John Tracy Mehr

On Feb. 26, John Tracy Mehr, a longtime resident of Amherst, MA, and Amherst College football and golf coach, died at his home in Hoschton, Georgia. He was 91. His life was an inspiring story of love, loyalty to his family and faith, personal accomplishment, and service to others. Known to friends as Tracy, he was simply "Coach" to countless men and women he taught and mentored over more than four decades at Amherst College, Boston College, Loyola High School (Baltimore, MD), and Georgetown Preparatory School (Washington D.C.). Tracy grew up in Milwaukee, WI, and graduated from the College of the Holy Cross (1950) where he played football and golf. He later earned a Master of Business Administration from Boston College and retired, as a tenured professor of physical education, from Amherst College in 2001. Over the years Tracy received numerous accolades and awards for his contributions to football and golf, including the prestigious John Baronian Lifetime Contribution to Football Award conferred by the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston. An accomplished golfer since his youth, he won many championships over the years including the Wisconsin State Golf Association Junior Boys Championship while in high school (1946) and the Massachusetts Golf Association Amateur Golf Championship (1971). In 2013, he was inducted into the Western Massachusetts Golf Hall of Fame. Tracy is survived by his adored and loving wife, Carol; his daughters, Barbara Mehr, Mary Lange (Joe), Kate Mehr (Jon Martin) and Kristen Mehr; his son, John Tracy Mehr (Mary); and his nine grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Brett Lange, Finn Gaston, Kelsey Gaston (Joe), Kelly Mehr, JT Mehr, Jack Mehr, Riley Gaston, Sarah Martin and Emily Martin. A Celebration of Life service is being planned for this coming fall in Amherst. The funeral service will be private. Should friends wish, a memorial donation in Tracy's honor can be made to The Mehr Scholarship Fund, Advancement Office, Amherst College, PO Box 5000, Amherst, MA 01002. For more information, including an expanded obituary, visit www.memorialparkfuneralhomes.com.