Longtime Punahou coach and teacher David "Dave" P. Eldredge III '49 passed away on Monday, October 19, 2009.

As a student at Punahou School, Dave was an all-around athlete. He lettered in football, basketball and baseball. Later, he played football for four seasons at Stanford University, and was on Stanford's 1952 Rose Bowl team.

Dave returned to Punahou School and began his esteemed 40-year career in 1956, teaching science and math. He coached football from 1959 to 1962 and 1965 to 1976, coached baseball from 1965 to 1970 and was also an assistant varsity basketball coach.

The Eldredge name is synonymous with baseball in Hawai'i. Dave's father, David Pinkham Kaiana "Pop" Eldredge II, played and coached baseball for many years. Dave started out playing baseball as a young child, coached as an adult and was president of Hawai'i's Babe Ruth Baseball. He leaves behind a legacy of deep commitment to Hawai'i and its youth at Punahou School and the larger community.

Dave established the Hawaiian studies curriculum at Punahou School, as well as transformed the traditional Holoku pageant into what it is today. In 1991, he was honored with Punahou Alumni Association's highest honor, the "O" in Life award.

Dave is survived by wife Jean Matsukage '50 Eldredge; their three children: Cynthie '77 Keeno, David IV "Boy" '79 and Duane '83; sister Hattie Eldredge '66 Phillips; brother Pal '64; and his 13 grandchildren.

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Dave Eldredge dies at age 77
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Honolulu Advertiser, 10/20/09