Obituary of Vernon L. Wallace

Vern Wallace, widely loved and respected, a recognizable part of the local community as a coach and mentor for decades, died unexpectedly on Monday, September 9, 2024 at the age of 80 at Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown. Vern was born on June 4, 1944, the son of Harland and Rosalind Wallace of Palmero, NY. He graduated from Mexico Central High School in 1962 and then attended SUNY Cortland as a physical education major. Vern began his teaching career at Bainbridge-Guilford Central School and taught there for the next 34 years as a Physical Education teacher and coach. Vern was also quite entrepreneurial. Upon his retirement, and for the next 15 years, he established Chenango Guide Service, hosting deer and turkey hunting enthusiasts from around the globe. Vern married Nancy Loudon Davenport on April 2, 1978, and together raised a brood of six children ranging from ages 15 to 6. Vern took immense pride in his large and close-knit family. He was the epitome of a coach in that there was always a myriad of games from basketball, wiffleball, tennis, board and card games, water sports, putting contests, as well as instilling the important life lessons to be kind and always do for others. Vern was further defined by his love of the outdoors. Whether it be hunting, fishing or maintaining his vast woodland property as well as spending as much time on the golf course as he possibly could. As an avid golfer, he maintained memberships at Sidney and Afton golf courses throughout the years. And he finally achieved the elusive hole in one at the Turning Stone Golf Club in 2019. Vern was a multi-sport coach at the varsity level for wrestling, football and baseball, later contributing to the girls' basketball program as a junior high and junior varsity coach. In 2022, Vern was inducted into the Section IV Athletics Hall of Fame as varsity wrestling coach at Bainbridge-Guilford High School from 1969-1980. He reached legendary status as a Hometown Hero, sponsored by the Bainbridge-Guilford 1971 football team, for his exceptional tenure as a teacher, coach, mentor, and friend. His children have appreciated their father's love of their own children and how he made it a point to see every one of his grandchildren and recently great grandchildren play in each of their own sporting events, every season, every year, never missing anything including the special awards ceremonies or milestones. Even if the event went long and he ended up napping in the car by the end, he was always there. Vern is survived by his wife, Nancy Wallace, his six children, Amy Tuttel (Bob Cullen), Brett (Joanne) Davenport, Susan (Anthony) Cataldo, Shelley (Daren) Miller, James Wallace, Brent (Kristin) Davenport; eleven grandchildren Jared Tuttel (April Hoyt), Adam Neer (Jyllian Winger), Chelsea (Cody) Rose, Tyler Pixley (Lexi Benjamin), Harrison Davenport (Sierra Earle), Connor (Allie) Davenport, Trenton (Courtney) Stillman, Erin Wallace, Mallory Stillman (Maggie Flynn), Parker Davenport, Matthew Davenport and his grandson's wife, Sara Tuttel; two step grandchildren, Brady and Jennifer Miller; six great-grandchildren, Blake Tuttel, Jackson, Macklin and Addison Rose, Hadley and Ryan Somers, and his brother, Rodney Wallace. He is predeceased by his parents, his son-in-law, Don Tuttel and grandson, Jordan Tuttel. A graveside ceremony for family will be private. The family will hold a Celebration of Life on Saturday, November 30, 2024, from 12pm – 4pm at the Bainbridge Community Center on Prospect Street, Bainbridge for family and friends. In lieu of flowers, if you wish, in honor of Coach Wallace, donations can be made to his favorite charities: V Foundation, Victory Over Cancer (donate.v.org) or the Connect Life Blood & Organ Donor Network (connectlife.org/financial).