Brevard Soccer community mourns death of soccer advocate Chris Szuba of Space Coast United

Tributes continue to arrive for longtime sports and community activist Chris Szuba, who lost her battle with cancer early Friday, Nov. 30.

12/1/2007

The Melbourne resident, who was 51 years old, was highly involved in the Brevard Youth Soccer League and acted as spokeswoman for the county’s largest youth soccer club, Space Coast United Soccer Club.

“Brevard County lost a wonderful person last night,” Eau Gallie High School soccer coach Kevin Glines said. “Chris was always looking out for others and will be missed by this entire community.”

“Chris was a major influence on the development of the Space Coast club and her impact will be felt for many years. She could also be counted on to roll up her sleeves and line a field, coach or manage a team. She helped drive Space Coast to become one of the finest clubs in Brevard County,” BYSL chairman Mark Chapman said.

“The youth soccer community remembers Chris for her passion to develop opportunities for young people and their families to experience the joy and fulfillment of playing soccer. Florida Youth Soccer Association will miss a great advocate for youth soccer in Chris Szuba. Our thoughts are with her family and friends,” FYSA executive director Ed Thiebe said.

Most recently Szuba helped organize the Space Coast United-sponsored The Outreach Program for Soccer (TOPS) Festival Nov. 23 in Viera, which drew challenged athletes from throughout the state.

She relished her role as go-to woman for soccer coaches and players throughout the area.

“She would jump through whatever hoops she needed to in order to help the team out. This year, the day of the preseason soccer games, I called Chris at noon and asked if she could help with getting us fields at the Viera Sports Complex because the location we were supposed to play at would not open their fields because of weather. Chris called me back within the hour and had it all arranged,” Glines said.

A native of Green Bay, Wis., Szuba moved to Melbourne in 1956 with her parents, Sally and Arnold Fairchild, and attended local schools.
The Eau Gallie High School graduate received her bachelor’s degree from Florida Atlantic University and her master’s degree from Florida Institute of Technology.

An accomplished rider who several years ago was instrumental in establishing equestrian programs at Wickham Park, Szuba later was active in the drive to seek voter approval for the 2000 county parks bond referendum.

The latter resulted in the construction of Viera Regional Park, at which Space Coast United plays its home matches.

Also a fervent supporter of the Brevard Zoo, she was among the volunteers who participated in the establishment and construction of the zoo in Viera and later served on the zoo’s board of directors.

Chris Szuba is survived by her husband, Tom, who is president of Space Coast United; her children, Katie, 16 years old; and Matt, 15 years old; as well as her mother; brothers John Fairchild of DePere, Wis. and Dan Fairchild, of Algoma, Wis; and a sister, Patty Bunda, of Sister Bay, Wis.