John G. Reese

John G. Reese, 94, former coach, teacher and director of athletics at Wilkes University passed away peacefully at home Monday, Feb. 28, 2022, surrounded by his loving family after an extended illness.

He was preceded in death by the love of his life, the former Patricia Tosh, in 2012. She was as well-known as John in the wrestling circles among fans, referees and opposing coaches.

John was also preceded in death by his parents, William and Elizabeth; brother, William; and sister, Dorothy Partington.

He is survived by his sisters, Elizabeth Lane (Leonard); and Gwendolyn Walters (Jim); son, Jeff; and daughters, Lynne Kravits (Bill); and Megan Thomas (Brian); his grandchildren, Lindsay Reese Kravits, Timothy Kravits, Christopher John Thomas and Amy Weber. John also has two great-grandchildren, Ella Patricia Kurovsky and Reese Marra Weber; and numerous nieces and nephews.

John was a 1945 graduate of Kingston High School and a 1951 graduate of Penn State University. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy. During his high school years, he was a multisport athlete and a district champion in wrestling and track and field and a varsity wrestler at Penn State.

John began his teaching and coaching career in 1951 at Kingston High School, coaching football, wrestling and baseball. He was hired as the wrestling coach at Wilkes College in 1953 and soon afterward began his teaching career at Wilkes in the Health and Physical Education department. During his early years at Wilkes, he coached soccer, wrestling and baseball.

He loved sports and in addition to coaching multiple sports, John wrestled, boxed, played sandlot baseball and fast-pitch softball. He was also an accomplished billiards player. His basketball games with his Wilkes physical educational classes are legendary to his past students.

John was known most for coaching wrestling at Wilkes from 1953 to 1995. At the time of his retirement, he had amassed the second most dual meet victories in NCAA history. His final career record was 515-171-10. In 1976, he moved the Wilkes wrestling program from Division III and the Middle Atlantic Conference to Division 1 in the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA).

Under his leadership, the wrestling program gained national prominence with 40 winning seasons, 14 Middle Atlantic Conference titles, the 1974 Division III National Championship and a nationally ranked Division 1 wrestling program regularly ranked in the top 20 in the nation. Despite being the smallest Division 1 wrestling program in the country, his teams successfully competed against top-level Division 1 competition over the years. This included wins over teams such as Penn State, Lehigh, Oregon State, Syracuse, Rutgers, Army, Navy and many others.

During his career he coached 22 NCAA College Division place winners, including four National Champions, 13 NCAA Division III place winners, including five National Champions, and five NCAA Division 1 place winners. John also coached eight EIWA Champions and 87 EIWA place winners.

John was instrumental in developing and sustaining the Wilkes Open Wrestling Tournament, which was referred to as the "Rose Bowl of Wrestling." He was also a PIAA wrestling official and a much sought-after wrestling clinician, teaching at wrestling clinics throughout the northeast for many decades.

He was a former member of the National Wrestling Coaches Association, served as the president of the College Division Wrestling Coaches Association, past president of the EIWA Coaches Association, a former member of the ECAC executive committee and former president of the Middle Atlantic Conference. John also contributed to wrestling by participating on several committees including the NCAA Wrestling Rules Committee, the NCAA Wrestling Coaches Committee and the United States Olympic Wrestling Committee for both the 1972 Munich and 1976 Montreal Summer Olympic Games.

John was honored by former Pennsylvania Gov. Richard Thornburgh, naming him to the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports during which time he was instrumental in the growth of the Keystone State Games. He was also honored in 2001 with the ECAC Distinguished Service Award for his 34 years as athletic director at Wilkes. In 2015, John was also the recipient of the Wilkes University President's Medal.

He has been inducted into numerous halls of fame. John is a "Distinguished Member" of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Okla. He was also a member of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, the Pennsylvania Wrestling Hall of Fame, the EIWA Wrestling Hall of Fame, the Division III Coaches Hall of Fame, Middle Atlantic Conference Hall of Fame, the Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, the Luzerne County Sports Hall of Fame, Wilkes University Hall of Fame and the Keystone State Games Hall of Fame.

He was a proud lifelong resident of Kingston and very involved in organizing Kingston High School class reunions and participating in Kingston classmate luncheons throughout his life.

Family was the most important part of his life and he enjoyed attending events for his grandchildren, family vacations in Wildwood Crest and especially the annual Memorial Day parade followed by a family cookout. He was very proud to have his entire family present when he was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Okla.

He was an extremely devoted and caring husband, father and grandfather. His love for his wife, Patricia, was demonstrated in the devotion and care he gave her during the later stages of her life. He loved his family above all else and showed his love to them constantly; he will be missed beyond words by his entire family.

The family would like to express their gratitude for the wonderful care provided by both Platinum Private Duty and Erwine Home Health and Hospice especially Dian, Rolande, Nicole and Chris.

Calling hours will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday followed promptly by a memorial service at 4 p.m. at the Wilkes University Marts Center, 274 S. Franklin St., Wilkes-Barre. Parking is available in any of the lots across from the Marts Center.

Burial services will be held privately at a later time.

All attendees will be required to follow the current Wilkes University COVID-19 protocols, which requires a mask to be worn at all indoor campus facilities.

Memorial donations, if desired, may be made to Wilkes University.

Arrangements are from Harold C. Snowdon Home for Funerals Inc., Kingston.