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Arlington Hts. youth football program mourns coach

Mike deZonna ~ 1952-2010

Prep football teams across the Northwest Youth Football League will pause this weekend for a moment of silence.

They will be paying tribute to Mike deZonna, head coach of an Arlington Cowboys junior varsity team, who died Sunday from an apparent heart attack. He was 58.

Teams from Arlington Heights, Mount Prospect, Palatine, Elk Grove Village, Schaumburg and Beach Park will be remembering Mr. deZonna, who spent five years coaching youth teams, including this year's Pac 10 developmental team made up mostly of seventh and eighth grade boys.

“He was a caring and well-grounded coach, who looked at coaching football as a learning opportunity, says Joe Preissing, commissioner of the Arlington Cowboys football program.

Preissing adds that Mr. deZonna went above and beyond the coaching ranks to promote the youth football program. In August, he and his wife, Debbie, chaired the organization's fundraising walk-a-thon, which brings teams together to raise money for upgraded uniforms and equipment.

He also volunteered regularly in the concession stand. On Saturday, after coaching his game, he worked his shift and was the last to leave, officials said.

To honor his dedication and service, all of the Arlington Cowboys players more than 500 will wear stickers on their helmets, while his team will wear patches with his name.

Mr. deZonna was an Arlington Heights native who played football all four years at Arlington High School, as a linebacker and running back, before playing at Western Illinois University.

He earned a master's in psychology from Roosevelt University, but made his career as CEO of Reed Rigging, a Chicago-based company which is the largest show rigging company in the Midwest.

Mr. deZonna raised his family in Arlington Heights, and became involved in coaching football when his oldest son, Peyton, joined the program.

“At the first practice, he said his goal was to have fun, says Bill Cleary of Arlington Heights, whose son, Tom, plays on the team.

“If, at the end of the season, they win some games, then that's fine, he said, but it was more about building character and having fun.

Two weeks remain in the season, during which Mr. deZonna's assistant coaches and possibly a returning coach will handle practices and the final two games. They are scheduled to play the Elk Grove Lions on Saturday at Sunset Meadows Park in Arlington Heights.

Players on the team have been practicing under deZonna since early August. They were told of his sudden passing individually by their parents, and only returned to practice on Tuesday.

Mr. deZonna is survived by his wife, Debbie, and children Peyton and Ellie. Visitation will be held 3-9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 14 before a 10:30 a.m. funeral service Friday, both at Glueckert Funeral Home, 1520 N. Arlington Heights Road in Arlington Heights.

A college fund has been set up for Mr. deZonna's children, with donations to the deZonna Memorial Fund being accepted at Village Bank & Trust, 311 S. Arlington Heights Road in Arlington Heights.

Peyton and Mike, earlier this fall. Courtesy Millie Palmer