made everyone who met him feel warm and comfortable. If you were a friend to Tuzzy, you had a friend for life. He was a selfless person who taught everyone around him about friendship. He would offer his paycheck to help a family with rent, buy dinner for the poor college student, offer his shoulder for those to cry on, made phone calls to brighten someone's day, and stopped at the hospital for those who were injured or sick. His spare time was spent helping or giving to someone else. No favor was too large to ask and Tuzzy never thought twice about helping someone he called a friend. His energy was contagious and his smile could melt metal.
A Hero: Tuzzy was a hero to so many children, athletes, and people. Instantly, after meeting this man, one would know he or she met someone extraordinary. He was a man who truly cared deeply for those he loved.. . his children, his wife, his family, his athletes, and his friends. With every breath he took and every fiber in his body, he wanted to make a difference in people's lives. He touched thousands upon thousands of people's lives with his generous soul, his easy going spirit, and his professionalism and expertise. An angel now to these people, Tuzzy's legend and heart lives on.
A Family Man: So many people knew of Tuzzy as a passionate coach who pounded the floor and jumped up and down when any of his teams were performing (So much so that he tore ligaments doing this several times). However, most importantly, Tuzzy was a family man. He took great pride in his role as father, husband, son, brother, and uncle. His deep rooted sense of family and his unwavering love was the strength and foundation for the Johnston Clan. He was and always will be the driving force behind his beloved family. His genuine pride of his children and his wife was evident in every glance he gave them and every word he spoke of them. He was a man who loved the little things in life--the birds, the trees, the flowers and enjoyed spending time with family, boating, carpentry, yard work, collecting Santas and planning family outings.
Irreplaceable. . .yes. Unforgettable. . .no.
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Our friend, our coach, our hero
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Southeast Athletic Boosters Inc.
9881 Holcomb Rd. Newton Falls Oh. 44444
Thank you for your generous donation in memory of Dave Johnston. Dave was a very well known supporter of our athletes. He is sadly missed by everyone who knew him. The Athletic Boosters will use your donation to
start The Dave Johnston Memorial Fund. We will use it to pay the expenses of athletes who are selected to participate in post season competition such as all star games, matches, etc. We feel that this is a good way to honor a man who himself helped many young people strive for excellence.
Sincerely,
Southeast Athletic Boosters
2003 Cheer Power Varsity Stunt Group National Champs!!!!!
