David Kent Long

David Kent Long, 53, passed away Friday, April 3rd in Cleveland, Ohio. He is survived by his daughter Jacquelyn and son Spencer. He was born on May 21st, 1961 in Evansville, Indiana. He was the son of Robert J. Long and Margaret Lehman Long. He earned a bachelor's degree from Cleveland State and a master's degree in Health Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University. His daughter shared the following: With all the sadness in our hearts, my family had to say goodbye to the truly loved Dave Long this weekend. He was so much, to so many people and he will be greatly missed. If you know my dad, you know he had a big heart, and loved to make people laugh. He would go up to just about anyone, people who wore Cleveland sports attire in particular, and just start talking. He was a big supporter of the arts and a dog lover too. He was a baseball coach that never stopped giving confidence to his players. He was a social worker who cared so much about the residents and their families. He was a proud father who never stopped believing in his kids to reach their dreams, and sacrificed a lot for them. He wore a Mighty Mouse t-shirt on the day I was born, and since then, that is what he has always been, my hero.David enjoyed cooking, the Cleveland Indians, Cleveland Browns and Art Museums. David enjoyed many years going to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan with his family. If there was a sports game on television, he was watching. David also enjoyed the ballet, watching his daughter and former wife, Suzanne Lownsbury dance. Time spent coaching his son's Pony League teams in Virginia Beach, VA was truly valued. He spent his adult life working and supporting adults that have disabilities.Dave lives on through his daughter, son, father and sister Kris Taphorn. He was predeceased by his mother, Margaret in 2011. A celebration of life will be April 18th at 2:00 at Massimo Da Milano Restaurant in Cleveland, Ohio. Memorial donations can be made to Southeastern Virginia Training Center, Chesapeake, VA or Deepwood Center in Mentor, Ohio.

David Kent Long

April 9, 2015