Remembering Dan Funk
A Note from The Churchville Lightning
The friends, fans, and families of the Churchville Lightning are dealing with heavy hearts as, collectively, we mourn the loss and passing of Coach Dan Funk. For the past 20 years, Coach Dan has been an outstanding coach, friend and mentor to the players of the Lightning as well as the countless others that he worked with as either a high school or private lesson coach.
Coach Dan was blessed with the uncanny ability to inject life, energy and confidence into every player and person that had the good fortune to be in his presence. He was unique in his ability to listen and be empathetic, while at the same time, always knowing exactly the right thing to say. Certainly, this unique ability was his "super power".
Over the past several years, Coach Dan battled with heart related health issues. But, with the same grit and determination he expected from his players, Coach Dan battled those issues and was an inspiration to us all with his on-going display of courage, commitment and perseverance as well as his periodic notes and posts of encouragement.
His passing will leave a gaping hole in the hearts of many and his passion, energy and intensity for life will be sorely missed. Thankfully, all Lightning players, both past and present, will forever have a piece of "Mr. Dan" in their minds and hearts.
Rest In Peace.
About this Page
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Provides a resource for family and friends for current information on services.
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Assisting in immediate needs for funeral expenses, etc.
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Creating a lasting memory book that will not scroll away like normal social media.
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Establishing memorial scholarships and programs to help youth experience programs that Dan was passionate about supporting and help tell his story to inspire them.
Services
Viewing:
Date: Thursday, March 30, 2023
Time: 2:00 – 4:00 PM and 6:00 - 8:00 PM
Place: McComas Family Funeral Home Bel Air Location
50 West Broadway, Bel Air, MD 21014
Services:
Date: Friday, March 31, 2023
Time: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM (service), 12:00 - 1:00 PM (luncheon)
Place: Freedom Church - Bel Air Campus
1705 Conowingo Rd, Bel Air, MD 21014
Can't make it to the service? Watch HERE!
Come Together to Help Now
The friends and family of Dan Funk could use your help to deal with the immediate aftermath of his passing. The most immediate priority is to help cover expenses for the funeral, and to help put together the service and lunch gatherings. You can help by:
- Volunteering - Click on the link to indicate your ability to provide time and/or items to assist
- Donating - Click on the Donate button at the top and bottom of this page to help out with funeral expenses, family expenses, and establishing the Legacy programs once those items are addressed.
Donation Wall
Thank you to the many friends of Dan who have made generous contributions to help. You can visit our Dan Funk Donation Wall here. Your help is very much appreciated and needed!
Carrying on Dan's Legacy
Dan Funk Memorial Lightning Scholarship - Awarded to a Lightning Player to help them join the program. Dan would have it no other way than for this to include some hitting lessons each year as well.
Dan Funk Leadership Award - Awarded to a graduating Lightning Player who took the initiative to drive themselves and those around them to work hard and be the best persons they could be on the field and off. This annual award will include a $1000 scholarship to be used for higher level education.
Dan Funk Hitting Academy - Details of this program will be developed in collaboration with the Churchville Lightning coaching staff and will emphasize Dan’s passion for instruction and development.
Supporting Selena
The first order of business for the Dan Funk Legacy Project was to support his daughter, Selena Funk, as she works to get her teaching degree. Selena hopes to graduate from Towson University and then attend graduate school at the University of Pittsburgh, which is in the hometown of her father. While Dan is gone, his legacy remains, and the Dan Funk Legacy Project is happy to support Dan's daughter in the same way that he supported his players and students.
Remembering Dan
Use the link below to provide a lasting Memory of Coach Dan. You can use this to also share a favorite photo along with your memory.
Dan Funk Memory WallIf you are extremely really lucky you find a person that shares your passions and is willing to pour their heart and soul into those things that are important to you. Perhaps you find someone that will help you out, no matter what kind of help you need and is willing to accept your help in return -- without feeling indebted. The best of friends, however, are those people who root for you and your successes, while never being jealous of your success. More importantly, the best of friends are willing to revel in your achievements and the triumphs of your family as if, those achievements and triumphs were theirs as well. But most of all, if you play your cards right, you find a friend who becomes family. A friend who is more like a brother than a friend. And for me -- Dan Funk -- was one of those rare individuals and rare friends. You inspired me, you pushed me and most importantly, you loved me. As you have always said -- Only Love!! RIP. El Grande. Until we're reunited in Paradise.
Tim Favazza -
Dan possessed an incredible ability to touch people's hearts and to love without judgement or expectations. Everyone that had the opportunity to know him will forever carry a piece of his love. He was simply, just that special. God Bless.....
George Kingery -
Mr. Tim , I always loved seeing you and Mr. Dan together in posts over the years and seeing that I was there for the beginning of what turned into a lifelong friendship between you two. It warms my heart that you were there at the end of his life , telling his story and informing us when he couldn't anymore. I am hopeful of his community of friends and family to find ways to keep Mr. Dan's mission and his values alive and to continue impacting young women athletes, in particular, in his name. He was a great man. See you soon. Hugs, Cherish.
Cherish Pamela Smith -
Beautiful words for a beautiful man Dad. I can still remember so vividly the first time we met Mr. Dan in his basement and he gave us our first pitching lessons, why I thought I could be a pitcher I'll never know, but Mr. Dan was always so positive and encouraged me no matter how bad I was. But to see your friendship grow and be sustained over the years has been a wonderful gift. I'm grateful for all the lessons learned, the example set, and the contagious joy and passion Coach Dan lived out, I will carry it with me all the days of my life.
Megan Hucko -
We at the Churchville Recreation Council would like to offer our condolences to friends and family of a pillar of the community, one Dan "The Juggernaut" Funk! Dan is well known and has long been highly respected in the Churchville Community, as a softball coach and instructor, for many years. Dan's gym is located just through the woods behind baseball field 3, and many kids have gone to Dan's gym over the years, to get in shape, to get stronger, or to get better at hitting or pitching. Dan Funk truly cared about the kids of the community, and was always an encouraging, motivational voice to help those kids through struggles in sport, and also in life! RIP Dan Funk! You are already missed by so many people.
Churchville Recreation Council -
Supporting Organizations
Supporting InterestThe following organizations are organizational partners of the Dan Funk Legacy Project