Everyone in northeast Reading knew Randall E. “Buz” Dietrich as a friend and role model who had a passion for baseball, football, basketball and wrestling.

His love of team sports overlapped with his job when Buz was a bus driver for the Reading School District in the early 1970s.

He drove the high school teams to their games during a time when Reading High School was competing for state championships.

He became close friends with coaches and players like Jim Gano, basketball coach and athletic director; Cooter Jones, baseball coach; Kerry Ciatto, wrestling coach; and Dave Pacella, a football player, who played in the NFL for teams including the Philadelphia Eagles, as well as many others.

“My dad loved watching the sports heroes play,” said his son, Andy, 49, of Sinking Spring.

“All of the kids looked up to my dad, and he was their bus driver,” said his son, Randy, 53, of Exeter Township. “He became a second father to many of the kids. My dad made friends with a lot of coaches and teams.”

“He was everyone’s dad,” said his daughter, Lisa, 56, of Reading. “He was the dad of northeast Reading, a mentor and a coach.”

Lisa, Randy and Andy shared memories of their dad, who they remember as their biggest hero. He died on July 31, 2020, at age 80.

Buz grew up in northeast Reading. He served in the U.S. Navy. 

He took his  family on vacations camping at Sea Isle City at the Jersey Shore.

He watched Randy and Andy play sports. 

“I was the spectator,” Lisa said, reminiscing about she and her dad watching her brothers play sports.

Buz also served as a Boy Scout Master and was past president of the Rising Sun Athletic League, a youth sports club.

Buz was also a fan of the Philadelphia Phillies, Eagles and 76ers.

He worked for the Reading School District for 33 years, retiring when he was just 58. That’s when he became a full-time babysitter for his grandchildren, watching all of their milestones, including youth and school sports.

Buz also became an assistant wrestling coach at Southwest Junior High for five years.

He also announced at wrestling matches and baseball games.

He loved spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

“He couldn’t be prouder,” Lisa said.

During the last few weeks of his life, Buz lived with Randy’s family in Exeter Township.

“He called it his apartment,” Randy said. “He lived in the finished basement with a TV. He liked it.”

The children said everywhere they went in northeast Reading, people would ask about their dad.

“I was in the Pike Cafe having lunch, and someone came up and asked how my dad was doing,” Randy said. “Everyone asked about my dad.”