It is often said that a person's character is defined by the "why's" in their lives. Why do you do what you do?  Well, when it comes to the life of Denny Fausey, you can see that his "why" was one of service and devotion to a community in which he loved.  

Denny passed away the week before Christmas after a long struggle with cancer.  He will be forever missed by his family and friends.  He also will be missed by those of us within the LSTAA family.  How do you pay tribute to a person who served so valiantly and gave so much to our community?   

I first met Denny a little over 10 years ago after he umpired a game over at Shopes.  He came to me and asked how he could get more involved in LSTAA.  I responded by asking him who his child or grandchild was playing with us.  He said he had no such child playing with us.  My immediate instinct was to be skeptical of his intentions, but after talking with him more and getting to know him, I quickly learned that his motives were pure and all he wanted to do is help the kids in the Lower Swatara community. 

I soon put him to work, and he served LSTAA right up until the end of his life.  He never was a coach as he knew that wasn't his expertise.  But, he umpired many games until his health prevented him from continuing.  After retiring his umpire uniform, he didn't quit.  He just refocused his energy and became a tireless advocate for LSTAA fighting for every dollar he could to help fund our program.  Denny was tenacious, determined, and relentless.  He wouldn't take no for an answer.  He was a visionary and always wanted the best of the best for the kids.  Just a few months before he passed, we met for lunch and he was making plans to meet with vendors to secure additional donations for projects at our fields.  He just wouldn't allow anything to get in his way...not even cancer.   

Why would a person devote so much time, energy, and money to help LSTAA when he had no kids playing in our program?  Why would a person devote countless hours meeting with sponsors to obtain additional funds for our program?  Why would a person sit in township meetings for hours working on agreements to give our kids additional playing surfaces in which to enjoy? And, the biggest of these questions would be, why would a person do all this when he knew his days were numbered and cancer was taking its toll?

I may never know the answer to these "why" questions for Denny, but I can truly say that it was a privilege to serve alongside him.  LSTAA is a better organization because of Dennis Fausey.  Lower Swatara Township is a better place because of him.  We will be forever indebted to him for his service.  God speed Denny!  I know you're where you always told me you wanted to be...with Jesus!  May God bless your family.  Until we meet again.

Jason Wagner
LSTAA President 2009-2022