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Jack Kerchman Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for Jack Kerchman
Ted Comfort
June 17, 2025
"RUN IT OFF" All the football players know this famous saying ofJ Jacks. Always
a part of our lives!
Tom Archer
February 2, 2025
I was just one of many. He was one of one.
Ted Comfort
June 17, 2023
Wilsker,Herd,Beckett,Bratton,Feldman,Flig,Mandel,Kalmowitz,Koppel,Comfort. City Champs thanks to Jack and Jake.
Ted Gluckman
January 13, 2023
So very sorry to hear of Jack's passing. He was the head counselor at Camp Navajo, Honesdale, Pa. A straight shooter, a great administrator and a wonderful role model. May he rest in peace and may his memory be a blessing.
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December 26, 2009
Just found out that Jack died and spoke to my brother and father about him. We were connected to the Kerchman family for seven years when Mike and I played football and baseball. There was rarely a dull moment. My father never missed a game or a practice and he and Eddie the janitor were Jacks biggest fans and critics. The experience with coach was sometimes whacky sometimes surreal and always fun. We cherished those moments and still do .All our love to the family.
Neil. Mike and Don Hausig
October 1, 2009
Thanks, Coach.
Harold Adelman
August 27, 2009
Sorry to hear about Jack's passing.The world will miss a great teacher of life and a friend of all.
Shelly Fogel 1956
The flounder
Donna Loewy
August 27, 2009
I just heard last night (Aug. 26) about Jack's passing. I send my deepest condolences to Jean and the whole family.
Donna Hallen Loewy, daughter of Belle and Al Hallen
Ellen Smith Hansen
August 2, 2009
I was class of '63 and never missed a football game (although I wouldn't watch one now if you paid me!). How proud I was when our baseball team played in the championship game that year. He was a fine gentleman, and in my mind I will always hear him bellow those immortal words "Walk if off".
Sincere condolences
July 25, 2009
dear jeannie, I met you and jack in nyack (haven court neighbors next door)after wwII. i never forgot both of you, and how nice jack treated me, while he was going to syracuse and playing ball. my dad owned rockland refrigeration, and i knew murray and ted. i am now 75 and work part-time, driving for a subaru dealer. one of the people i like and work with -sam texler- speaks so highly of jack. just wanted to touch base after 60 plus years. danny white ([email protected]) telephone 845-727-7978.
laurence Gorayeb
July 18, 2009
I didn't go to Far Rockaway but I was an Adams H.S. football player. My memories of Mr. "K' go back to the summers of the early to mid fifties when he worked in the summer school program at P.S. 214 in Brooklyn. Never have I ever seen anyone hit a softball as far as Jack Kerchman. He was an incredible athlete. I was also at the game between Far Rockaway and St Francis. I'm sure it was one of the highlights of his coaching career. A life well lived.
Robert Gedzelman
July 15, 2009
The Gedzelman Family (Rita [nee Rose FRHS '39], Stanley '61, Jack '65 and Robert '71) all extend their heartfelt sympathies for your loss. Coach Kerchman was a community hero to thousands of FRHS students. We lived across the street on Cornaga Ave; we heard Coach Kerchman's voice booming during every football team practice. Coach Kerchman was near and dear to all of us. We will never forget him.
Andy Marlin
July 14, 2009
To the entire Kerchman family, I would like to extend my deepest sympathy to all of you, I was one of the lucky ones to be able to play baseball during 1961-1964, with Mr. Kershman as my coach, I say Mr. Kershman, because he always told me that when i graduate college, thats when I could call him Jack, well I still need some credits, so he will always be Mr. Kershman to me. I also was one of the lucky ones that played on a City Championship team , the 1963 baseball team, that one the City championship against Curtis at Bakers Field, Columbia U. I always felt that I was one of his favorites, so I will miss him very much.
Carol Shalom
July 6, 2009
My condolences to you, Karen, and your entire family. I remember your dad at your sweet sixteen. He seemed larger than life to me whether on or off the football field. I remember when Brad Gutman broke his leg during a scrimage and your father told him to "walk it off". If you ask anyone who played football for him, they would say that he taught them grit and perseverance. If you ask my brother-in-law, Alan Moore ('60), he will tell you that Jack Kerchman was the greatest influence in his life. That is quite a testimonial. I am sorry for your loss.
Carol Frank Becken Shalom
ann nonymus
July 6, 2009
jack kerchman was, by far, my most favorite person at far rockaway high. he had wonderful humor, was kind and compassionate. how blessed you all are to have had him all these years. he goes hand and hand with far rockaway high but now neither one stands. my thoughts and most of all my prayers are with his surviving family, but most of all with jack.
Richard Herbst
July 5, 2009
One of those few individuals who are larger than life, who defy description and matter in no small way to all who knew him. Not just a "well, I knew him..." but a giant of a man with a booming voice and a heart and humility to match. There was only one.
Barbara Frazer-Powell
July 5, 2009
To the Kerchman family
My deepest condolences to you on your loss. He was a great man who everyone loved and respected.
Gordon Freed
June 30, 2009
My heart goes out to the Kerchman family. I was the "manager" of football and baseball teams for 3 years (1967-69). He was not only a great leader, but a legend at FRHS. I can still hear that booming voice directed at our pitchers.."think strikes, think strikes". He ALWAYS called me Tiger! I am so grateful to have met him one last time at the 100 year anniversary gathering in 1997. Jack still called me Tiger......
Emil and Mary Fontana
June 30, 2009
Jean and Family,
Our sincere condolences. We had a lot of fun,Jean, with you and Jack in Pittsfield, MA at the Sunday Morning League dinners. And Emil had many memorable golf matches with Jack. Those were good times.
teddy comfort
June 28, 2009
Jacks remedy for any type of injury was to "run it off". I remember him telling Danny Sandler to do that after he had broken his leg. So it wouldn't surprise me that when Jack showed up in heaven with his illness the Creator told him to "run it off and go play 18"
Alan Moore
June 28, 2009
To Jean, Karen, Barbara and the entire Kerchman Family,
Coach touched the lives of so many young people, and I pray he really understood what he bestowed upon us. He taught by example, making sure we knew how to keep focused on whatever we did without ever giving up. During all the years that have past coach’s words and actions still remain embedded in my mind. I have benefited throughout my lifetime because I knew and loved this man. His tutelage traverse’s the lifetime of everyone he touched. He was a gift for the ages.
Rosalie and I send our condolences to the entire Kerchman family.
Alan and Rosalie Moore
marc Briller
June 27, 2009
My sincerest sympathy to the entire Kerchman family.
As we the former students of this dedicated teacher continue to learn our life lessons we can only appreciate more with each year we live the lessons our coach taught us many years ago.
Richard Eidman
June 27, 2009
I played football and baseball for Coach Kerchman from 1969-1971. I remember his distinctive gravelly voice and his way of calling guys "Tiger" when he wanted them to give some extra effort. I remember how much I wanted to hear his praise and once I got it for making a tackle or hustling, how much it meant to me. I can also recall how our All City running back, Gary Callahan, once imitated Coaches' distinctive voice, ordering everyone out of the locker room and onto the field before a practice, when Coach K hadn't even arrived yet! He was the original Coach K, tough, demanding, able to build championship winning teams every year I was there. We played in Yankee Stadium in 1969, beat George Washington for the City baseball title, won the city football title and the Mets and Jets also won chammpionships. Thanks to Coach K, that is still one of the most memorable years of my life. He will be missed. My sincerest condolences to his wife and family.
Rich Eidman
frank goldberg
June 26, 2009
To the entire Kerchman Family
Not only do you mourn, but thousands of lives were touched by this wonderful man. His spirit will live on with all the people who have sand in their shoes. I am so glad I got to spend some quality time with him at the 100th Anniversary of Far Rokckaway HS.
May you all know what a great gift this man was.to all that new him
1960
Michael Steinberg
June 26, 2009
Coach Kerchman had a big an impact on my life. The most important lessons he taught me were about the value of hard work, persistence, and determination. These have served me well in all my endeavors, especially in my career as a writer. In 1994, I wrote an essay about him, "Trading Off," that was my first published piece. It won a major literary prize that virtually launched my writing career. Then in 2003, I published Still Pitching, a memoir in which he was a prominent character and a strong influence. Still Pitching won the Independent Press Award for Memoir of the Year. For these awards and for the discipline and resilience it took to do the writing, I owe him a great debt of gratitude. May he rest in peace.
Mike Steinberg, Class of 1958
Seth Kalmowitz
June 26, 2009
I must have attended FRHS, because I graduated in '64. However, aside from football with Jack Kerchman and Jake Miller I haven't any recollections of classes or teachers. Jack Kerchman was Far Rockaway High School. I've thought of him and the football program fondly through the years. My regards and condolences to his wife Jean, Karen (my classmate) and Barbara.
Seth Kalmowitz Elmont, N.Y.
June 26, 2009
To the entire Kerchman Family
Not only do you mourn, but thousands of lives were touched by this wonderful man. His spirit will live on with all the people who have sand in their shoes. I am so glad I got to spend some quality time with him at the 100th Anniversary of Far Rokckaway HS.
May you all know what a great gift this man was.
Barbara Fox Zacharia '62
Stephen Isaacs
June 26, 2009
June 26, 2009
It was a typical day in the Far Rockaway High School lunch room or
as we called it; the cafeteria. It turned out to be anything but typical!
Our group sat near the aisle so we could see every thing that happened.
Almost immediately a girl seating a
few feet from us had an epileptic seizure or as we called it in those days a "Gran Mal". No one seemed to know what to do; no one that is except
Coach Jack Kerchman. Immediately he
cleared the area of chairs; cradled the
girls head in his arms and made certain that she didn't swallow her
tongue. After the seizure had passed;
he made certain that she received appropriate medical attention.
Jack Kerchman embodied what Tom
Brokaw referred to as the greatest
generation. Whether it was his demeanor
on the playing field or his classic
stories about mentors such as Ben
Schwartzwalder at Syracuse or Rip Engle (Joe Paterno's predeecessor at
Penn State)he was unique. How many
individuals can you say that about?
I was so proud to play for him on that
1963 Queens Championship Football team
that I recently had my jacket from that year completely refurbished.
There is only one other thing that I
would like to say; have a good eternity
Coach Kerchman, you deserve it!
Stephen Isaacs
Class 0f 1964
Skokie, IL
Daniel Schneider
June 25, 2009
My sincere condolences to the entire Kerchman Family. I played for Jack on the 1973 City Championship Football team and the 1974 team. Jack was a great coach and a role model who had a profound influence on my life and on all his players. I can still pitcure him sitting on the goalposts, yelling suggestions across the field, or demonstrating a good block to his offensive linemen, or a pass pattern to the split end. He was one of a kind. He will be missed by all who knew him
Sincerely,
Dan Schneider, Esq. , FRHS 1974
aka The Rat
ARTHUR GOLDSTEIN
June 25, 2009
JEAN AND FAMILY MY DEEPEST CONDOLENCES I LOVED THE COACH WITH HIS HELP I GOT INTO COLLEGE PLAYING FOOTBALL IN 1953-54
ARTHUR GOLDSTEIN [ OTTO \]
Josi Morales
June 25, 2009
To The Family of Jack Kerchman,
Thank you for sharing your husband, father & grand father with Far Rockaway High School. I was there (class of '75) when he lead the Seahorses to many a victory or when he was clearing the corridors after the last bell rang.
He had a great sense of humor & it was great to be around someone who loved what they did.
He will truly be missed.
I don't think he realized how much of a presence or impact he made on his students.
with my deepest sympathy,
Josi Morales (class of '75)
Gib Kirwin
June 25, 2009
Dear Jean-
I have expressed to you so many times what Jack meant to me. From the first time that pink colored Chevy arrived in Spring, 1951, and he became my home room teacher; the pork pie hat and brown suede jacket that he seemed to wear to every game (I was on his first 3 teams); the booming voice that made my Mother, who was in a car outside on the street waiting for me one night, ask: "what kind of a bullhorn does he have?"; when he decided that we were playing for a City championship against Stuyvesant in 1953 because we were the only unbeaten team in NYC (even though we hadn't played Boys High, Brooklyn Tech or Lafayette); and on and on.
Most of all, though, I think of him for the guidance he offered in making us all toe the line in everything we did, and not just on the football field, and to never give up.
Joanne joins me in sending our love to the entire family.
Gib Kirwin, San Francisco
Helen Bergman
June 24, 2009
To Jean, Karen and Barbara,
Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you. You have such wonderful memories to share that will always be with you.
Helen Bergman (Anita & Al's daughter)
Louis Folber
June 24, 2009
My condolences to the Kerchman family. I last saw coach K in 1999 at the class of 69 thirty year reunion. He will definitely be missed. He was a big part of the F.R.H.S experience
David M Dobin
June 24, 2009
Dear Coach K--Go with G-d and rest in peace! We all remember you and Far Rock and all of our teams with love, fondness, and respect! You shaped all of our lives for the better, and we are all eternally grateful to you for it!! Rest in Peace! David M Dobin '57; Dan Dobin '59; Judi Dobin '65; and the entire Dobin/Propis family
steven flig
June 24, 2009
There are so many stories about the orginal coach K and i hope most of them live on. i have one in particular that possibly Jean may remember. We were juniors in the fall of 66 but our true potential still was a year away when we won the city championship beating Brooklyn tech 56-12 on the first game ever played on a Sunday . We were scheduled to start the season against Monroe high School but it coincided with my brother's bar mitzvah.My parents of course thought my brother's bar mitzvah was more important than a football game.When i told coach K he spent practically the entire preseason on the phone calling my parents trying to work something out. During practice whenever i missed a block or tackle Jack would bellow "so go to your brother's bar mitzvah". Finally Jack and my dad worked out a solution. Jean would come to the synagogue and pick me up right after the concluding prayers and wisk me off to the Bronx. As it turns out the game was rained out and we played the following Monday. I was 190 lb tackle and had to block Wilbur Young a 6'6" 325 monster who could chase our backs down from behind. Needless to say i should have stayed at the bar mitzvah.It was a very long afternoon, we lost and Bruce Weaver got knocked out.
It is ironic also to think that in short a span we lost Jack and our beloved Far Rockaway High School. You cannot think of either without thinking of each they were so intertwined. So much of who we are today is because of FRHS and Coach K.I will miss both deeply.
condolences to the family and everyone who mourns Coach's passing
Robert Mednick
June 24, 2009
I was a guard for two years on the far rockaway Football team my Freshman and sophmore years, Coach Kerchman told me to give it up I would never play. He was a great guy and of course my PT teacher. Long time ago and I am sorry I did not know he lived in florida where i live.
Bob Mednick class of 60
June 24, 2009
Our condolences to Jean and the family from the guys at Camp Navajo where Jack was the Head counselor.
Chub Chub Adler
Sandy Mailman
Chuck Mailman
Wally wortman
Artie Silver
June 24, 2009
My condolonces to The Kerchman family from his Camp Navajo crew.
Chub Chub Adler
Sandy Mailman
Chuck Mailman
Wally wortman
Artie Silver
Aimee Daugherty
June 23, 2009
To all of you, My love and Prayers are with you. I remember his great stories over dinner, he will be missed.
Stu Wilsker
June 23, 2009
I was so sorry to hear of Mr. K's passing. While to the outside world, he may have seemed a "tough" guy, his love and devotion for his "kids" (anyone who wore a uniform for him), were un-ending. I hope he knew the extent to which he was appreciated, admired, and loved, right back.
Condolences to his bride, Jean, and all of the family. You should know that there are a great many of us unable to be with you physically today, who wherever we are, mourn with you, for your loss, and ours.
Rest in peace, "Mr.K."
Eileen Werner
June 23, 2009
My thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.
Ra ymond Palmer
June 23, 2009
My thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.
Sharon Patish
June 23, 2009
I'm sorry for your loss and the difficult times you are going through now. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
June 23, 2009
June 23, 2009
Still to this day when I am with Steve Flig and Mark Feldman there is always a Jack story being told. Like fine wine the stories got better over the 41 years since we graduate in 1968. Far Rockaway H.S. to us was Jack and Jake.
Jack was missed by me the day I graduated as probably the case for the many many students that were coached, taught and chased by this most amazing person.
My warmest thoughts to Jean and Barbara and the entire Kerchman Family which in reality number in teh 1000's.
Ted Comfort "68 Huntington Beach California now but always Rockaway.
Steve Ginsburg
June 23, 2009
I am so sorry to hear about Jack's passing. He was a great coach and a cousin my mother loved dearly. He shaped the lives of many young men who needed role models and direction, and will always be remembered.
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