David “Dave” William Pavlesic Sr., AKA “PAV”

David “Dave” William Pavlesic Sr., 88, of Houston, Texas, passed away August 13, 2026, after a long battle with cancer.

Dave was a special man—a loving father, grandfather, friend, and the pet whisperer. He had a way of attracting anyone, and any and every animal, into his life. He will be forever remembered and deeply missed.

Dave grew up on the streets of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and learned at an early age to be tough. As a young child, his dream was born, and all he wanted to do was play baseball. Dave cut his teeth on the sandlot, and his dream never faded.

At the age of 18, Dave enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, where he served our country for five years in Delta Company (D Co.), 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, based out of Camp Lejeune, NC. He also played on the Marine baseball team while serving, keeping his skills honed.

After a few stints in semi-pro baseball and tryouts with the Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Yankees, he pulled off the unthinkable with a phone call. In 1963, Dave talked his way into a full scholarship to play baseball and football at Mayville State College in Mayville, ND, where he would meet Betty.

Their baseball team went on to make it to the 1964 NAIA World Series in St. Joseph, MO. Dave went on to sign with the San Francisco Giants during the tournament—and that’s “frowned upon,” to put it bluntly! The Giants were forced to release Dave, and the St. Louis Cardinals picked up his contract.

Dave played his first year of professional baseball with the Tulsa Oilers in 1964, the Cardinals’ Double-A affiliate. Dave and Betty were married in San Bernardino, CA, on Halloween in 1964, after the season ended.

1965 was Dave’s breakout year with the Tulsa Oilers, who moved up to Triple-A that year. Dave won the Texas League batting title with a .344 average and earned his way onto the Cardinals’ roster in 1966.

A shoulder injury and subsequent surgeries sent him back to Tulsa for rehabilitation. He was called back to the Cardinals’ Big League Camp in the spring of 1967, but the shoulder problems persisted, and he finished his playing career in Tulsa with the Tulsa Oilers in 1968. He then went on to manage in the minor leagues with the Kansas City Royals through 1970 and the Cincinnati Reds in 1971.

After managing the Billings Mustangs, a Minor League affiliate of the Kansas City Royals, Dave and Betty decided to make Billings, MT, their home and opened a small women’s clothing boutique, “The Unique Reflection.” After a few years, their CPA told them to head south to

Houston, where things were booming, so they headed south and opened another women’s boutique, “David’s.” He then went on to become a salesman and somehow ended up getting his cosmetology license and becoming a hairstylist—and a good one at that.

Through his years as a hairstylist, he met many people and became the stylist and therapist of choice for many, including Dana Delany, Janice and Bob McNair, and more.

Dave was a devout Christian and a faithful Catholic who attended Mass daily at St. Theresa Catholic Church or All Saints Catholic Church. He loved the outdoors, fishing, hunting, golf, and traveling. He chronicled his life story in a book he wrote and published in 2023 called I Was Born to Play Baseball. It’s quite humorous, and there are some great stories in there.

More than anything, he loved his family. Family was everything to Dave—and so were his dogs! There wasn’t a stray dog he could turn away, and he made sure they ate better than he did!

Dave is survived by his sisters, Joy Mahaffey and Wendy Paulis; brother, Mark Paulis; ex-wife and best friend, Betty Pavlesic; his son, David, and wife, Kathy; his son, Dan, and wife, Kristine; and his grandchildren, Colton, Sierra, Danica, and Kameron.

Dave was preceded in death by his father, Bill Paulis; mother, Charlotte Rinker; sister, Mary Lou Hull; and brother, Bill Paulis Jr.

Many thanks go out to all of Dave’s support staff in his last days, including all his friends from St. Theresa and All Saints Catholic Churches; Chris Meek; Noel Gregory; his caregivers, Alicia, Angel, and Dejia; and one of his old teammates from Tulsa, Jim Harris.

Jim spent many hours—almost every day—with Dave, reminiscing about the old times when they played on the diamond more than 60 years ago, bringing him chocolate milkshakes and reminding him that “only the good die young.” Jim was with Dave when he went to be with the Lord.

Now Dave is up guarding the Rainbow Bridge, throwing a bone—no, he’s cooking a chicken for every dog that comes across!

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to SNAP (Spay-Neuter Assistance Program), the SPCA, or any of the local no-kill animal shelters.

A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Theresa Catholic Church, 6622 Haskell Street, Houston, TX 77007, next to Memorial Park, on Saturday, August 29, 2026, at 10:00 AM.

A reception will be held immediately following at St. Theresa’s Reception Room from 11:00 AM–1:00 PM.

There will be a graveside memorial service at Houston Veterans Memorial Cemetery at a later date to be announced.

Please join us to celebrate Dave’s life, listen to and tell the many wonderful stories, and we promise there will be some doozies! Because he lived life that way!