Little League® International mourns the loss of Little League Baseball® World Series Field Marshal Gary Spies. He was 72.
Mr. Spies was a native of Lyndhurst, New Jersey and was residing in Loyalsock Township, Pennsylvania at the time of his death.
After graduating from Wood-Ridge (NJ) High School, Mr. Spies moved to Williamsport, Pennsylvania to attend Lycoming College.
Mr. Spies, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting, was employed in the finance department on the Williamsport campus of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). After retiring from UPMC Williamsport, he worked part-time for the Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy as an accountant. Mr. Spies also served with the Pennsylvania National Guard in the 109th Infantry Regiment based in Williamsport.
Beginning in August 1994, Mr. Spies volunteered to be the usher at the Little League Baseball World Series, held annually at South Williamsport, Pennsylvania. World Series ushers are the attendants responsible for greeting and assisting visitors in World Series stadiums. Its familiar location was near Section 1, behind home plate at Howard J. Lamade Stadium. For many years he also supported Little League at the local league level as a volunteer coach for his daughter Jenni’s softball team and as league president of the Loyalsock Township Little League.
Mr. Spies was preceded in death by his father, Eugene Spies, and his sister, Janet. He is survived by his 47-year-old wife Karen; son Brian; daughter Jenny; mother, Madeline Spies; granddaughters, Sloan and Riley; and many nephews and nieces.
