Edward
Alan Dulkoski passed away on February 8, 2026. He was born July 21, 1955, in
Martins Ferry Hospital to JoAnne Joyce Spasaro Dulkoski and Edward Dulkoski.
And what a wonderful life he had.
He was married to the love of his life,
Glenda McCartney Dulkoski. They met as teenagers and have been together for 53
years, building a beautiful life together. They were married on August 2, 1980,
and were blessed with two daughters, Kasey and Abbey. After years of being
outnumbered, he welcomed a son-in-law, Michael Bertolino, and soon became Papa
to three loving grandsons that were his pride and joy – Joseph Edward, Vincent
Anthony and Dominic Ray.
AD
Being an athlete and loving sports was
a common thread throughout his life. A three-sport athlete, his high school
athletic career was one for the record books. At Buckeye West, he starred as a
halfback on the football field and was a starting guard on the basketball team
that achieved an undefeated 18-0 season. In his senior baseball season, Buckeye
West went to the OHSAA state tournament where Ed pitched a no-hitter in the
semi-final game. If you attend the baseball tournament today, you will still
find his name in the program, as only 12 others have accomplished this feat. His pitching arm did more than win his
team a state runner up trophy – it hurled him into a college scholarship and
the opportunity to pitch for West Liberty College in West Virginia, where he
earned a degree in Physical Education/Health and Driver’s Training.
His degree led to a rewarding career in
education, during which kids with special needs or classroom challenges
benefitted from his big heart and gentle patience. He also continued to impress
students with his smooth jump shot when he taught physical education. He taught
at several schools over his career from his own elementary school, St. Casimir
in Adena, to Harrison Hills and eventually to Buckeye Local High School.
Buckeye was a family affair – it was where his daughters attended high school
and where Glenda also taught. They retired from Buckeye together in 2013. Coach
D also served as assistant basketball coach to the Lady Panthers in the years
Kasey played. He spent several years teaching alongside a friend who was like a
brother to him, Kevin Soos.
He took on golf as his next athletic
challenge. Donning his signature TaylorMade hat, he enjoyed any golf course and
even got to putt on a green at Pebble Beach, but his favorite place was
Bec-Wood Hills with his long-time golfing buddies and friends, Joe Supinski and
Dan Bednarski. Joe witnessed Ed’s hole-in-one on the 16th hole on October 16,
2011.
He was quiet to most but if you were
lucky enough, you knew he had a cutting sense of humor mixed with sarcasm and
an appropriate Seinfeld quote. He enjoyed a banana split from the Dairy Jean
and watching the sunset with Glenda in their beautiful backyard on Route 150, a
home they shared for 37 years. He loved watching over Abbey – his best buddy. Over the last few years, his support
circle beyond his family has included loving care from Brandy Bezak.
He was preceded in death by his
parents, Ed and JoAnne and father-in-law, Lowell Hostetler. He leaves behind
his wife, Glenda, his daughters, Kasey (Michael) and Abbey, and grandchildren,
Joseph, Vincent and Dominic, mother-in-law Sandra Hostetler, and other extended
family and friends.
The family will hold a private
celebration of his life. In honor of Ed, please consider a donation to the
Buckeye Local Athletic Department to support future athletes. Checks can be
made out to Buckeye Local School District and mailed to 6899 State Route 150,
Dillonvale, OH 43917, and include In Memory of Ed Dulkoski in the memo.
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You can also honor Ed today by simply
playing a round of golf, laughing all over again at an episode of Seinfeld, or
enjoying a banana split.