David J. Breen, promoter of amatuer sports and a member of the Reading Recreation Board, died yesterday in his home, Douglass St., aged 64 years. His death follows an illness of almost three months. Breen's entire life had been spent in the developement of amatuer sports in this vicinity, especially in baseball and prize fighting, and in later years the developement of Reading's playground and recreation program. In his younger years, Breen was known best as a baseball player, and also as a bicyclist, and a runner. Later it was Breen who brought amatuer boxing into it's own in Reading. His interest in sports never waned throughout his 64 years. Breen's baseball career began on the sandlots in the vicinity of the old Reading Company plant, in the Laurel and Willow Streets area. As he grew older he became interested in organized amatuer baseball, and joined a team sponsored by the Cadet Society of St. Peter's Catholic Church. As his baseball ability improved, Breen was named as captain-catcher on the "Our Boys" team, sponsored by Harry Wilhelm, Reading industrialist, whose interest in sports and boys' work influenced Breen's interest in recreation. He later played with the "Laurels" and the "Shamrocks" and then graduated into the Old City league, where he played with the "Windsors" and the Catholic Literary nine, two of the strangest clubs of the day. As a boy, Breen's interest centered around the bicycle, and by the time he was 14 years old he was the boy's bicycling champion of Berks County. When advancing age made it impossible for Breen to be an active participant in baseball and bicycling he turned his attention to promotion of amatuer sports and recreation. Amaturer prize fighting promotion took up mosdt of his time as he became known as the "father of amater boxing" in Reading. His work in this field earned him an appointment as a district representative of the A.A.U. In 1929 when Breen was appointed to the Reading Board of Recreation by J. Henry Stump, former Mayor, his attention was turned to developing recreation centers throughout the city. He saw to it that most play centers were equipped with baseball diamonds, and assisted in the organization of the mite and midget baseball leagues. His most recent effort in developing the recreation program in the city was the establishment of an "honor system" playground on the old Sixth Street Hollow property, owned by the Reading Company. Under this system the children are pledged to use the equipment placed there without destroying and damaging it. Breen was also widely known in political circles being an active member of the Democratic party. His only political position, however. , was that of a tipstaff for Judge H. Robert Mays, a position he held at the time of his death. He was a machinist for the Reading Company for 26 years and was active in the affairs of the Reading Compant Y.M.C.A. He was a member of the St. Joseph's Catholic Church, the Holy Name Society, the Eagles, and the Hampden Fire Company. Surviving are his widow, Lucy C. (Klemmer); five daughters, Lucy E., New York; Florence, wife of Joseph McFadden, Ridgewood, N.J.; Mary, wife of Aurthur Lawson, New York; Madeleine, at home, and Verna, Greenwich, Conn.; two sons, David Jr., and Daniel, both at home; two grandchildren; one sister, Mary Breen, and a brother, Thomas Breen, both of Reading. Solemn Requiem High Mas will be celebrated in St. Joseph's Catholic Church on Saturday at 10 a.m. Burial will be made in Gethsemene Cemetary in charge of the Dougherty Funeral Service.

(Reading Eagle-9/16/1941)