Ernest “Coach Ernie” Dadich, 68, passed away peacefully on October 19th, 2023 in, Zellwood, Florida. He left behind a hell of a lot of stuff to his sons and daughter, i.e., too many tools they don’t know the use for, thousands of scavenged golf tees in every size and variety meticulously sorted into Ziploc bags, every style of hat the Ohio State Buckeyes have to offer, range balls galore (with range buckets, somehow, included), classified Hatfield and McCoy documents (he was kind of a big deal), and even half eaten sleeves of Ritz crackers. While this may sound like an ad, this is the obituary for a courageous man and loving father who maintained his pride, tenacity, and even his quick-wit and knack for banter, until the end.
Ernie was born on August 24th, 1955, in Akron, Ohio to grandpa George (George Dadich) and grandma Jo (Joesphine Dadich). He is survived by his three children (Bryan, Nicholas, and Christina), all of whom inherited his undeniably amusing, albeit clearly untimely, sense of humor and his sister Sophia (John) who shares not only his genuine nature but also his charmingly vast repertoire of profanity. Ernie was world-renowned for his ability to DIY and put the word “handy” in handyman. Step on a nail? Soak your foot in laundry detergent. Need a jack stand? A wobbly stack of 2x4s will always work. No Bluetooth in your truck and you want to blast Eagles – Long Road Out of Eden on the way to every baseball practice for two years straight? Easily achieved when you have a portable CD player and a cassette adapter. That is to say, if you knew, Ernie, you’d understand there’s very little a Zip Tie (and a cold Icehouse) can’t fix. Among these talents, his obituary simply wouldn’t be complete without mentioning his love of baseball and softball and, namely, his dedication to nearly 20 years of coaching. Ernie offered knowledge on and off the field and reminded us that even if you’re not “the coach” you can still flick your kids off from the sidelines if you pick a discrete spot in the bleachers. He showed us you can, in fact, fashion short-shorts and white crew socks even if you don’t work at Hooters. He taught us you can’t see the ball with tears in your eyes, and you can’t be late, unless you’re the coach, in which case you should always be late. We were imparted with the ability to win with grace, lose with dignity, and never strike out lookin’, because that’d certainly get you a few extra laps. With all of this said, Ernie was a legend in Mount Dora. He has left a trail of fond memories and wisdom, and he will be sorely missed by all those he loved and impacted. While we don’t remember how he felt about rally caps, he surely had his on until the very end.
Ernie’s ’Celebration of Life’ will be held on November 12th, 2023, from 3:00-5:00 p.m. at Zellwood Station and Country Club (2126 Spillman Drive, Zellwood, FL., 32798) to honor and remember him. Family and friends are invited to come and share their favorite memories and stories and are encouraged to wear casual attire. In typical Ernie style, it is likely the family will show up late.
