Deinhart, David J.

of Williamsville, NY entered into rest November 10, 2023; loving husband of 65 years to Joan (nee Attea); devoted father of Diane (Steven) Bianchi, Paula Carver, Mark (Diane) Deinhart and Gregg Deinhart; cherished grandfather of Jordan Bianchi, Gabriella Bianchi, Dr. Madeline Carver, Charlie Carver, Brian (Emily Manjak) Deinhart, Esq., Matthew Deinhart, Dr. Lydia (Austin Reinhart) Deinhart, Nicholas Deinhart and Braden Deinhart. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Infant of Prague Church, 921 Cleveland Dr., Cheektowaga, NY on Monday November 27th at 10AM. Please assemble at church. In lieu of flowers please donate in David’s memory to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul at Infant of Prague Church, 921 Cleveland Dr., Cheektowaga, NY 14225 or the St. John Maron Building Fund, 2040 Wehrle Dr., Williamsville, NY 14221. Online condolences may be made at www.THEDIETRICHFUNERALHOME.com

 David J. Deinhart, 87, retired Maryvale High School teacher and swimming coach

David J. Deinhart, a retired Maryvale High School industrial arts teacher and swimming coach, died Nov. 10 in his Williamsville home after a short illness. He was 87. A South Buffalo native, he attended School 72, where he was an outstanding swimmer in his age group. He was the breaststroker on a medley team that set a state record in the 3-by-100 medley relay that still stands. At South Park High School, from which he graduated in 1954, he was captain of the swimming team, as well as a letterman in cross country, track and tennis. He was a longtime lifeguard at the Cazenovia Park pool and later was its foreman. As a teen, he also developed as a woodworker, metalworker and craftsman in his grandfather Ernst Wolff’s shop, the Wolff Machine Co. He later passed those skills along to his children and grandchildren. He earned a bachelor’s degree in 1958 in industrial arts education from what was then Buffalo State Teachers College and completed a master’s degree there in 1970. He served for eight years in the Naval Reserve and helped service airplanes. He also taught electricity courses to other reservists.
Mr. Deinhart first taught mechanical drawing in the North Collins Central Schools, then became a research engineer for National Gypsum Co., where he held several patents for attachments for tiles. He returned to teaching at Maryvale High School in Cheektowaga, where he was a faculty member for 25 years. His courses included woodworking, metalworking and auto repair. He also taught metallurgy at Erie Community College.
At Maryvale, he was coach of the swimming team and ran the weekend family swim program. He also co-founded the Bishop Neumann High School Swim Club. He started a home improvement company with colleague Jim Vasi. The Vasi Deinhart Construction Co. did residential remodeling, painting and built decks.
Upon retirement in the early 1990s, he became a fabricator for his friend Paul Mueller at Fassel’s Upholstery in Cheektowaga. A longtime member of the Buffalo Bicycling Club, Mr. Deinhart was its secretary and took part in weekly group rides, time trials and century rides. He also had a lifelong love of the outdoors. He enjoyed hiking and camping and organized annual family canoe trips to provincial parks in Canada. He climbed and camped on Whiteface Mountain in the winter. He also was a runner, a cross country skier and a hunter. He attended church daily and was head usher at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Williamsville, where he also taught religious education classes. Mr. Deinhart traveled extensively in Europe, Canada, the Caribbean and the U.S. His favorite vacation spots were at a family cabin in Randolph and in Allegany State Park, where as a teen he met the former Joan Attea, whose family owned a cabin near the park. They were married in 1958. In addition to his wife, survivors include two daughters, Diane Bianchi and Paula Carver; two sons, Mark and Gregg; and nine grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian Burial was offered Nov. 27 in Infant of Prague Catholic Church, 921 Cleveland Drive, Cheektowaga.