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51-Year Old Pennsylvania Swim Coach David “Dino” Kesler Dies of COVID-19

51-year old David Kesler of Dauphin, Pennsylvania died on November 16 after a battle with COVID-19.

Known affectionately to his team as “Coach Dino,” Kesler was the coach of the Dauphin Dolphins swim team in central Pennsylvania.

He was also a Tae Kwon Do instructor (and 2nd-degree blackbelt), and the president of Homeland Shield and ENACT, a volunteer-based organization that provides security and organizes disaster relief supplies and support.

He was hospitalized on October 31 and died just over two weeks later. Kesler was one of 72 deaths related to COVID-19 in the state of Pennsylvania on November 16, according to data compiled by the New York Times.

Pennsylvania, like most of the U.S., has begun to see a new wave of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths as colder, wetter weather pushes people back indoors.

No information about Kesler’s vaccination status was available, though state data reports that about 53% of residents in Dauphin County are fully vaccinated. Dauphin is currently reporting about 41 new cases per 100,000 residents daily, with a 12% test positivity rate. That’s a rate more than double the average rate on November 1.

Kesler was also an avid motorcyclist and according to his obituary, he was a former president and original member of the Maulitia Motorcycle Club. The Maulitia Motorcycle Club says on their website that “We are made up of patriotic citizens who love their country, their freedoms, and their liberty. We are committed to standing against and exposing corruption and injustice.” The club also identifies themselves as a part of the 3 Percenters movement, a far-right, anti-government militia movement in the United States and Canada. The 3 Percenters movement, which has been labeled a terrorist entity by the government of Canada, formally dissolved after the 2021 United States Capitol attack, though local independent groups still operate.

In 1996, he opened Stoney Creek Cycles, where he maintained, repaired, and built motorcycles.

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Bossanova
2 years ago

Just checked out his motor cycle club’s website and wow! No 3%er has any business coaching the sport I love. Sickening.

Coach Macgyver
2 years ago

2021 and people still arguing politics on social media. If there was ever an argument to change someone’s political stance, this ain’t it.

Wayne Christopher
3 years ago

During the funeral procession one of the pallbearers on a motorcycle was killed by a logging truck

https://dailyvoice.com/pennsylvania/dauphin/police-fire/fatal-crash-near-funeral-procession-along-us-22-penndot/820716/

Steve Nolan
Reply to  Wayne Christopher
3 years ago

When it rains it pours, damn.

“Killed in a funeral procession” is a hell of a way to go.

50M Pools Rule
Reply to  Wayne Christopher
2 years ago

Wow.

lunchy
Reply to  Wayne Christopher
2 years ago

Just in case it God wasn’t clear in his initial smiting.

College coach
3 years ago

Some of y’all need to grow up. A colleague in the sport passed away and you’re too busy worrying about his jab status and what groups he was affiliated politically.

IU Kicker
Reply to  College coach
3 years ago

His political ideology cost him his life.

College coach
Reply to  IU Kicker
3 years ago

people of all political parties have gotten the shot. Don’t demean someone because of personal choices.

Last edited 3 years ago by College coach
Swimpop
Reply to  College coach
2 years ago

He and all of the other selfish head in the sand anti vaxxers are why we couldn’t beat this and why our hospitals are overflowing. They just can’t die fast enough.

Corn Pop
Reply to  IU Kicker
2 years ago

Not really , at 52 he’s lived most of it .

Johann Olivier
Reply to  Corn Pop
2 years ago

LOL! Sheesh…says a 66 yo who still loves swimming ‘fly!

Wayne Christopher
3 years ago

Coach went down fighting until his last words…” Don’t give up…..keep riding, and be sure the libs don’t win this fight, they took the election from us, and now they want to jab us with lies”

Swimswammer
3 years ago

A proud Herman Cain Award recipient

Swimpop
3 years ago

Well, he sure owned the libs didn’t he.

Jay Ryan
3 years ago

To quote the new German health minister, “when this pandemic is over the population will include only the vaccinate, the recovered, and the dead”.

In Germany this is considered an upbeat peptalk, but it is a bit dark for my taste, however true.

I cannot understand a statewide vaccination rate of only 53%. Some people need to read more books (rather than burn them).

Steve Nolan
Reply to  Braden Keith
3 years ago

That’s a surprising gap between partially and fully vaccinated, given how long they’ve been available to everyone in the US.

Oddly optimistic that the partial percentage is tipping up, though!

Oswego Alum
Reply to  Jay Ryan
3 years ago

And the amount of doctors, vaccinated and not, who blasted him for this ignorant comment was profound. Just because someone says it doesn’t make it true.

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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