David Michael DeLea
David DeLea, 73, of Sparta passed away on May 28.
Dave was born in Yonkers NY, and grew up in Layton.
After college he moved to Sparta where he served as a police officer and raised his family. Dave served on the Sparta Township Police Department for 28 years and retired as a Detective Sergeant.
In his younger years Dave was a standout football and basketball player for Newton High School and held the Sussex County record for most touchdowns in a single game until the 1980s.
He played college football for the University of Tampa Spartans and the University of Oklahoma Sooners under Coach Bud Wilkinson.
He also played semi-pro football for the multiple-time national champions, the Franklin Miners in the 1960s.
Dave, #42 was named most valuable player several times during his years with the Miners. Some say he was one of the fastest runners and hardest hitters football ever saw. Having excelled in many sports he was inducted into the Sussex County Sports Hall of Fame in 2002.
Dave was one of the creators of the sports fields at Ungerman in Sparta and spearheaded the creation of the Station Park sports fields as well.
He was a longtime coach for the Mohawk Red Devils football team and was a founding member of the Sparta Police Athletic League (PAL).
A man of many achievements both on and off the field, Dave received numerous honors in behalf of his law enforcement career and contributions to his community, such as being credited with saving a life and being named the 1968 Policeman of the Year for Heroic Action Beyond the Call of Duty from The Daily Advance, the Policeman of the Month in Dec. 1968 from the NJ Detectives Crime Unit, the Outstanding Young Law Enforcement Officer and Distinguished Service Award recipient for 1973 from the Sparta Jaycees and his receiving the Americanism Award and Outstanding Law Enforcement Officer of the Year award in 1988 by the American Legion.
Dave was named Man of the Year in 1974 by the Sparta Chamber of Commerce.
Dave is survived by his wife Brenda, son Robert DeLea and his wife Cheryl, daughter Laura DeLea and three grandchildren Topanga Hockett, Timothy DeLea and Hannah DeLea, brothers John DeLea and Alan DeLea and sisters Patricia Bird and Judy Lipscomb.
He is predeceased by his mother Shirley Stoll, his father Garrett DeLea and brothers Robert and Louis.
Dave DeLea was a great father who worked two and three jobs when he was young to be sure his family had a good life. He loved long walks at the shore, country music and watching John Wayne movies.
Dave will be most remembered as a hard worker, A true friend and a proud father, Pop-Pop and Grandpa Dave.
A funeral service was performed at the funeral home at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday June 2.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the American Heart Association at www.heart.org, the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org/donate, and the Sparta Police Athletic League (PAL) 65 Main St. Sparta, NJ, 07871, in memory of Dave DeLea.
Online condolences may be offered at www.goblefuneral.com
Arrangements by Goble Funeral Home at 22 Main St. Sparta, NJ.