Remembering Dave Hardie

It appears Monmouth University could announce as early as tomorrow the hiring of King Rice as their new men’s basketball coach. Several reports indicate that the
Former North Carolina point guard and current Vanderbilt assistant is the choice to replace Dave Calloway, who reluctantly stepped down after 14 seasons last month.

The 41 year old Rice was the starting point guard on Dean Smith’s 1991 Tar Heels team that went to the Final Four and was an assistant at Oregon, Illinois State and Providence before coming to Vanderbilt before the 2006 season.
Reportedly Rice is in the shore area and expected to meet with Monmouth Athletic Director Marilyn McNeil today when she returns from the NCAA Women’s Tournament in Spokane, Washington.

The other day a friend of mine was teasing me about what I would say after he died because it seems like fairly often I mention deaths of people I know during this segment. I kidded him that he was not important enough to get air time and what made him think he would go before me anyway. Truthfully it does seem like lately I have been attending a lot of viewings and funerals and what’s heartbreaking is that most have been for people who have died way too young.

The latest is Dave Hardie, a 1975 graduate of Central Regional High School who I just saw very recently at a viewing for another former schoolmate. Dave spent his career as a member of the Berkeley Township Police Department and retired a Captain in 2003 after 25 years on the job. He then pursued a passion in his second career as a Boat Captain and for the past several summers I would see him at Martell’s Waters Edge in Bayville where he would shuttle customers back and forth to their boats. Just 54 years old, Dave leaves his wife Theresa and daughters Rachel and Meredith plus many other family members and friends. He also leaves the Morning Star Presbyterian Church of Bayville where he was not only a member but a devoted part of their Food Pantry as he helped many who were less fortunate. It is at that church today from 3-8pm where I and others will pay their final respects a good man who did a lot of good with the time he had here.