OBITUARIES - April 29, 2020

April 1, 2020

Carlo (Mouse) Fazzolari

Carlo Fazzolari, 89, of Clackamas, Ore., died on Feb. 16.

Fazzolari last played SSUSA in 2012 with Northwest 80s in the Rock ‘n Reno Challenge Cup. He helped lead his Northwest 80s team to the 2009 Western National Championships in Salt Lake City, earning All-Tournament honors.

Carlo and his older brothers, Joe, Tony, and Nicodemo, were fixtures in the Portland Metro Softball Association. Carlo's last game was in September.

Carlo's son, Mike, currently a member of Oregon Contractors Mobile App, is continuing the Fazzolari name in senior softball.

"Mouse and I were close," said Red Hangland, National Senior Softball Hall of Fame (NSSHOF) Class of 2017 member in the Pioneer Manager category, whose friendship with Fazzolari dates over 30 years. "Closest friend I ever had. Everybody loved him. He never cussed, I did enough for the both of us."

Red reminisced on all the joking the two would do, with Red saying he knew Mouse when he (Mouse) had hair, and Mouse saying Red's head got so big after his NSSHOF induction that his ears looked small, acknowledging Red's big ears.

Fazzolari entered the U.S. Army in 1948, serving in the 26th Infantry Regiment in Germany. In 1951, his 26th Infantry baseball team won the European Command (EUCOM) Championship.

Professionally, Fazzolari worked for Modern Firescreen, retiring as Vice President in Administration after 42 years.

Roger Lenart

Roger Lenart, 77, of Elgin, Ill., died on April 23 from cancer.

Lenart was a mainstay on the Chicago Gray Sox, playing on the 60s, 65s, 70s, and 75s teams.

He most recently played in the Winter National Championships in Ft. Myers, Fla. in November. The 2009 season was a solid year for Lenart, earning All-Tournament honors at the Midwest Championships and Eastern National Championships on the Chicago Gray Sox 65 team.

“Roger was an integral part of our SSUSA World Championship team in 2004 and numerous other National and Regional championships,” said Mike Foster, manager of the Chicago Gray Sox. “He played second base mostly, and was a master at turning a double play, as well as being a very good hitter. We will surely miss him.  We lost a good ball player. but most importantly, a good friend.”