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

