Curbstoners remember Pavlansky

By Greg Gulas

Vindicator Correspondent

BOARDMAN — From 1968-78, Dave Pavlansky roamed sidelines as coach of the Poland Bulldogs, molding his football squad into a perennial contender.

More importantly to those who were lucky enough to call him Coach, they got a lesson in life at no extra charge.

When he passed away at age 41 in 1978 after a courageous 26-month battle with cancer, he left behind six children, including four sons who, much like their father leave a lasting impression on the students that they teach, and the players lucky enough to call themselves members of a Pavlansky-coached team.

Speaking to the Curbstone Coaches during Monday’s weekly luncheon meeting at the Blue Wolf Banquet Center, the brothers — Dave, Pat, Mike and Tom — agreed their father was a big influence on their careers while their mother, Bernie, has been the backbone of their family both prior to and since their father’s passing.

Dave, the track and field coach at Boardman High who has led the Spartans to three consecutive Federal League crowns, played three years for his father while Mike played for his dad as a sophomore.

“My mother is the most loyal, hardest-working person that I have ever met,” said Dave. “To be told that your husband has inoperable brain cancer and realize that she would be facing the future with six children between the ages of 7 and 16 years was a real challenge; one that she readily accepted and never questioned.

“My father was even-tempered and treated everyone well. He attacked football from an educational perspective in that the game wasn’t about wins and losses. It was about life’s lessons,” he added.

“Watching my dad has helped me coach my sport for I have had to develop team camaraderie despite coaching individuals. He absolutely loved working with people,” Dave said.

Tom, the youngest child and the Lakeview High football coach since 1999, was only 9 when his father passed away but wouldn’t trade the brief time that he spent with his dad for anything.

He gets constant reminders from those in the community about what his dad meant to them.

“Every so often someone will come up to me and tell me what a great impact my dad had on them. I want to be able to have that same impact on the students that I teach and the players that I coach,” said Tom.

“He taught every one of us to value each and every day, to try our best and do what’s right. That is why I give my mom so much credit,” he added.

“She went back to school to get her nursing degree yet made sure we were always taken care of. We didn’t do things just to do things. We never wanted to let her down,” Tom said.

Pat, who serves as coach of the Canfield High girls basketball team, said the memories of roaming the sidelines when their dad was coaching, whether it was during two-a-day sessions or at a game, was priceless.

“Each of us watched as my father coached the players and molded his teams. What I learned most was how to get the most out of every athlete in order to make the team better,” said Pat.

“My dad had great character. When faced with the cancer diagnosis, he was just glad that it was him and no one else in the family.

“We learned how to be a coach and teacher and we learned that from our father,” Pat said.

Mike, who completed his 14th season as a head football coach and his ninth at Canfield High, said his dad wanted to be a difference-maker.

“Dad had a great passion for coaching and teaching. We were never pushed into coaching or playing athletics, but the more we were around it the more we enjoyed it,” said Mike.

“I’ve also learned that you don’t put limitations on young people. They will accomplish anything with hard work and perseverance. Those who work the hardest are the most successful,” he added.

“His goal was to make a difference in someone’s life on a daily basis. Had he been in another profession then things might have been different.

“It doesn’t matter what sport we’re coaching. It’s all about helping out our young athletes,” Mike said.

Next week, Bertram de Souza of The Vindicator will be guest speaker.