David Showalter

David L. “Dave” ShowalterDecember 11, 1952 – September 20, 2026

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his family was at the heart of his life, and the love he had for them was unwavering.

David L. Showalter, affectionately known to many as Dave, Coach, or simply “Show,” passed away on September 20, 2026, at the age of 73.

Dave was born on December 11, 1952, in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Elizabeth “Betty” and Lyle Showalter. At the age of two, he moved with his family to California, where he grew up in La Puente alongside his two brothers, Don and Doug.

In 1975, Dave married the love of his life, Ricka. Together they shared 51 years of marriage and built a family that meant everything to him. They had five children: Erica; Matthew, who passed away at three months old from SIDS; Joshua, who passed away at age 24 in the Blue Wolves 704 Navy plane crash; Jared; and Darby. He is also survived by his son-in-law, Jake Jaynes.

Dave was a devoted husband and a great dad. He loved his family deeply and was always pushing them to work harder, expect more from themselves, and become the best versions of who they could be. He believed in effort, perseverance, and never giving up, and those lessons became part of the foundation of his family. Whether celebrating successes, offering advice, or challenging them to keep going, his love was always behind it.

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He had a remarkable ability to see potential in people, often before they could see it in themselves.

Dave was also a proud grandfather to five grandchildren: Mikayla, Joshua’s daughter; Jonathan, Joshua’s son, who passed away at birth; Camryn and Natalie, Darby and Jake’s daughters; and Oliver, Jared’s son. His family was at the heart of his life, and the love he had for them was unwavering.

Dave’s love of sports began at a very young age, particularly his love of baseball. He began coaching while still in his teens, beginning a lifelong commitment to helping young people grow both as athletes and as individuals. Over the years, he coached baseball, softball, and soccer. When his own children became involved in sports, coaching became an even larger part of his life.

Professionally, Dave spent many years working as an accountant and controller before making a life-changing decision to become a teacher in 1998. He began as a substitute teacher at Fontana High School before being hired at Kaiser High School.

Kaiser became much more than a workplace for Dave; it became an important part of his life and legacy. He began teaching Microsoft Office before transitioning into video production and TV News, giving students opportunities to develop skills, creativity, confidence, and responsibility both inside and outside the traditional classroom.

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he touched countless lives and helped people realize their full potential.

Athletics were also a major part of his time at Kaiser. Dave coached boys and girls soccer and softball and also helped with the baseball program. His impact on Kaiser soccer was especially significant. He led the boys soccer team to the program’s first league championship.

After that championship, Dave transitioned to coaching the girls soccer team. At the time, the program had never won a game. Dave saw what the team could become, believed in his players, and helped them believe in themselves. Under his leadership, the girls not only began winning—they went on to earn their first league championship as well.

Those accomplishments reflected something much greater than wins and championships. Dave had a remarkable ability to see potential in people, often before they could see it in themselves. Whether he was standing in a classroom, behind a camera in TV News, on a baseball or softball field, or on the soccer sidelines, he challenged people to work harder, expect more of themselves, and recognize what they were capable of accomplishing.

That same spirit defined him at home. The drive, determination, and belief he gave to his students and athletes were the same qualities he gave to his family. He wanted the people he loved to know what they were capable of and never settle for less than their best.

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He believed in effort, perseverance, and never giving up, and those lessons became part of the foundation of his family.

To generations of students and athletes, he was more than a teacher or coach. He was a mentor, an encourager, and someone who believed in them. He touched countless lives and helped people realize their full potential.

Dave’s impact cannot be measured simply by championships, careers, or accomplishments. It lives in his family, in the students who discovered talents they did not know they had, in the athletes who learned they were capable of more than they thought possible, and in the many people who carried his lessons with them long after leaving his classroom or team.

His legacy lives on through Ricka, his children and grandchildren, his family, his former students and athletes, and every person whose life was changed because he took the time to teach, coach, challenge, encourage, or simply believe in them.

He will be deeply missed and forever remembered as Dave, Dad, Grandpa, Coach, and Show.