Gary Edwin Coen

Gary came to North Ridgeville high school in our junior year. He joined our advanced math and science classes. He was very intelligent (but not arrogant) and was chosen to be in the National Honor Society. In football our senior year he played guard on offense and right-side line backer on defense. I played fullback, called offensive plays and was the left-side line backer on defense. Our game against Midviev, our biggest rival, that year featured a 60 yard run by Midview over my position on the first play of the game. Gary caught the ball carrier on our five yard line, They scored on the next play. We scored the next 46 points to win 46-6. So he was not only brilliant but a good football player.
I write this on the anniversary of Apollo 11 and the first landing on the moon. I know Gary was in the Houston command center monitoring fuel consumption that day. I am proud and honored to have known him.