‘Mr. Coach’ Claimed by Leukemia

Dennis Shearer, a popular girls’ basketball coach in the region, died Friday night from complications of leukemia. He was 52.

Shearer, who served as an assistant to wife Paula Getty-Shearer at Louisville and Royal high schools the last eight seasons, recently underwent his second bone-marrow transplant. He was diagnosed with leukemia in 1997.

“I just don’t want to think of him as losing the battle,” said Getty-Shearer, who took a one-year leave of absence from Louisville to spend more time with her ailing husband. “He won when he finally got to go.”

Shearer, known by many girls’ players as “Mr. Coach,” is survived by three adult children from a previous marriage.

A memorial service is scheduled for noon Wednesday at Reardon Simi Valley Mortuary. Visitation will be 5-8 p.m. Tuesday and 9-11 a.m. Wednesday at the mortuary. He will be buried in his home state of Idaho.