By Catherine Wilde
Staff Writer | April 29

Closter — Leo Liddy’s love of the children he coached is exemplified in every memory shared by those who knew him when he was alive.

The lifelong Closter resident died last fall after devoting years of his life on the fields coaching Little League Baseball.

Irene Sheehan, the mother of three children Liddy coached, remembers him as caring about each child, no matter what skill level.

"My middle son Kevin was a bat boy on the summer travel team and he and Leo sat and talked like two best friends," said Sheehan. "He made him such a part of it… made him feel such a part of the team."

George Potterton, who was recreation director for 40 years, remembers when Liddy first moved to Closter in the 1960s.

"When Leo’s family moved to town I was recreation director and we always needed coaches. Leo came down and volunteered to help in baseball," said Potterton, adding that Liddy was "very knowledgeable about baseball."

He remembers Liddy as a coach who "never seemed to tire of it and always enjoyed it" and a good teacher who never lost his patience.

"Leo worked with the kids… and he never got excited. He always had a smile on his face," Potterton said.

Liddy was devoted to coaching. He continued doing it long after his own children had outgrown the sport, something Potterton said is rare for little league coaches.

As a way of commemorating Liddy’s dedication to the players, Recreation Director Jim Oettinger said a ball field at Memorial Park will be dedicated to him May 17 at 10:30 a.m.

Oettinger said the Recreation Commission voted Labor Day 2007 to dedicate the back softball field to Liddy. The mayor and council approved it earlier this year.

According to Oettinger, the ceremony will include the installation of a wooden sign in Liddy’s name and those who knew him will give speeches.

"This guy was a gentleman of gentlemen. He had the patience of a saint," Oettinger said.

E-mail: wilde@northjersey.com or call 201-894-6706