Larry Yandel Jr Memorial Youth Sports Fund

The Larry Yandel Jr. Memorial Youth Sports Fund has been created to honor a man that many kids in the central San Diego area called “Coach.” The “Coach”: died in April of 2011 after a long battle with cancer. He was 46 years old and left a beautiful wife, two teenage boys and a four year-old daughter. Coach Larry spent more than half of his life coaching kids in baseball, football and basketball. The day before he died, a large group – about 45 of his athletes — from all sports, came to his hospital room, to thank him for being their coach and helping them improve their game. Some of the kids mentioned specific techniques and improvements he had helped with. Also in his room, with him that day were Larry’s sons Ryan and Matthew who were the first two young enthusiasts who benefitted from his coaching. Both young men played and excelled in all three sports; and their very young sister Kaitlin, carries on the tradition and is playing several sports as this is being written.

Larry, himself also played these sports virtually all his life. In addition, he was a pretty good hockey player, learning to skate when he was six years old: He played on his high school Hockey team which went to the finals of the Northern County Hockey Association. He also played for The University of Arizona Club Team.

Larry was far more than a field coach. A great deal of his time was spent working on non-coaching tasks; preparing a field for tomorrow’s game; or setting up tryouts, or working with the various league committees, and talking with parents. He and his wife Dawn served in just about every position needed to “keep the kids playing” which included, but was not limited to, training umpires, working the snack shack, and serving as league President — both of them were there to do what needed to be done.

Larry loved the “after-game” discussions with the parents at the pizza joint or restaurant or someone’s house. They would kick around games or the men’s basketball league or sports-in-general. Sports is a unifying activity in the University City neighborhood of San Diego and Larry was in the middle of everything. He loved the kids, the parents, the social life and the coaching.

Larry was the beloved husband of Dawn Yandel and devoted father to Ryan, Matt and Kaitlin. He is missed deeply by all, and we hope to keep his memory alive using the fund to benefit the kids he loved to coach.

Larry discovered that there were kids that did not play, usually because of the cost. That is when he went to work finding money, if possible, for the registration. He was interested in possibly starting some kind of a community group that could help, so that any kid, who wanted to play, was able to. It is with this is in mind that we have created the Larry Yandel Jr. Memorial Youth Sports Fund. We accept all donations, and you can be sure all funds will go to the kids. This fund is 501-C-3 registered, so all deductions are tax exempt and are assured of being used as intended.

Save The Date

Please stay tuned for information on the next co-ed softball tournament to raise funds for Larry’s Youth Sports Fund!

Fund Administrators

• Teresa Yandel
• Larry Yandel, Sr.
• Dawn Yandel

Recipients

• University City Little League
• San Diego Danceworks Competition Team
• Centurion Foundation
• EdUCate
• UC Del Sol

In The News

• UCCA 2014 Bulletin Article

Donations

CharitySmith accepts donations in two ways:

 

The above Memorial Fund is established as a division of Charitysmith Nonprofit Foundation (EIN 87-0636433). All donations are tax deductible in accordance with federal tax law. Receipts for tax purposes are sent via US Mail within two weeks of donation. Please consider asking if your employer participates in a gift-matching program. If so, your donation may be matched by your employer.

For questions regarding your donation or this memorial fund please contact CharitySmith.