Alfred Earnest Beletz Born Oct. 31, 1928, died March 3, 2017; Fortified with the sacraments of Holy Mother Church; He admired Thomas Merton, Thomas Aquinas and Padre Pio; Effective proponent defending their teachings for the existence of God; Keen interest in philosophy and the principals of catholic socialism; Son of Austrian immigrants, Frank and Catherine Beletz (nee Katz) and deceased brothers Frank, Sylvester, John, Frantz, Jack and sisters Anna, Mary, Katherine and Cecilia; He is survived by his nieces and nephews including Jackie (Bill) , Mike (Diane), Dave, Terry (Joe), Marty, Peggy (Tom), Doug (Julie), Kevin Laura) and Paul; Al served admirably in the Korean War; Had taken his favorite gloves and balls with him overseas as he taught the South Koreans baseball; He loved baseball and canoeing. Invited to the STL Cardinals tryouts after many successful years playing a strong armed shortstop in many local leagues and high school. Is included in the Webster Groves high school Hall of Fame. He signed a contract to play minor league ball with the Brewton Millers in Alabama; He loved our Ozark Rivers, where he paddled, poled and camped, also leading the fight to save the Meramec River from the dam. He organized many canoe events and officiated at the Olympic Trials; After being appointed National Poling Chairman of the ACA he developed and instituted the sport of poling as an official sport of the American Canoe Association; He wrote two books on poling and canoeing and was working on a manuscript for a third book about getting to heaven thru baseball. At 88 he was still riding recumbent tricycles everyday and enjoyed bicycling his whole life; Many observers in St. Louis County regularly noticed him riding thru South St. Louis; Memorial mass 10am Tuesday March 14, 2017 at Immaculate Conception Church Maplewood 2934 Marshall Ave. and burial at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery Tributes at jaybsmith.com