July-August 2025 Obituaries

Aug. 1, 2025

James Francis Caterbone III

Jim Caterbone III, 64, of Stamford, CT., died on July 11.

     Jim died of a cardiac incident in his car during the 2025 Northeast Championships in Syracuse, New York. He died “doing what he loved most—softball,” according to his online obituary.

     Jim was playing for the TJ Rooster’s 60 Major team. He started playing with Senior Softball USA in 2013, in the 50s division. Nicknamed ‘Jim Cat’, his career playing softball spans 39 years.

     “When he entered his “senior years” of over-50 ball, he played virtually all year round—from Florida to Virginia to Tennessee, the Carolinas, Arizona, Utah, and others—with the crowning moment ending the season at the SSUSA World Tournament in Las Vegas, Nevada,” according to his obituary.

     The height of his career came in 2021 when his team, Hard Hat Cafe/Latella’s [of Connecticut], won the 50 Major Division, where he earned an All-Tournament selection.”

     In July 2025, the team would later change its name to Hard Hat Café/Latella’s/Caterbone Realty, in honor of Jim.

     While softball, senior or otherwise, was his life, outside of the sport, he earned a Bachelor Degree in Business, becoming the head of Problem Management at Subway for more than 15 years. He also was a longtime member of Connecticut’s Realtor’s Association.

     In addition to Hard Hat Café/Latella’s 50s (CT), Jim played with Leed Construction/Miken 50s (CT), Bond 124/Caterbone Realty 55s (CT), Building Innovation Group/TJ Plumbing 60s (NY) and Caterbone Realty Group 55s (CT).

     In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Senior Softball USA, memo "Jim Caterbone" so they may donate the money to the January 2026 Caribbean Classic Goodwill Tour in the Dominican Republic. SSUSA's Goodwill Tours donate funds and softball/baseball equipment to impoverished kids and teens in the Dominican, so they may experience the joy of softball like Jim and so many of us.

Albert F. Woldrich

Al Woldrich, 76, of Long Beach, WA., died on June 3.

     Al was a longtime player, turned longtime manager, mostly associated with the Vancouver USA team out of Washington state. He joined Senior Softball USA in the early 2000s and retired playing in 2014 to manage the team for over a decade until his death from cancer.

     “For more than two decades, Al played and later brought teams that epitomized Senior Softball – playing hard, with fun and comradery,” said Terry Hennessy, SSUSA’s chief executive officer.

     Softball wasn’t his only passion, as he also coached football for his local Catholic Youth Organization. Outside of sports and spending time with his family, he served as a Police Sargent for the Vancouver PD and later became a businessman, according to his online obituary.

     “During a game, it was always more, but after the game it was all about the guys and being together sharing stories,” said John Christman, Al’s player who took over as manager after Al’s diagnoses.  

     “His sometimes gruff demeanor was offset by a heart of gold though; he treasured the team BBQs that brought players and families together,” remembers Mike Vorce, another Vancouver USA player.

     In addition to playing with Vancouver USA 50s, 55s, 60s and managing Vancouver USA 60s and 70s, he also played with Van Port 50s (OR) and REMAX Metro Properties 55s (WA).

Edward Eugene McElroy

Edward Mc Elroy, 76, of Los Angeles, died June 23.

     Edward started with Senior Softball USA in the late 1990s, playing with and managing primarily Southern California based teams, but that was not his start in playing ball.

     “He’s been at this a long time; From his days with Compton III, his time with the Playboys, his SMAF Championship in 1979 with the Wild Bunch, and his success with So Cal Gusto and So Cal Guys,” said his son, Edward Mc Elroy Jr., who took over managing So Cal Guys 55s after his father’s passing.

     In Edward’s youth, he highly competitively played football, baseball and track, earning him a spot at LA Valley College running track. Eventually, “he taught and coached at Holy Cross Middle School, St. Mary’s Academy, Verbum Dei High School, Torrance High School, and Santa Fe High School,” according to his online obituary.

     Edward also found the original Los Angeles Jets Track Club in 1969, mentoring many collegiate and professional athletes, including troubled youths and future Olympians. He was also his local’s Catholic Youth Organization’s coach of the year many times and inducted into the CYO’s Hall of Fame.

     Even “with his health in decline, Edward put a softball team together to be able to spend more time with his son and play together one more time,” according to the obituary. “Although in pain, Edward coached two of the three days of the tournament.” The team, So Cal Guys 55s, won their division at the recent 2025 Southern California State Championships. In the past, he played with and managed his teams to many victories and SSUSA World Championships.

     In addition to a long history of playing with and managing So Cal Guys 55s, 60s, and So Cal Gusto 55s, he’ll also be remembered playing with or managing the following Southern California teams: D & K Softball 55s, SoCal Braves 60s, Express 60s and R&R 75s.