Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SYRACUSE - Darrell Krugman may have been the owner of South Shore Golf Club in Syracuse, but to those who knew him, he was more.
A father and a husband. A friend and a coworker. A teacher and a giver.
Krugman, 45, died Monday morning in a crash on Ind. 13, just north of South Shore.
Krugman, whose wife Kelly works in the Kosciusko County Probation Department, was the father of three boys: 4-year-old twins Jacob and Jared and 9-year-old stepson Mason.
"He was a good father," said South Shore Golf Club employee Chris Clark. "He was one of the best men I can think of. He was the best friend a person could have, and he would do anything for you."
Krugman wore many hats at South Shore Golf Club: Owner, professional and course superintendent, but he will be remembered most for his generosity and kind spirit.
"He was such a kind person," said Anne Gallahan, 23-year employee of South Shore Golf Club. "He would give anything he had and never ask anything in return. Everyone just loved him. If someone was in trouble, he would be right there to help them.
"He was like my own son. All the people here at work idolized him."
South Shore was home to the Wawasee Warrior golf team and head coach Steve Coverstone said hearing the news of Krugman's death was "one of the worst feelings I've ever had in my life.
"Darrell was just a wonderful person. He was wonderful to me personally and he was wonderful to the golf team. He supported the golf team in so many ways. He would do anything for them."
Coverstone said he and Krugman were friends for more than 20 years. "Darrell did everything at that golf course," Coverstone said. "I'd stop in to talk about my next swing theory. He was always busy, but he always made time to talk to you."
Krugman, who worked at South Shore for 20 years, was the professional for 16 years and the owner/pro since 2001, had a special talent on the course and tried to share that gift with children whenever he got the chance.
"He was great with kids," said Gallahan. "He was a great teacher.
"There were many times I saw him set up a table, cut down golf clubs, regrip them and give them to kids who couldn't afford them. If he saw a kid who was not doing well or having trouble on the course, he would take them over to the range and help them with their swing at no charge. He just loved helping kids."
If there was a charity event involving golf and children, Krugman was there.
"He helped so many people, especially young people," said Gallahan. "He did so many good things. He never asked for anything in return, that's just the way he was."
Krugman started his golf career at Maxwelton Golf Club in Syracuse before attending school and getting a job at South Shore Golf Club. After spending 16 years as the golf professional at South Shore, he bought the course and continued its tradition of golf.
