By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 7/27/11
The Philly lacrosse world is mourning the loss of Andrew M. (Drew) Bauer, 34, of West Chester, a popular youth lacrosse coach who was found dead Monday after a boating accident in the Sassafras River in Kent County, Md.
Bauer began coaching youth lacrosse when he was a sophomore at West Chester East High School and continued coaching after attending college at St. Joseph’s University. He coached several years for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Penn Stars youth team and had been coaching in the West Chester Lacrosse Association since 1998.
Mr. Bauer, the son of WCLA President Mike Bauer, also coached for many years with the Chester County U-15 team at the Keystone Games as the defensive coordinator. He was to serve as an assistant for the team that will compete this weekend in the annual event at State College. The team is planning to participate and to dedicate their efforts to their coach.
Mr. Bauer was known as a very vibrant person that shared our passion for the game of lacrosse and a great son to Mike and Sue and brother to Nate, Sam, Emily and Sara.
“He was the biggest-hearted coach and always wanted to coach the kids,” said Mike Bauer. “The thing that popped into my mind since this happened is the graphic of the tall stick man looking down at the small stick man.
“That’s how I remember him – as a mentor to young lacrosse players. The reason I think of that is that hundreds of parents over the years have told me how much their children enjoyed playing for Drew.
“He just gave it everything he had. He was there to help those guys get better.”
Mr. Bauer also coached travel teams and at camps. Besides coaching, Mr. Bauer played on two adult amateur teams in the Summer Lacrosse League of Southeastern Pennsylvania, the Duffers and Lacrosse International.
Mr. Bauer was an All-State lacrosse player at West Chester East and served as the kicker of the football team. He also played lacrosse at St. Joseph’s.
Relatives and friends are invited to celebrate Mr. Bauer’s life at 7:00 pm, Monday, August 1, 2011, at the First Presbyterian Church of West Chester, 130 W. Miner St., West Chester, PA.
Visitation will be held from 4:30-7:00 pm, Monday, August 1, 2011, at the church.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Mr. Bauer’s name to the West Chester Lacrosse Association, P.O. Box 2142, West Chester, PA, 19382.
Interment will be private.
Arrangements are by DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith & Boyd Funeral Home Inc., West Chester 610.696.1181, http://www.DellaFH.com.
