28 | JULY 15 • 2021

P

layers in the Detroit
Jewish Youth Softball
League are wearing caps
with the initials “LS” on them
this season.
That’s to honor the memory
of Larry Schon, an Oak Park
resident who ran the league as
commissioner and was a coach
for 30 years. He died Dec. 7,
2020, at age 71 from complica-
tions from COVID-19.
Schon probably wouldn’t like
the attention he’s getting this
season from the league’s 210
players, their coaches and all the
league families.
“Larry was unassuming and

humble. He preferred to stay
behind the scenes and didn’t
expect anything in return for
the work he did for the league,
”
said Dovid Seligson, a former
league player in the 1990s who
is in his first year as commis-
sioner.
“Larry was liked by everyone.
Nobody had anything bad to
say about him,
” Seligson said.
“He had a passion for softball,
and he saw a need for Jewish
kids to keep busy and be pro-
ductive during the summer.
”
Rosa Furman is one of
Larry and Pearl Schon’s six
children. The couple was mar-

ried for 48 years.
Furman is coaching in the
league this season, and so are
her brothers Aaron and Sruli.
Twice-a-week games began
Twice-a-week games began
June 20 and continued though
this week..
“It’s so nice for the league to
honor my dad,
” Furman said.
“He never missed a year when
he was involved. He loved
sports, and he loved kids.
”
League players come mainly
from Orthodox families and
attend Jewish day schools.
Playing slow-pitch softball
in a low-pressure atmosphere

gives them a chance to meet
each other and have some fun,
Seligson said.
League games are played
Sunday mornings and Tuesday
evenings on the seven fields
at Catalpa Oaks Park in
Southfield. There are seven
divisions:
• Grades 1-3 girls.
• Grades 4-8 girls.
• Grade 1 boys.
• Grades 2-3 boys.
• Grades 4-5 boys.
• Grades 6-8 boys.
There were no league games
last summer because of the
COVID-19 pandemic.
The usual contingent of 320
or so players is down this year,
Seligson said, because of a late
and condensed registration
period caused by the gradual
and sporadic easing of pandem-
ic restrictions.
Seligson is confident the
league will return to its normal
number of players next summer.

sports HIGHlights

NMLS#2289
brought to you in partnership with

SCHON FAMILY

Tip of the Cap

Youth softball league honors “unassuming, humble”
Larry Schon, its leader for 30 years.

STEVE STEIN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Larry Schon
with his
daughter Sheva
and son Sruli
during the 2010
Young Israel
Softball League
season.

continued on page 30