Sutersville man passed on baseball career for college education

David Dubinsky wanted to go to college so badly, he said no to the Baltimore Orioles.

Scouts from the major league team were at a high school baseball game Mr. Dubinsky was playing in. They were there to scout the opposing team, but Mr. Dubinsky had hit a home run for Belmar High School.

“My dad was a very good baseball player in high school,” said his daughter, Jamie Dubinsky. “He had had a really good game, so the scouts were interested in him. But he told them his goal was to go to college.”

Mr. Dubinsky earned a bachelor’s degree in math from California University of Pennsylvania and went on to a 32-year teaching career at Elizabeth Forward School District.

David G. Dubinsky of Sutersville died Saturday, May 18, 2019, at home. He was 73.

Born in Monessen on Nov. 3, 1945, he was the son of the late John and Alice (Strauss) Dubinsky. He graduated from Belmar High School in 1963 and from Cal U in 1967.

Mr. Dubinsky started his career teaching at the junior high level and then moved to the high school. He taught algebra and calculus. He was an assistant baseball coach and head coach for the boys basketball team.

“He had a very competitive spirit,” Jamie Dubinsky said. “He jogged 3 miles every day after school. … My dad and I ran every Monday for the longest time.”

Mr. Dubinsky stayed active after his retirement in 1999. He worked as a maintenance man on the farm of his pastor, the Rev. James Bump, and was handy as a repairman.

“He was the best small-motor guy you could find. He could bring any piece of junk back to life — lawn mowers, weed whackers, snow blowers,” his daughter said. “He was my personal fix-it guy, as well.”

Mr. Dubinsky sold reconditioned motors and machines at the Perryopolis Flea Market for about 20 years.

He inspired all three of his daughters to be “independent and successful women,” said Jamie Dubinsky, who owns Base Fitness and Sports Performance in Sutersville.

His middle daughter, Kristy, followed him into education as an art teacher at Elizabeth Forward. His youngest daughter, Lauren, is a counselor with the Allegheny Intermediate Unit.

“The biggest thing was the sparkle in his eyes and the smile on his face,” Jamie Dubinsky said. “He was always warm, kind and inviting.”

Mr. Dubinsky was an avid outdoorsman and especially liked camping with his family at the Delaware Seashore State Park and Pymatuning State Park.

He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Janice (Huszar) Dubinsky; three daughters, Jamie, Kristy and Lauren Dubinsky; two sisters; and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation was held Wednesday at J. William McCauley Jr. Funeral Home, 901 Vine St., West Newton. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday at Holy Family Church, West Newton. Interment will follow in Immaculate Conception Cemetery, Irwin.