Robert D. Kertes

He nicknamed me "knuckles" because I dropped one pass on the 8th grade playground. It stuck through high school. In P.E. one day, I went out for a long pass. At a certain point, Richie Policastro stopped guarding me. Why? I caught the ball, turned, and smack into an upright metal pole and landed flat on my back. Coach came over to me and asked if I was okay. Second thing he said was you held onto the ball. Next he said, go home." I did.

He was a great teacher and coach. I had him in 9th, 10th and 11th grade at Highland Park High School 1964-1966. Great teach and guy. David Kostick

Bob is pictured in the upper right, of the picture showing the football coaches of 1963. From left to right, Jay Dakelman, Jim Rogers, John Silagi, Alfred Nicholas, and upper right, Bob Kertes.

I had a lot of coaches in high school. I majored in sports; minored in college prep. Mr. "Bullet Bob" Kertes was the best, most likeable coach I had. First day of 8th grade he walked onto the playground throwing around a football. I dropped a pass. He quickly named me Knuckles. The guys heard and it stuck. He has been gone a long time but I only read about him today.

I remember Mr. Kertes fondly as a gym teacher and basketball coach, for some of the years I played at HPHS. He was a quiet and gentle man, and always cared about the students. May he rest in peace...condolences to his family.

So sorry to hear that Mr Kertes passed away. He was a typical Highland Park High School coach. He not only wanted you to be a better athlete but he also cared about you as a person!! All the coaches I was lucky enough to have played for, Mr Lepine, Mr Bach, Mr Johnson and Mr Dakelman were the same way. My prayers go out to Mr. Kertes family.
Jim Chilakos

Coached me in Basketball in the two years i played for the owls i scored 1,100 points because he believed in me and allow me to play my game R.I.P. coach the Highsmith family.

"Nice guys finish last!" That's what Coach Bob Kertes used to drum into our heads during basketball practice in 1968. We would hear it loudly and clearly as he bellowed it through a bullhorn sitting at the top of the bleachers, center court, with his back against the block wall. That was his way of motivating us when we were not "tenacious" enough on the court. I knew what he meant, and as much as it burned me up, since I thought I was giving one hundred percent, I knew he wanted us to play...

Mr. Kertes was my gym teacher back in Bartle School. Very nice man, may he rest in peace. Thoughts are with his family and friends.