Passing of Teddy Loftus felt by local youth leagues across several boroughs

By Steve Svetovich

If you played basketball or baseball in a local youth league anywhere in Lackawanna County in the past three decades, you knew Teddy Loftus.

And there is a pretty good chance he remembered your name and made some type of impact.

Born and raised in Dunmore, Teddy’s life was tragically taken from us Friday, June 21, when a vehicle he was driving was hit by a tractor-trailer about 3 a.m, on Interstate 380 South and 84 East in Roaring Brook Township.

State police reported the 2022 Kenworth tractor-trailer was traveling in the far right lane near the I-380 south/I-84 east split and made an unsafe lane change into the far left lane to get off at the I-84 exit in Roaring Brook Township. The truck hit the car driven by Loftus that was traveling in the center lane going south on I-380.

According to the coroner, Loftus, 60, died from traumatic injuries suffered in the crash,

The male driver of the tractor-trailer, from Sarasota, Florida, was arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter, recklessly endangering another person, and various summary offenses.

Loftus, a graduate of Bishop O’Hara High School and East Stroudsburg University, was driving a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu.

Loftus was a beloved and well-known basketball referee and baseball umpire throughout several towns and boroughs in Lackawanna County and a bit beyond. He was a PIAA official.

Loftus’ passion for refereeing and umpiring was fueled by his love for sports and commitment to helping others, especially local youth.

Parents and student-athletes were shocked and saddened by the passing of Loftus. This was evidenced by various Facebook posts across almost every town and borough representing youth leagues in Lackawanna County.

Chris Stone met him almost two decades ago when he and Loftus were refereeing youth biddy basketball for seventh and eighth graders.

“I remember him refereeing in a youth basketball league with 100 young athletes,” he said.

“He memorized every kid’s name. He was a kind, gentle man who really cared.”

This scribe came to know Loftus as he refereed and umpired my two sons’ biddy and youth leagues over the past 25 years. He umpired a Sunday game in the Tri-Valley Baseball League which my son Dylan played in just five days before his tragic passing.

My son Dylan told me he was one of his favorite umpires, often taking the time to chat between pitches and showing a genuine interest in every player.

“He would keep you entertained between pitches. He was complimentary and would remember things about every player.

“He has been refereeing my basketball games and umpiring my baseball games since I was a little kid. I always looked forward to seeing him there.”

This scribe remembers Loftus as a biddy basketball referee at Holy Rosary in North Scranton. Loftus would occasionally call a foul on a player, so that a kid who had not scored would get an opportunity to make a couple foul shots. Or he would call a timeout with a few seconds left to make sure a kid who didn’t score also got his chance for a basket. He would stop a game, so a kid could make a shot.

And it’s true that he remembered every single kid’s name.

Those are the things you remember about Teddy Loftus. He had an impact not only on the best players, but on every single one of them.

Jerry Capone, a 1979 Dunmore graduate and retired teacher in the Wallenpaupack School District, was Loftus’ close friend since their Dunmore Little League days. “Dunmore and the surrounding communities have lost a beautiful soul and very caring baseball umpire and basketball official who always had every single kid’s best interest in mind when he worked a game. Friends since Little League, I will miss him dearly.

“Life is short, unpredictable and not always fair. Teddy recently texted me several times wishing me and my wife Happy Anniversary and congratulations on our son’s wedding. He always cared about others,”

Old Forge baseball coach Tony DiMattia partnered as a basketball official with Loftus over a dozen times. “This is gut wrenching,” he said. “I worked with Teddy as a basketball official. As a baseball coach, Teddy umpired over 30 of my games. He will be missed. I am heartbroken for his kids and family.

“Teddy was a guy who was always willing to teach kids the game while he officiated. This was especially apparent at the youth level where you often would see him encouraging kids as they played.

“Working a basketball game with Teddy was as fun an experience as you can have as an official.”

Robert Sarafinko, a veteran in the Tri-Valley Baseball League always enjoyed seeing Loftus calling games as an umpire.

“I loved when Mr. Loftus was behind the plate when I pitched,” he said. “He was one of the best umpires in the league. His loss will be felt. My condolences to his entire family. May he rest in peace.”

Former West Scranton basketball standout Cullen Fanning, now a PIAA basketball and football official, had the chance to both perform under Loftus as a player and later work with him as an official. “The impact he had on local youth was very meaningful,” he said.

“I’ve known him since I was seven years old  playing basketball at Saint Anne’s in West Scranton. Later I was able to officiate with him.

“He cared so much about the kids and always wanted the best out of everyone. He was really a great guy and will be missed.”

Local baseball umpire Leo D’Angelo knew him well. “He was a very good umpire,” he said. “He looked out for the kids and they liked him a lot.”

Son of the late Donald and Anne Walsh Loftus, Teddy was a standout basketball and baseball player at Bishop O’Hara High School in Dunmore.

His monumental impact on various communities will be felt for years to come. Almost every youth league in every borough of Lackawanna County had a heartfelt post on Facebook about his impact on local youth following his passing.

He was known for his big heart and childlike, clever demeanor which would bring a laugh to anyone around him. A baseball enthusiast, he was also an avid sightseer.

Teddy cared for all of the kids in the local youth leagues, but he fiercely loved his family and made sure everyone knew it. He had three children who he loved dearly.

He is survived by a son, Jack, and wife, Aspen Loftus, Las Vegas, Nevada; two daughters, Maddie Loftus, Harrisburg, and Sydney Loftus, Dunmore; three brothers, Donald and wife Jeanne Loftus, Dunmore: Joe, and wife, Mariliz Loftus, Scranton: and Richard “Rocky” and wife, Carol Loftus, Atlanta, Georgia; and three sisters, Marsia and husband John Kohanski, Dunmore: Deanne Loftus and husband Conall Killeen, Dunmore: Karen Loftus and husband, Steven Zaretsky, Hardeville, South Carolina; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.