Gordon Brewer

Gordon Brewer was coach when I was on the Hope College track team 1961-63. I still appreciate his encouragement and his recognition of my efforts. My sincerest condolences go out to his family.

Dear Bob, Larry, Dan, and Susan,

Please accept our heartfelt Christian sympathy on the loss of your father. We loved him, too. Coach Brewer epitomized the best attributes of Hope College: faith in God, love of family and friends, and enthusiasm for life itself. He touched the lives of literally thousands of people, and all to the good.

Sincerely,

The Geelhoeds: Bruce, Debby, Marc, Steven

Gord taught one of the first classes I took at Hope after transferring there from U-MD in the mid 1950s so our relationship dates from the memorable experience.He was a person who personified the very best of what Hope College is all about. A wonderful coach,mentor,historian of Hope athletics,and friend. I shall certainly miss our every so often cups of coffee and conversations about a great range of topics at Russ' in recent years....

Please accept my condolences to the Gordon Brewer family. I was on the 1972, 1973 and 1975 Track Teams. The Track team was a large undertaking and Coach Brewer looked forward to every season and loved track. We were MIAA champions in 1972. On the humorous side, I remember he took me and Stuart Scholl to the state meet to run steeplechase one year. Steeplechase was not an MIAA event. In theory steeplechase is a distance event and we should have done well except for those hurdles and the water Coach Brewer hid his disappointment well. I will always remember Coach Brewer's enthusiasm for Track and Life.

I ran track under Coach Brewer's tutelage for four years (1965-1968). He coached with a smile and encouragement rather than a scowl and intimidation. When victorious in a hard fought half-mile, I am not sure who was happier, Coach or me! His enthusiasm was contagious and inspiring. When visiting Hope over twenty years after graduation I was surprised, impressed, and then humbled when he recognized me and called me by name! He knew and respected his athletes as they did him. RIP Gordie!

Coach Brewer was one of the most positive and influencial leaders during my time at Hope. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute with him.

Gordie Brewer was my track coach from 1957-1961 at Hope College. We always said we wanted to win for Coach Brewer. He was one person I always looked up to and listened to. A good man who lived a good life, to be sure. Rev. Jim Rozeboom

A very knowledgeable, but humble and dedicated man, Coach Brewer believed in me even when I wasn't sure I believed in myself. Now as an older adult myself, I have come to realize how much pain we young athletes caused our mentors. Yet, Coach never wavered in his faith in us...and in giving us brutal work-outs!!

"For when the One Great Scorer comes,
To mark against your name,
He writes -- not that you won or lost --,
But how you played the game." (Grantland Rice)

Coach Brewer played the game with passion, enthusiasm and love for every member of the team. Thank you for being my coach for four years at Hope College. 34 years later, as an assistant track coach for pole vaulters at Hope College, I think of the Golden Brew, every day at the track. I hope that when the One Great Scorer puts a mark by name, it's the same mark as Coach Brewer's.

Coach Brewer was my track coach at Hope. Out doing the field events, we didn't require constant supervision and he didn't give it. He was there for us if we needed something. We worked hard and had fun and he was supportive but not intrusive. He always had a smile for me. I enjoyed my time with him as coach and his tolerance of my lack of skill and talent. He was a valued part of my education.

Coach Brewer was a motivator and leader of young men - at the college and on afterwords in their lives. For me he was a mentor and became a friend. I was so looking forward to seeing him next week at our 50th class reunion. He will rest in peace with memories which we all wish we could have. Thank you, coach.

Gordie was my track coach at Hope. He was an honorable man, a wonderful coach, a true educator. He didn't just build athletes but rather a formed men. He will be greatly missed.