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Henry C. Vansant

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East Carolina University

Henry Vansant Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers on Mar. 20, 2006.

GREENVILLE- Dr. Henry C. VanSant, 70, retired ECU Associate Athletic Director and member of the ECU Sports Hall of Fame, died Thursday, March 16, 2006.

A memorial service will be conducted Thursday, March 23, 2006, at 11 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church.

Henry VanSant, born in Hampton, Virginia, came to Greenville to play football for ECU. He served as a leader, educator, coach and athletic administrator for 36 years until his retirement in 2001. Twenty-five of those years were spent at ECU. He was inducted into the ECU Sports Hall of Fame for his service and dedication to East Carolina University. Dr. and Mrs. VanSant and their children were former residents of Greensboro.

Henry was a faithful member of First Presbyterian Church and a contributing member of the Greenville Lions Club. He devoted the past five years of his life to caring for his wife and enjoying his family.

Flora Ragnhilde McDonald, his loving wife of 46 years, died in 2005.

He is survived by sons, Charles McDonald VanSant of Washington D.C. and John Franklin VanSant and wife, Nancy, of Dublin, Ga.; and five grandchildren.

There will be a reception and family visitation held Wednesday, March 22, 2006, beginning at 5 p.m. at Harvey Hall in the Murphy Center on the ECU athletic campus. The Murphy Center is located in the western end zone of Dowdy Ficklin Stadium. Attendees can enter from Charles Blvd. onto Ficklin Dr. where parking will be available beside Minges Coliseum

In lieu of flowers, memorials gifts may be made to the ECU Educational Foundation, for the Henry VanSant Scholarship Endowment, ECU Ward Sports Medicine Building, Suite 304, Greenville, NC 27858-4353, or the McConnell-Raab Hope Lodge, 930-A Wellness Drive, Greenville, NC 27834.

Arrangements by Wilkerson Funeral Home & Crematory.

Offer condolences at www. news-record.com/nr/obits/

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Recent Activity

April 5, 2006

Steve Milligan posted to the memorial.

March 23, 2006

Bob Alexander posted to the memorial.

March 22, 2006

Charlie Carr posted to the memorial.

27 Entries

Steve Milligan

April 5, 2006

I JUST LEARNED OF THE PASSING OF COACH VANSANT. I FIRST MET HENRY IN EARLY 70'S AS MY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COACH AT SCOTLAND COUNTY, A SPORT HE TRUELY LOVED. I HAVE ALWAYS ADMIRED HENRY AND THE LOVE HE HAD FOR HIS PROFESSION AND THE YOUNG MEN HE COACHED. LATER AS I GOT MY MASTERS DEGREE FROM EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY AS A GRAD. ASST. FOR ART BAKER ,HENRY ALWAYS TOOK A SPECIAL INTEREST IN THE GRAD. ASST. COACHES.THANK YOU HENRY , YOU WILL BE DEEPLY MISSED STEVE MILLGAN

Bob Alexander

March 23, 2006

I was floored to hear of Coach's passing, and I will miss him. He was a kind, honest, and loyal man, and he was a Pirate through and through. Coach always had time for a conversation, a joke, or just a simple hello, and his passion for football and life inspired many a young man--on and off the field. I can hear his booming voice now--"Well, Hello Robert!". I will always remember him standing on the top of the press box at Dowdy-Ficklen, and his spirit will always remain there for me.

Charlie Carr

March 22, 2006

Henry,

We all thought so much of you as a colleague and even more as a friend. The world is a better place for having had you here. There is no one I know that I respect more for your love of life, athletics and certainly East Carolina. You were a great friend and I miss you. Our thoughts are with John, Chuck and all the family. CC

Marcia & Bobby Curtis

March 21, 2006

Chuck and John, '

We remember both your parents with warm memories. Even though we were only neighbors on Spicebush Trail for a couple of years, they left a lasting impression on us. We are so sorry for your loss.

Bobby & Marcia, Bryan, Tracey and Holly Curtis

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Barry Shuford

March 21, 2006

I will always respect Coach Vansant and thank him for the many lessons he taught me while playing for him at Lenoir-Rhyne College. Coach Vansant is the reason I am in coaching today and I see his hand on my success today. Thanks Coach for evrything. You will be sorely missed.

Jim Kirkland

March 21, 2006

I first met Henry when I was shooting photographs of football team at ECC in 1959. Later knew him as a broter in KA, then followed his career across NC and finaly back where it all began in Greenville. In Henry's life he had success and as his successes grew his life became significant. We have lost a friend.

Herb and Ann Appenzeller

March 21, 2006

To Charles, John and the Vansant Family: Ronnie and Henry made a lasting impression on us during their brief time at Guilford College. Your tremendous accomplishments will continue, and your lives and those of your wives and children will be a living testimony to your parents. May God continue to bless the Vansants and accept our prayers and love.

Herb and Ann Appenzeller

Coach VanSant in the 60's

March 21, 2006

Lynn Cherry,Jr.

March 21, 2006

Coach, thanks for the memories and life lessons, from 1966 summer FB camp, to ECU football 67-69. Time spent with you these past FB letterman weekends will allways be cherished.I will miss but always remember you. God Bless You and your Family.

Mike McGuirk

March 21, 2006

We offer our prayers and condolences to Coach VanSant's Family. He was such a great mentor to so many of us who passed through ECU under his care and guidance.

Pamela Overton

March 20, 2006

I had the pleasure of working with Henry for twelve years. I learned many things that only an "old coach" could teach a very naive academic counselor. I have very fond memories of the time we worked together. We both thought East Carolina was a very special place.

Karen Collier

March 20, 2006

John & Chuck, I am truely sorry for your loss. Your father was a wonderful man who will be greatly missed. Sincerely, Karen

Bob Millie

March 20, 2006

Coach Vansant causes me to reference the wisdom of the poet Robert Yates who said "Think where this mans glory most begins and ends and say, My glory is that I knew such a man"

Charlie Adams

March 20, 2006

Henry was a good friend for many, many years and a good supporter of the NCHSAA. We will miss his smile , his sense of humor and his ties with ECU.

Gene D. & Susan R. Lanier

March 20, 2006

Henry was one of my favorite people in the world. A fantastic colleague at East Carolina for many years, a Kappa Alpha brother, a dedicated professor and athlete, and someone who was truly committed to doing things right and well. His death is a genuine loss to Sue and I and all his friends.

Joe and Catherine Nelson

March 20, 2006

We'd like to offer our condolences to Henry's family. He was a dear man and loved by all. You should be proud of all he did to support ECU and his community.

God Bless,

Matt and Colleen Munson

March 20, 2006

Our deepest sympathies go out to the VanSant family and the extended Pirate family. Henry was instrumental in both of our lives as coaches at East Carolina. We each spent many hours in his office, learning as much about life as we did about coaching. We are proud to have called Henry a friend and are saddened that he has departed this world. We rejoice, however, that he is with his Lord and Savior now and reunited with his beloved wife.

Linda Miller

March 20, 2006

I am so sorry to hear of Henry's passing.

Dennis and Patti Haglan

March 20, 2006

Dear Chuck and John,

Patti and I were deeply saddened to hear about the loss of your father. Until reading the obituary we were not aware of your mother's passing, also. Of course, while working as a part of your father's staff at Guilford College, we knew your mother as 'Ronnie'. Please accept our deepest sympathy. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your children.

Sincerely,

Barry brickman

March 20, 2006

Henry was a true friend, he always had time for you to talk with him to share your concerns. He brought me to Greenville 10 years ago to ECU. I'll never forget his devotion to Ronny, his family, grandchildren, and to ECU. He was a living example of what a man should be in this day and age. I am a better person today for having known Henry these past 10 years. My wife may have said it best, 10 years ago shortly after she met Henry when she told me "now there is a true Southern Gentleman". We will miss Henry.

Sean Coles

March 20, 2006

Henry was very special to me in the encouragement he provided as I started in business. We had a great and unique relationship. His support and fatherly advice went a long way with me and will never be forgotten.

Allyson Gordon

March 20, 2006

Coach VanSant was so good to me and my family while I worked at ECU. I used to enjoy going to his office to hear his stories. I could sit for hours listening to him. He was a good man and will be missed by all who he came in contact with over the years.

Harold Robinson

March 20, 2006

With my deepest sympathy. East Carolina has lost a friend and Father fiqure to many of us.

David Thomas

March 20, 2006

Henry was a dear friend of mine as we played football together at ECU on the 1957,58,59 team. Henry was also a dear friend to our whole family as four of our children played athletics at ECU. We will truly miss him.

Kay Getsinger

March 20, 2006

I was blessed to have known Henry. He often times brought a real ray of sunshine into my life when I was feeling low. I'm sure he never realized how much I enjoyed bantering with him, hearing his stories and jokes. I shall miss him.

Chris Johnson

March 20, 2006

I met and continued a frienship with Henry since the 1950's wnen we met at Ecu.

Even though I reside in the small Western Nc town of Tryon, I always enjoyed visits w Henry when in Greenville.

He helped care for my son, Damon (Ec 93') as a student whether it be a hot meal or advice of any type. Henry was a winner and will be missed.

Sincerely, Chris Johnson (Ec 58')

Joe F. Sullivan

March 20, 2006

Henry,

We already miss you and your warm smile and ease to talk with.

Yours in Christ,

Joe Sullivan

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