Wallace J. "Coach" Desautels, passed away on Thursday, June 4th at Baystate Hospital with his loving wife, Carol Desautels (Burnham) by his side. Wally was born in Turners Falls on August 16, 1942. His father, Wallace Desautels, was a local bar owner and businessman and his mother, Marian Desautels (Miskinis) was an artist. Wally was an athlete, and spent much of his youth on the ball field or courts, rotating between football, basketball and baseball. Wally was a four-sport athlete at Turners High School, excelling in football, basketball, baseball, and track. He was active in drama and public speaking as well. After High School he attended Berkshire Community College and then transferred to North Adams State where he received his degree in Zoology. At North Adams, he was a member of the baseball and basketball teams. The most important thing in his life happened in his youth when he met Carol, his future bride and life mate in Turners Falls. They were a couple that met and began dating in junior high school. They continued the relationship throughout High school, broke it off intermittently in college, but it was too strong. In 1965, they would eventually marry. After a brief stint in Miami, they settled in South Hadley. Wally secured a teaching position at South Hadley High School. They bought a home on Judd Avenue and started a family. Wally was a biology and environmental Science teacher at South Hadley High School for 36 Years. He served his community as a member of Town meeting as well as chair of the recreation board for several years. He also was a coach. Wally coached baseball and track, however, his true passion was for football. He served as assistant coach from 1966 until 1983 and as head football coach of the South Hadley Tigers from 1984 until 1993. He retired from coaching in 1994. However, the pull of coaching football was too strong, and he returned to the sport he loved and became the head coach of the Chicopee Comp Colts in 1994. He served in the position for 8 years and always cherished the time there. After he retired from teaching and coaching, he and Carol spent their time traveling, at their lazy summer home on Cape Cod with family, and in St. Augustine Florida in the winter. Retirement was kind to him. Wally's greatest joy in life was spending time with his friends and family. He was the beloved husband of Carol (Burnham) for 55 years; and loving father to Geoff, James and his wife Lisa, Tad and his wife Nikki, Matt and his wife Amanda, and Karen Nastrom and her husband Rich; and adoring grandfather to Jack, Jake, Sam, Will, Briella, Dillon, and Bode; He also leaves behind numerous family and friends who he cherished and who forever made his and his family's life richer. The family would like to thank the nurses and medical staff at Baystate Hospital for their incredibly kind and nurturing care. In lieu in flowers, donations may be made in Wally's memory to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or the American Red Cross. There will be a private burial with family and a Memorial Service/ Celebration of Life will be scheduled at a later time. Curran-O'Brien Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.