Donald L."Butch" Lemish, (82) resident of New Smyrna Beach, FL., former James Madison University Athletics Director and Vice President for University Advancement, as well as, President/Commissioner of the Valley Baseball League and past commissioner of the Rockingham County Baseball League (VA) died Monday, January 19, 2026.

Mr. Lemish retired in 2001from a 35-year career in higher education, which included serving three universities as Vice President for University Advancement and two as Director of Intercollegiate Athletics. Mr. Lemish also was a business entrepreneur and civic leader. He was co-owner, with his son Kyle, of City Motors Company, an independent automobile dealership in Harrisonburg, VA. He served on the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors for nine years and was President in 1997.

He became Commissioner of the Rockingham Co1mty Baseball League in 2010 and President/Commissioner of the Valley Baseball League in 2012 till retiring in 2017. He was inducted into the Valley League Hall of Fame in 2024.

He joined the JMU staff in 1987 as Vice President for University Advancement and became Director of Athletics in 1993. In 1999 he returned to Longwood (University) as Director of Athletics and Recreation. He previously served Longwood from 1982 to1987 as Vice President for Institutional Advancement and Community Relations.

Prior to Longwood, Mr. Lemish was Vice Chancellor for Advancement and Planning at East Carolina University. He also served in educational administration at The University of Alabama in Birmingham and at his alma mater Ball State University in Muncie, IN. He was listed in seven "Who's Who" publications during his years in higher education. He authored two of the first public foundation "how to" books for colleges and universities published by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, titled The Foundation Handbook and Establishing A University Foundation.

Before beginning his career in higher education, Mr. Lemish taught journalism at Fort Wayne (IN) Elmhurst High School, was sports director and a play-by-play sportscaster for radio station WIFF-FM in Auburn (IN), and served briefly as a deputy sheriff in Delaware County Indiana.

He contributed to his life-long baseball passion by umpiring major college and high school baseball for 17 years and by doing part-time work for two Major League Baseball Clubs.

After his retirement from higher education, Mr. Lemish became a Virginia licensed private investigator and did security and investigative work for both Central Security Bureau and COSTCO. He also worked with Greenwood and Associates as a higher education executive search consultant.

Mr. Lemish was active in numerous community endeavors serving as Commissioner of the VBL and past Commissioner of the RCBL. He was the founding president of the RCBL Museum Foundation, Inc.

In 2012-2013, he served on the Board of Trustees of Pacifica (CA) University. Other community service included being the founder, former president, and board member of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Crime Solvers.

He was secretary and a founding member of the Harrisonburg Police Foundation. He also was a member of the Harrisonburg Citizens Police Advisory Council from it inception. He was a former member of the Board of Directors of Cat's Cradle, Harrisonburg. He had served on the Board of Directors of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham SPCA, and was a member of the Stellar One Bank Advisory Board.

He was a coach with the Clover Hill Bucks of the Rockingham County Baseball League for three years (2004-2006). He was Vice Commissioner of the RCBL from 2007 – 2010.

Mr. Lemish was active in the America's Junior Miss program serving as an emcee and judge in regional pageants from 1969 – 1985. Other community and civic activities included: Legislative Committee, Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services, 2003 – 2004; Poplar Hill Community Development Authority, 1999 – 2001; Harrisonburg Rotary Club, 1987 – 1999 (Paul Harris Fellow, 1997); Chairman, Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference, 2000 – 2001; Board of Directors, NCAA Division I-AA Football Athletic Directors Association, 1995 – 1999; Vice President, NCAA Division I-AA Football Athletic Directors Association, 1998 – 1999; Secretary, NCAA Division I-AA Football Athletic Directors Association, 1997- 1998; NCAA Division I Certification Peer Reviewer, 1995 – 1999; ECAC Football Awards Committee, 1997 – 2000; Board of Trustees and Vice President, The Capital Fund, American Association of State Colleges and Universities, Washington, DC, 1990 – 1994, and NCAA baseball and football official, 1966 – 1977.

Mr. Lemish received his BS in Education degree from Ball State University in 1965 and earned a Master of Arts degree in 1968. He also completed the Institute for Educational Management at Harvard University in 1986.

He is a former member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Harrisonburg, VA, and served as it's Building Campaign fund-raising consultant in the early 1990s. At death he was a member of the Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church in New Smyrna Beach, FL.

He is survived by two sons, Mick Lemish and spouse Susan Buckner of Purcellville, VA, and Kyle Lemish and spouse Shelly of Harrisonburg. He was preceded in death by his first wife of 45 years Sue Ann Lemish and a sister, Rebecca Derrow of Auburn, IN. He remarried in 2012 and is survived by his wife Nancy Kinney McDonnell Lemish. He was the son of the late Anthony and Dorothy Lemish of Auburn, IN. Also, he is survived by two step-sons and two step-daughters: Sean McDonnell and spouse Judy McDonnell, New Smyrna Beach, FL; Thomas McDonnell and spouse Katie McDonnell, Melbourne, FL; Shannon McDonnell Carter and Spouse Michael Carter, Riverview. FL, and Erin McDonnell Bishop and spouse Jason Bishop, Atlanta, GA. He has nine surviving step-grandchildren.

His body was cremated at the Baldwin Brothers Funeral Home, New Smyrna Beach. A memorial Mass will be conducted at Our Lady Star of the Sea 10:00 am, Saturday, February 7, in New Smyrna Beach.

Memorial contributions may be sent to the Lemish Family Athletic Scholarship at James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA 22807, or to the Cardinal Varsity Club, Ball State University Foundation, Muncie, IN, 47306.