Ronald E. (Ron) Oestrike, a highly principled, hard-working, successful former head baseball coach at Eastern Michigan University, was a habitual story teller and his wide smile and hearty laughter was contagious.

"Oak lives and coaches his basic philosophy: 'You improve your play by competing each day and utilize the game's important fundamentals as solid building blocks," comments long-time friend and former Vice President at EMU, John C. Fountain.

A native of Flat Rock, MI - Oak calls it "Level Pebble" - he advanced to EMU after high school graduation and evolved as an exceptional student-athlete, to assistant coach and then to head baseball coach. Right out of the chute, the summer Adray Appliance league team of mostly EMU players won an amateur national baseball championship, drawing even more attention to the Eastern program.

Later, an Oestrike-coached team won an NAIA National Baseball title (1970) for EMU, and in 1976, the Eastern squad reached the championship game of the NCAA College World Series in Omaha, NB. Two stars of the Eastern squad were future major league pitchers Bob Owchinko (Padres) and Cy Young award-winner, Bob Welch (Dodgers, A's).

Oak loved to blend baseball into his lessons in life; it was a talent he inherited from his dad. Usually the stories focused on the life of the ficticious "Albi Ike" who earned his name because he accused others for the problems he faced rather than himself.

Today, Coach is no longer directing the development of baseball talent, and a heart attack and clinical depression have set him back. This year was his worst setback. Shirley, the love of his life, and his wife of over 40 years, passed away.

But the most painful loss to observers from Oak's unique character and personality is his patented smile and laughter.

Photo - Ron Oestrike surrounded by his Eastern Michigan University players.; posed photo. Photos by Dick Schwarze.

Coach Oestrike was a "coach's coach" and a "man's man" and the respect paid to him by players, fans, coaches and, yes, umpires was admirable. But he could be a regular guy also. Former EMU star player Jeff Peck recalls the non-league contest early in the year when coach Oestrike was tossed out of a game for arguing strike and ball calls with the home plate umpire. "It was only the second inning!" Jeff said, "Then coach moved up into the stand of spectators to talk 'fishing' with a friend of his in the crowd."

Dale Leslie had the pleasure of knowing coach Oestrike as a fellow employee in the EMU athletic department. He never saw a more admired person and better coach than "Oak." Dale can be reached at 734.660.1023 or via daleleslie@comcast.net

Photos and some text: www.aadl.org/gallery/pictureAnnArbor/Dale+Leslie/dixboro