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Jerry Drever Obituary
March 26, 1933November 4, 2020
On Wednesday November 4, 2020 Jerry, also known as "The Dreve" or simply "Coach", passed away peacefully at the age of 87 at his home after battling Congestive Heart Failure. He was surrounded by his family and the loving care of hospice.
Jerry was born in Sacramento, California to his beloved mother Irma and father Daryl, and raised on the San Francisco Peninsula. As a young boy Jerry spent time as a golf caddie at Burlingame Country Club which sparked his interest in golf. He attended Sequoia High School and was a multi sport athlete. He had a wonderful mentor named Al Terremere who told Jerry he would make an excellent teacher, so after high school Jerry went to College of San Mateo to continue his education. He also played on the golf team in 1951 leading CSM to a 2nd place finish in the state championship and then again in 1952 to win the state championship. After he attended CSM Jerry joined the army on the GI bill to earn money to fund his education. He was fortunate enough to be stationed in France and still have golf in his life as he qualified for the highly regarded Berlin Military Golf Tournament. He then went on to San Jose State University to finish his degree in education where he played on the golf team and met many cherished lifelong friends who also made coaching their professions. He received his Masters Degree from SJSU years later.
Jerry's profession in education started at Exeter High School and then he returned to the Peninsula to coach and teach at Carlmont High School. He went on to San Carlos High School and took the helm of the basketball and baseball programs. In 1967 he led the basketball team to a championship in the Peninsula Basketball Tournament. Jerry then went on to coach and teach at Canada College in 1968 where started the basketball program and coached the team until 1976. He also started the Canada College golf program in 1973 where he coached the team until 1992. His golf teams won 5 conference championships, 3 Nor-Cal Team Championships and the California State Team Championship in 1988. Jerry had the unique distinction of being the only person to win the California Community College Golf Championships as a player and as a coach. He was named the Golf Coach of the year in 1988 by the California Community College Athletic Association. In 2013 Jerry was inducted into the Canada College Hall of Fame.
Jerry was a mentor to many of his players and they were more than just players to him. He wanted to make a difference in their lives. He continued to have contact with many of them throughout the years. Jerry will be forever remembered for his love of family, his many treasured friendships, his gentle smile, admirable work ethic, integrity and his love of a cheese dog with a side of chili from the snack shack at the Olympic Club where he was a member for decades. One of Jerry's favorite sayings was "A & A" or "adjust and adapt" which captured his wonderful attitude towards life.
Jerry is survived by his four daughters who he affectionately referred to as the "The Dreverettes", Teresa Sheehan (Mike), Kathy Burkland (Mike), Lori Sherick (Brian), Karen Duisenberg (Brandon) and his wife of 34 years, Kathy Looney Drever and her two daughters, Kathleen Adams and Melinda Kirkpatrick (John) and their families.
A memorial service will be held at a later date due to COVID restrictions. If you would like to be informed please email Lori at [email protected]. Donations in Jerry's honor can be made to Vitas Hospice https://vitascommunityconnection.org/
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Jerry Drever
Edward Engeldinger
September 8, 2021
Thank you coach...I had you two years in PE classes and you inspired me to get my cardinal red gym trunks...they were earned by completing a series of drills of different types,ie. push ups, pull ups, rope climb...many more just mentioned a few...which I accomplished in my sophomore year...not many achieved that sell.So thank you coach Drever...
Greg Martin
December 4, 2020
Jerry Drever was my basketball and baseball coach at San Carlos High School. To this day, I don't believe I've encountered a better motivator, or for that matter, a teacher who understood teenage boys better than he did. Mr. Drever got the absolute best out of all of us. I've taught and coached in public high schools for the last 52 years, and I still believe that. Jerry Drever was a good man and it was an absolute gut punch when I saw the obituary in the Mercury News. Those of us who played for him still tell stories, and in the best ones, Coach Drever is always present.
Rest in Peace, Coach.
Dan Silva
November 30, 2020
I have tried to write something about my friend and mentor several times but the words just didn't come to me. When I last talked with him, I think we both knew it would be the last time we would speak to one another on this earth. I am grateful for all our time together, and I would like to say that his legacy will never be forgotten.
Rob Shaw
November 19, 2020
I found Jerry to be a fine man and gentleman.He could get it around very well and possessed a great attitude.
He will be missed.
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Frederick Stamey
November 19, 2020
My favorite saying from 'Coach' was, 'all golf courses are good, just some better than others.' He was the ultimate positive influence teaching us on how to compete the right way. My prayers go out to all of his family.
Tim Carl
November 15, 2020
Coach Drever was a great inspiration to so many young men and women. His coaching style was inspirational. He loved the game of basketball and he loved his players. I played for him on the 1964 B Team and the 1965 Varsity team at San Carlos High. I had the great fortune to spend time with Jerry these last 15 years. We went out to lunch several times. We played golf at the Olympic Club and Aptos
Seascape many times. He attended the Class of 1965 50 year reunion and sat at our table. He was always kind and generous with me, the quintessential gentleman. I miss him, love him, and he was such a great influence on my life.
John B Adams
November 13, 2020
So sad to hear Jerry has departed this world, but his joyful and loving ways will always be remembered fondly. My condolences to his family and friends.
Larry Benevento
November 11, 2020
Jerry , was my favorite coach at San Carlos high ! He was always kind yet firm ! I have thought of him often over the years ! May God Bless his family during this difficult time.
THOMAS CRANE
November 11, 2020
I will always remember the opening game of the 1965-66 SPAL basketball season, Ravenswood at San Carlos. I was the coach at Ravenswood and Jerry was the coach of the Dons. Nip and tuck the whole game, the San Carlos winning 64-63. I was one of the most memorable games of my career! The Dons went on to win the league and finish runner up in the PBT. Jerry did a great coaching job in a classic high school game! It was Jerry at his best. Recently, he was in a coffee group with some friends, and we remembered a great era of peninsula prep basketball.
Guillermo (Bill) Laich
November 11, 2020
Dear Coach,
I remember as a young man being totally fascinated by things and events that showed me where I was – in other words, my personal position in relation to the mysterious world around me. I always looked at the diagrams in shopping malls that had a big “X” next to a label that said: “you are here.”
Our parents, teachers, and mentors are perhaps the most sophisticated, practical, and ambitious “you are here” diagrams that have ever existed. Like the visual orientation on the malls wall, there are highly gifted persons that help young minds find their place in the present and also show us the way to the future. Such unique persons provide a profound sense of time, place, and meaning - arguably as powerful an experience as one can achieve from any other way of knowing.
Outstanding and high integrity persons in the likes of coaches and mentors such as Jerry Drever, Sam Nicolopulos, Vern Sterling, and John Noce were instrumental in creating a solid “you are here” diagram for their many students. And they did it through the understanding and fair practice of physical education and competitive sports.
I am especially grateful to you, dear Coach Drever for your patience, kindness, understanding, dedication, and orientation in helping me find my place in life. In the deepest of gratitude I say: “Thank you, and rest in peace ...”
Last but not least, I leave you with the deep and well-chosen words of T.S. Eliot, with which I will always remember you: “Time present and time past, are both perhaps present in time future, and time future contained in time past “ We will meet again
With love and admiration,
Bill Laich
Scott Wenborn
November 11, 2020
He was my coach at Canada but more than that he was a great person and a great friend.
Marty Marty Redman
November 9, 2020
Coach Drever was the best coach I ever had and I had many from Little League through college. I was fortunate enough to play for him in basketball and baseball for 2 years in high school. He was tough and demanding but also very caring. I learned so much from him that I carried what he brought to me through my own career in teaching and coaching. He attended my wedding and we stayed in contact through his years at Canada College. We won a lot of games together and suffered some tough losses, but he was always positive with us no matter the outcome, and gave it our best. I'll never forget him and will always be one of his "Hungries"...Marty Redman
ronald j oconnor
November 9, 2020
i met Jerry at the Olympic club and enjoyed playing golf with him.
Jerry's daily routine was impressive and his desire to play every chance he had to include Kathy and impart his wisdom and love for Kathy.
Rocket
John Broadhurst
November 9, 2020
I only knew Jerry over the last three years from morning coffee at the Olympic Club and several rounds of golf together. Although our time together was brief, it was long enough for me to realize what a wonderful, gentle soul he was. I only wish I had known more of this terrific background when we spent time together. I would’ve enjoyed hearing more of his thoughts on these life experiences. All of us in the morning golf group at the Olympic Club will miss him very much.
Bob Emery
November 8, 2020
Coach Drever was a good man, deeply loved and appreciated by those of us who had the privilege to play under him at San Carlos High School, and upon whom he left an indelible mark. His memory will be cherished and always remembered.
Midge Boyack Broadbent
November 8, 2020
Dear Coach!! He taught me and a lot of other people how to drive. We called it "Drever Training." He was always patient and kind with us. Once he reminded one of us to remember our brake pedal so as not to hit the car in front of us, because "that would not be desirable" What a dear heart, I think of him every time I try to parallel park. RIP dear teacher, prayers of comfort to his family.
Fortune Pestarino, Jr.
November 8, 2020
Jerry was our boy's coach for Football, Basketball and Baseball School at the former St. Joseph's Grammar School in San Jose in the late 1950's. This was while he was attending San Jose State College. I and many of my classmates remember him as an excellent coach who was always patient, understanding and upbeat. My lifelong impression to this day is that he was basically "an all-around good person." It is good to see that he accomplished so many positive things in his life.
My Deepest Sympathy goes out to his Entire Family,
Fortune Pestarino, Jr.
Anacortes, WA
Bob Callan
November 7, 2020
Jerry was a wonderful person and a true gentleman. I always enjoyed the time we spent on the range at the Olympic Club. My sincere condolences to his family.
Bob Callan
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