George Acker Jr.

Going through some family photos, I stopped and studied one very special one taken in the summer of 1999: it is with Coach holding my newborn son, Vincent, with my daughter, Mary Lee (age 4), and my husband, Peter, at his side. Nancy had generously made dinner for our family to celebrate the big news! Everyone has huge smiles, which warms my heart. What a pleasure to recall the moment it was taken, the joy that filled the room, the laughter that filled our ears, the love that enveloped us...

I'll never forget George's generous and gracious spirit. My senior year at K, I went out for cross country and was surprised I made varsity--but found myself a real novice when it came to pacing and strategy. During one particular race on a really, really hot day, I had started to flag. Turning the corner, I saw Coach crouching down , clapping hard, shouting encouragement to runners as they approached. I met his eyes, saw his winning smile, and kicked it in. I wanted him to be proud of this...

During my K-College football years, I spend a summer working with George, renovating his backyard. During our work we had many conversations which caused me deep introspection and reflection. Without a doubt moments spent with George profoundly influenced my path.

Coach Acker was my line coach on K's football team from 1966 to 1968 and I will always remember him as a terrific motivator and coach who truly cared about his players------rest in peace coach

Rick Toman --Mission Viejo, CA

George Acker was my assistant football coach from 1963 thru 1967 at K. He was always very helpful to me. His positive attitude and can-do spirit motivated me to be better person though-out my life. I will miss George.

One of my most distinctive memories of Coach is when I was running cross country. It was my senior--and first!--year to run; I'd taken up the sport so I could understand what my then fiance, Pete, was talking about when he'd say, "She ran 20 min. flat!" (I'd be wondering, "Is that good or bad?" To know, I decided I'd better run myself.)
Anyway, coming around a corner of the course, running as fast as I thought I could, I spotted Coach: he had his eye on me, and was cheering for me as...

George was not only a highly skilled coach and teacher, but a very compassionate, caring and humble person. No one who ever played for him could ever forget him or be forgotten by him.

Nancy, aka, "Mrs. Coach" & the Wider Acker Clan--

Rest in the immortal words of St. Paul, who noted how he'd "fought the good fight...finished the course...kept the faith."

Just so with George, in all his capacities as husband and father, as grandpa and coach, as teacher and friend, on and on...

What consistency and dedication he brought to bear upon a life so richly lived. What indelible thumbprints
he leaves upon all he touched.

He was my coach when I ran xc country;but even more importantly, he was my mentor ALWAYS. Before I graduated, he made it clear that not only was our relationship that of coach/athlete, we were also friends. His powerful hands demonstrated his strength with a tennis racket, but also the strength of gentleness when he held my baby girl, Mary Lee, and later, infant son, Vincent, whom he afffectionately called, "Vinnie." (Vincent never allowed anyone BUT Coach to call him Vinnie: but hearing that...