Art “ Duke “ Detzel, 93 , a resident of St. Mary’s at Asbury Ridge, slipped quietly away Wednesday evening, May 2, 2007, while watching TV in his easy chair.

He was born in Erie on June 1, 1913, in the family home at 5th and Ash Streets.
He was a 1932 graduate of East High School, where he excelled as a lineman on the football team. His efforts won him a scholarship to the University of Pittsburgh, where he captained the wrestling team, and played football. In 1935, playing tackle on both offense and defense, he was named an All-American, becoming the first person ever to win that honor from the Erie area. He then played one season of professional football with the Cleveland Rams, making $95 per game, but left that job to enter teaching and coaching , where, at that time, he could make more money.
A couple of years later, while teaching physical education at the high school in Beaver, PA, he met his future bride, Wilma Carnelly, of Beaver Falls, who was the girls’ phys-ed teacher. They were married in November of 1941, one week before the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Duke enlisted in the Navy, and saw action in the Pacific Theater. Post-war, he continued as an officer in the Naval Reserve, teaching classes during the summers at the Naval Station at Great Lakes, Illinois. He retired from the Navy after 24 years of honorable service.
Immediately after the end of World War II, he re-entered the teaching/coaching profession, spending a short time at Strong Vincent High School. In 1948, he accepted a position at East High School, where he stayed until 1964, teaching phys-ed and health, and coaching football. During his time at East, he and his staff coached the football team to two City Championships, in 1953 and 1958.
In 1964, he became Coordinator of Athletics, Phys-Ed, Health and Recreation for the Erie School District. A few years later, he went back to working directly with students, as one of the Assistant Principals at Twin-Tech High School, where he stayed until he retired in 1978.
Duke enjoyed his retirement as a “snow-bird”, spending the winters with his wife at their home in Lakeland, Florida. His hobbies were studying, and investing in, the stock market, and riding his bike every day. Having had a mild heart attack in 1972, which required bypass surgery, he started riding his bike every day. When Duke drove to Florida every winter, the bike was hooked on to the back of his van. Duke was 88 years old when he would still drive to the peninsula, park his van, lift his old Schwinn bike out of the van, ride completely around the peninsula, lift the bike back into the van, and drive home.
Duke never lost his sharp wit and friendly manner. Up until his death, the staff at St. Mary’s, where he loved living, always enjoyed his company.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Wilma M. (Carnelly) Detzel in 1994, a brother, Matthew Detzel , and two sisters, Winifred and Bertille Detzel.
Survivors include his son, Donald A. Detzel and his wife, Catherine , of Erie, two grandsons, Josh and Troy Detzel, and a step-grandaughter, Shivani Suri.


No calling hours will be observed. Private services will be at the convenience of the family, with burial in Laurel Hill Cemetery. Brugger Home For Funerals, 1595 West 38th Street is handling arrangements.

Memorials may be made in Duke's name to St. Mary’s at Asbury Ridge, 4855 West Ridge Rd., Erie, 16506