Obituary of Robert Wallace

Esteemed SUNY Cortland coach and teacher Robert ‘Sparky’ Wallace passed away on Tuesday, December 16, at his home in Virgil, NY with his family. He was 87 years old. Born in Syracuse, Bob was the eldest son of the late Nathan and Minnie (VanTassel) Wallace. He graduated from Valley High School and served in the U.S. Navy in 1945 and 1946. In 1953, Wallace graduated from SUNY Cortland and then taught physical education and coached four sports at Painted Post High School from 1953 until 1956. At Cortland State, Wallace served as a member of the Physical Education Department faculty from 1956 until his retirement in 1985, when he was designated Assistant Professor Emeritus of physical education. He served as the school's head baseball coach for 25 years from 1958-82 and head softball coach for two seasons from 1984-85. A four-time State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Baseball Coach of the Year, his teams posted a combined record of 366-207-3 and won 10 league titles and two Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) Championships. Cortland's baseball field and the SUNYAC's annual Most Valuable Player award are named in his honor. As softball coach, he led the Red Dragons to a New York State title and an appearance in the NCAA Division III World Series in 1985. Wallace initiated the Baseball Alumni Weekend during his tenure as the College’s baseball coach, a highly anticipated tradition that has occurred every year since 1976. Wallace deeply valued the lasting friendships with his players, colleagues, and students and took pride in the fact that in his 25 years as baseball head coach, none of his players failed out of school. Wallace and his wife, Sally Yaeger Wallace, who also coached and taught at SUNY Cortland, were inducted into the Cortland C-Club Hall of Fame in 1979. Sally passed away in 2008. His love and devotion to family, friends, and travel rivaled his love for sports. Wallace is survived by his brother, Richard; sister-in-law, Elizabeth; nephews Robert (Miami Beach) and Jeffrey (NYC); and nieces Jennifer (Seattle), Nikki (Grand Junction, CO), and Loni (LaFayette). A memorial service is being planned for Spring 2015. Details will be forthcoming. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his honor to: Loaves and Fishes of Cortland and the Cortland County SPCA.