Dane Kennedy’s passing leaves void in community

The Bucyrus community experienced an incredible loss last week, more than words can describe.

Dane Kennedy passed away unexpectedly on April 23 at the way-too-young age of 42. It left family, friends, and business acquaintances stunned.

Kennedy was a man of few words with a low-key, deadpan sense of humor. Few people who knew him had a bad word to say about him.

Whatever Kennedy got involved in, he did it completely. And his interests, many that positively impacted the community, were diverse.

Foremost of passions was basketball. He played a little in middle school at Holy Trinity in Bucyrus. He was on the freshman team at Bucyrus High School but determined himself that he was not a particularly good player.

That did not dampen his enthusiasm for the game, and with the assistance of Dave Hirschy, the head coach at Bucyrus at the time, he transitioned to coaching.

“Dane was a very close friend I have known for 30 years,” Hirschy said. “I helped him get a foot in the door in the coaching profession.”

Helping Hirschy break down film and create scouting reports only further fueled Kennedy’s passion and prepared him for what would be two decades of coaching his favorite sport.

After graduating from BHS in 2000, he was able to move into varsity coaching, landing a position on the staff of coach Doug Etgen at Marion Catholic. From there, his career took off.

A person who would become another close friend, Tim Birie, took the head coaching job at Crestline in 2003. Kennedy became his freshman coach.

“I hired Dane sight unseen. I took the recommendation of Dave Hirschy, who I greatly respected,” Birie said. “Dane didn’t know the AD (Jim Glauer) and I had decided to hire him before he came for the interview. The only thing we talked about in the interview was that we were looking for someone loyal. He was a loyal friend for over 20 years.”

In just a few years, Kennedy got the opportunity to move back to the varsity bench at what would become one of the most successful programs in Crawford County — Colonel Crawford.

“I needed a varsity assistant desperately and I called the great basketball mind for advice — Dave Hirschy,” Colonel Crawford coach David Sheldon said. “He said he had the perfect guy, a basketball junkie who was coaching freshmen with Tim Birie at Crestline.

“Dane ate, breathed, and slept basketball for the Eagles. He was an integral part of our early success including three regional appearances (2009, 2012, 2013).”

While Kennedy continued coaching in the Colonel Crawford since then, he was obliged to gear back somewhat due to the time needed to care for his ever-expanding business, Kennedy Landscaping. What started as part-time lawn mowing grew to buying out another lawn care service in 2018.

Kennedy attacked business with the same drive as basketball, and yet, he found time to become involved in other community efforts. As a confirmed bachelor, Kennedy used his discretionary time to help others.

He recently completed at 3-year stint as the president of the Bucyrus Kiwanis Club. Fellow Kiwanian and current club president Kate Volk related what Kennedy meant to the organization.

“In Kiwanis, Dane followed in the footsteps of his grandfather, John Kenndy,” Volk said. “He showed up, did the work, and made the community stronger along the way. He served three years as Kiwanis President, leading the club to be named Organization of the Year.”

Volk noted that Kennedy played a huge part in keeping the Kiwanis Pickleball Courts thriving and growing the Kiwanis Grove, where trees are planted to honor Kiwanis members who have passed. Most assuredly, Dane Kennedy will have his tree planted.

Kennedy was also behind the Splash Pad project at Aumiller Park and was in charge of many fundraisers, not the least of which was the Bucyrus Chicken Barbecue each summer.

“More than anything, Dane was the community hub. He connected the dots,” Volk said. “He always had a reason to find something in common with anyone and everyone. Whether you knew him for five minutes or five years, you felt like you belonged around Dane.”

Kennedy became just the second president in the 19-year history of the Crawford County Sports Hall of Fame. While basketball was No. 1 with Kennedy, he loved all sports and wanted to see those in his community honored who were deserving.

In 2019, he became a trustee for the John Q. Shunk Association, which makes donations for community improvement. On the other end of the spectrum, Kennedy was an occasional co-host of the Phoneboard call-in show on WQEL radio, first with Hirschy and later with Birie.

Hirschy quipped that he called Kennedy his mime because he was reluctant, at first, to participate much on air, preferring to mostly compile and relate scores.

“He was an active member of so many things in Bucyrus,” Hirschy said. “Kiwanis, WQEL radio, Crawford County Sports Hall of Fame, coaching basketball at Colonel Crawford, a successful businessman and landlord. There is a giant void in Crawford County. So many of us in the coaching fraternity have heavy hearts. We lost a brother. I lost a dear friend.”

Like Hirschy, Birie and Kennedy became close friends, not just coaching associates, despite their significant age difference.

“He loved the game, no doubt about it,” Birie said. “He had (basketball) stuff all over the place. We became great friends, even though he was at Colonel Crawford, and I was at Galion.

“He was just a year older than my youngest daughter,” Birie added. “I viewed him as a second son. Dane called every 2-3 days, just checking in. He helped people, helped everyone. All of us will miss him tremendously.”

Besides doing my landscaping, I clearly remember one time when Kennedy helped me. We were at a split session sectional basketball tournament at Ontario. When the first game ended, they were clearing the gym, and anyone staying for the second game had to go back outside and get in line.

I was bemoaning the fact that I had to get back in line outside. Dane said, “I have a district pass that is good for two. You’re with me.” We headed for the hospitality room. That was vintage Dane Kennedy.

Sheldon viewed Kennedy as far more than just a member of his coaching staff.

“Dane contributed in so many ways to the Bucyrus area youth through Kiwanis, scholarship committees, many generous donations, and support behind the scenes that he never took credit for,” Sheldon said. “The Eagles, the coaching fraternity, the Bucyrus community, and the Sheldons loved Dane very much.”

Volk found Kennedy a pleasure to work with as she assisted him at Kiwanis.

“Dane did not care about attention or titles. He cared about people,” Volk said. “He cared about results. He cared about making things better and having a little fun along the way. His leadership was not loud. It was not flashy. But it left a mark that will never fade.”

WQEL station manager Claudia Spiegel echoed Volk’s sentiments.

“Dane was a friend, a dedicated community servant, and mentor to countless athletes throughout the years,” Spiegel said. “One important lesson he imparted to us is that we can always strive to do it better, give a bit more, and support those in need.”

Kennedy was laid to rest Wednesday at Oakwood Cemetery. Fittingly, Birie performed the private graveside service. No doubt, Dane would have wanted it that way.

Left to mourn his loss are his immediate family, including his parents, Bill and Sheila Kennedy, brother, Orry, nephew, Brayden, along with paternal grandmother Joyce Kennedy and maternal grandparents, Ron and Connie Fahl.

The rest of us will continue to appreciate his contributions to making the Bucyrus area a better place.

Dane won’t soon be forgotten.