Dennis Raphael Keruly

Dennis R. Keruly, age 68, of Havre de Grace, died on September 1, 2017 of heart failure after a brief illness. Dennis is best remembered as a great father, friend, a strong advocate for those in most need, and a person who you could always go to for advice and support.

Dennis loved baseball and was a coach for many years who worked with young athletes to develop their skills as a player and foster their maturity into young men. He was known to the athletes as “Coach” and lovingly invested time and energy in getting to know their skill as a player but more importantly to know them as a person, building their confidence in their sport and character. One of the players, Casey Davis, remembers “the man who believed in me as a ballplayer at 16 and as a person ever since”. This feeling has been echoed by many of the players with whom he worked, leaving a lifelong memory.

As a lover of baseball, Dennis could call a game as well as any major league umpire. Just the day before he passed, he and his family were watching the Orioles game. There was a play at second base where the umpire called the Oriole player out, Dennis immediately called him safe. Buck protested the call and Dennis was right.

In another part of Dennis’ life, shaped by his personal experiences, he recognized the life struggles in others and gave freely of his time and energy in helping them face and cope with their issues. Dennis had another nickname, “Bucky”, and his friend captured the essence of what Dennis offered: “I’ve never met anyone quite like you. Through life’s challenges you had the gift to always smile and look on the bright side. You were always so caring, selfless, positive, honest, loving and sincere. “ Another friend, Paulie Curci, reflects “You were there for me when no one else in the world was. You picked me up out of the darkest hole I had ever fallen into and pointed me toward the light”.

Dennis is survived by his wife, Karen Trafton-Keruly, his son Dennis C. Keruly, stepdaughters, Bridget Strama (husband, Chris) and Shannon Nickey (husband, Scott), and siblings Mary Romans (husband, Michael), Margie Carvella and Patrick Keruly.

Also survived by his nephew Brian Romans, nieces Audrey and Morgan Keruly, Amanda Zeir and grandchildren Parker Ward, Reagan and Wyatt Strama, all of whom he loved dearly. Although Dennis and his first wife, Jeanne Keruly, divorced many years ago, they remained very good friends.

Family will receive friends at Schimunek Funeral Home, 610 West MacPhail Road, Bel Air, MD 21014 on Monday from 11 AM to 1 PM at which time a Memorial Service will begin. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Pathfinders for Autism International Circle, Suite 100, Hunt Valley MD, 21030 and the Sandra and Malcolm Berman Cancer Institute at GBMC, 6569 N. Charles Street, Towson, MD, 21204. Online tributes may be left at www.Schimunekfuneralhomes.com