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Glen Bernard Van Proyen

Glen Van Proyen Obituary

86, DeBary, a former coach and professional baseball scout, died Thursday.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Daytona Beach News-Journal on Dec. 3, 2016.

Memories and Condolences
for Glen Van Proyen

25 Entries

Tom Davis

December 14, 2018

I am so sorry to hear of this wonderful man's passing. My father, Dick Davis and Glen were peers at Maine South for many years and I just knew Glen as a truly nice individual. R.I.P. sir.

Ted Woytowicz

December 7, 2017

I am sorry to hear of the passing of Coach Van Proyen. In the late 60's he was my football and baseball coach at Maine South. In 1967 we won the first conference title at Maine South with a team that was nationally ranked. He was always fair and accessible to his players. He was someone to look up to through all these years. My only regret is that I did not track him down to talk with him in his later years. He would always make the ends run their hearts out chasing passes that he had thrown. It's a beautiful memory for me. Rest in Peace Coach. There are many, many of us out here that remember and love you. Thanks for everything.

Paul Standa

August 2, 2017

He was Coach Van Proyen to me. 1974 Maine South sophomore football team. The undefeated record we accomplished that season was irrelevant. That season was about being coached and taught life lessons from the best coach/teacher I have had the pleasure of being around. He would gather the team after Friday practice would conclude and always have a riveting story regarding competition, doing your best and leaving all you had on the field no matter the outcome of the game. But, what struck me the most about Coach Van Proyen is that he treated all his players as equals, whether first stringer or bench warmer. I appreciated that. I was never part of a team prior to, or after, that worked harder for a common goal. That was all due to our respect for Coach Van Proyen. RIP COACH !!

July 15, 2017

I am saddened to hear of Glen's passing. He was a teacher at Fenton HS in Bensenville where I was a student. He and I worked for the Village of Itasca one summer back in the late 50's painting fire hydrants.I have lots of fond memories of Coach Van Proyen. May he RIP.
Gene Volkman
Itasca, IL

1954 Mr. Van Proyen's 1st coaching job-freshmen football at Fenton High School

Terry Biefeld

January 20, 2017

1955 Fenton yearbook-Mr. VAn Proyen's 1st year of teaching

Terry Biefeld

January 20, 2017

1957 Fenton yearbook-2nd year coaching the varsity

Terry Biefeld

January 20, 2017

1955 Mr. Van Proyen's 1st baseball coaching job-Fenton frosh-soph team

Terry Biefeld

January 20, 2017

1958 Fenton yearbook-Mr. Van Proyen demonstrating bunting technique

Terry Biefeld

January 20, 2017

1957 Fenton yearbook- 2 pictures of Mr. Van Proyen on this page

Terry Biefeld

January 20, 2017

1956 Fenton yearbook.-Mr. Van Proyen moved up to varsity baseball coach

Terry Biefeld

January 20, 2017

1958 Fenton yearbook-Mr. Van Proyen's last year at FEnton

Terry Biefeld

January 20, 2017

1958 Fenton Yearbook-Mr. Van proyen giving pointers on how to bunt

Terry Biefeld

January 20, 2017

1956 Fenton varsity baseball team...Mr. Van Proyen head coach

Terry Biefeld

January 20, 2017

1957 Fenton yearbook-Mr.Van proyen as assistant varsity football coach

Terry Biefeld

January 20, 2017

Mr. Van Proyen as varsity baseball coach at Fenton High School...circa 1956-58

Terry Biefeld

January 20, 2017

Rich McIntyre

January 5, 2017

To the family and close friends of Coach Van,

I played for Coach at Maine East HS from 1961 through 1963, along with summer American Legion baseball during that same time. I had a memorable high school career BECAUSE of Coach Van. As a pitcher and on the shorter side, coach believed and had trust in me, which allowed me to put up good numbers back then, and receive a full ride baseball scholarship at Western Illinois University. Coach Van was instrumental in me making the final decision to attend WIU as I narrowed down the colleges. Coach Van was a terrific pitcher himself at WIU.

I will never forget him telling us every day to have poise. "Have poise, guys! Look good, feel good and play good." That was his mantra. The guy who came to practice or a game, God forbid, with his baseball uniform shirt hanging out, or his socks not at the appropriate height; etc, ran wind sprints to a fairthywell! On our baseball team, Coach V was an awesome coach, teacher, a disciplinarian, a counselor and an all-around nice guy.

I will never forget you, Coach V! R.I.P. and God be with the family during this time of grief.

Lois & Mark Just

December 18, 2016

Dear Nancy and family,

Mark & I were so saddened to learn of Glen's passing. We will always remember with great fondness the wonderful times we shared both in baseball and socially with friends and family. Our cross country ski trip in Door County remains a highlight of our "adventurous lives!!" And Glen drove the first Toyota Corolla we had ever seen---he was surely a trendsetter!

We have thought of Glen and you often through the last years, but unfortunately we've missed the opportunity to reconnect. We will miss Glen.

We hope that you are well, Nancy, and that you have the comfort of your memories and your family.

With our most sincere sympathy,
Lois & Mark Just

Jim Kaiser

December 10, 2016

RIp

Ross Rubino

December 9, 2016

Nancy,

As you know, Glen was one of the most influential people in my life. He taught me so much more than baseball and football that I use to this day. The great relationship that we had is something that will affect me for the rest of my life. To say that I will miss him is an understatement. The world will not be the same without him teaching through his stories and anecdotes. Hope you are well and are in good health.

Mike Keesey

December 9, 2016

Glen Van Proyen was my sophomore football coach at Maine South High School back in 1972. As others have mentioned, Coach Van Proyen was a motivator of young men. I would say he was one of the best coaches I ever had. I found him fair, balanced, and direct in addition to his ability to motivate. He touched many lives and will be fondly remembered. Hawk Nation mourns his loss, but celebrates his life.

Marv Carlson

December 8, 2016

Nancy, so sorry to hear of Glen's passing. He was a kind, friendly and humble man who enjoyed you and your family. I first met Glen in the late 60's through the SBO. He was highly respected through out the state as one of the elite basketball officials as his HOF induction signifies. I truly enjoyed his visits as a baseball scout whenever he came around. You all have been blessed and many an official benefitted by our association with Glen. RIP fine man.

Doug Halpenny

December 8, 2016

Coach once introduced me to Mr. O'Malley, the owner of the Dodgers, while we were at a college game Glen was scouting for the Dodgers. As a former high school and college player, and long-time teacher and coach myself, I've been privileged to have known many outstanding teachers and coaches throughout the years. As I most sincerely told Mr. O'Malley, Glen VanProyen was hands-down the most knowledgeable, conscientious, dedicated coach I ever met.

As a young player under him, I once sheepishly asked him for permission if I could play just one game for another team that had asked me to play in a championship game for them--since we had no game or practice that day. Glen most reluctantly gave me permission. I was involved in a collision at home, received a serious neck injury and was paralyzed for quite some time. Who was the first at the hospital when I arrived? Coach V.

RIP kind sir...you are the best.

Marv Nyren

December 8, 2016

So sorry to hear of his passing.

Matt Hader

December 8, 2016

Gone is one of the great motivators of athletes/students of all stripes. I'm sure there are many stories like this about the man, but here's mine. When I was a high school sophomore football player, our team needed to win the last game to take the conference, and it happened to be an away game against a very tough team. We had to dress in the opposing team's girls' locker room (not sure they do that nowadays, but they did that back in the day). So as 40 or so nervous teenagers sat silently in that stuffy locker room waiting for our coaching staff to come and lead us to the field, the lights went out and the space became nearly pitch black. Through the darkened silence, we heard the coaches shuffle into the locker room and then head coach, Mr. Van Proyen, with his low gravelly voice, said something to the effect of (paraphrasing): We lost our first two games this year, but you've all come together as a team and won every game since. We have one more game. If we win, we take the conference. I want to just thank a few of the key players who made this incredible season possible

Mr. Van Proyen then went on, in the dark, with no means of reading from a list, to name each and every player by name.

I recall when the lights went back on that there were many widened eyes and quietly jacked-up players.

The opposing team never knew what hit them.

Thanks, Mr. Van Proyen.

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