LeRoy H. Pfund, age 96, a resident of Windsor Park in Carol Stream, died Thursday, June 2. He was born October 10, 1919 in Oak Park, IL to Liebhart and Helen Pfund. His grandparents immigrated from Switzerland and started a floral business in Oak Park.

He was raised in Elmhurst and graduated from York High School in 1937 where he was an honor student and participated in football, basketball and track. He attended the University of Illinois.

He spent eight seasons in professional baseball and made his Major League debut as a pitcher with the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 21, 1945. In his time in the Dodgers' organization his teammates included Hall of Famers Jackie Robinson and Pee Wee Reese. He appeared in 15 games for the Dodgers in 1945, however his major league career was cut short due to a knee injury. He completed his college education at Wheaton College.

In 1941 he married Mabel "Mibs" Tillman. They raised their family in Wheaton and were long time members of College Church .

In 1949 he started as a coach and instructor of Physical Education at Wheaton College . Coach Pfund led Wheaton's baseball program from 1948-59 and 1961-74. His 1951 team is the only Wheaton baseball team in school history to win a CCI or CCIW championship.

He served as head men's basketball coach from 1951-75, guiding Wheaton to the first-ever NCAA Small College Division Men's Basketball Championship in 1957 as his squad garnered a 28-1 record. Overall, he led the Crusaders to five College Conference of Illinois (CCI) championships; and from 1955-59 his teams won a conference record 58 consecutive CCI contests.

He completed a Masters Degree in Guidance and Counseling at Northwestern University in 1959.

He was named Executive Director of the Wheaton College Alumni Association in 1975 and served until 1987, concluding those years as Executive Director and Vice-president of Alumni Relations for Wheaton College.

Lee served as President of Glen Ellyn Rotary International where he was a member for many years. He served on the board of the Wheaton History Center and was active in community affairs. He helped start Little League baseball in Wheaton and coached baseball in many levels. He also helped to found Wheaton College Basketball Camp.

Lee and Mibs were married for 64 years when she passed away in 2006. He is survived by three sons, John L. Pfund of Aliso Viejo, CA, Kerry (Carol) W. Pfund of West Chicago, and Randall C. Pfund of Wheaton, and two sisters, Ruth (the late Robert) Muzzy and Phyllis (Paul) Hiley and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents and an infant son, LeRoy H. Pfund Jr.

A visitation will be held on Friday, June 10, from 3 to 8 at Hultgren Funeral Home, 304 N. Main St., Wheaton, IL. Private interment will be held at Wheaton Cemetery.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 9th at 11:00 a.m. at College Church , Washington and Seminary St. in Wheaton.

Memorial donations may be directed to College Church , or Wheaton College Athletics .

To read the Wheaton College Athletics Association announcement click here .