At the age of 27, while awaiting the birth of his first child, John David Lamanca was a victim of the crash of USAir Flight 427 in Pittsburgh, on September 8, 1994.

At the time of his death, his family requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Dave's memory. There was an outpouring of support, as the community at large was touched in so many ways by this family's sudden loss.

Dave's family and friends rallied together and established the annual Dave Lamanca Golf Tournament, with the first one taking place in the spring of 1995. Their main goal was and is to continue to raise money to invest in scholarship funds and give back to the community each year, in Dave's memory.