Name: Visitation for John Durham
Start: 2022-01-15T19:00:00.000Z
End: 2022-01-15T21:00:00.000Z
Location: Beinhauer Family Funeral Homes - Peters Township - McMurray

McMURRAY - John W. Durham, longtime high school and collegiate football coach, passed away peacefully on Thursday (Jan. 6, 2022) with his wife of 60 years, Nadine, at his side.
He died of natural causes at age 83.
Mr. Durham was born on June 22, 1938 in Wheelwright, Kentucky. His family moved to Portland, Oregon, during World War II where his father was an electrician in a naval shipyard. He attended McKeesport High School and graduated in the class of 1956. His love of football had deep roots and was inspired by his time as a high school player under Tigers coach Duke Weigel. He won an appointment to the United States Naval Academy graduating in the class of 1960. He completed his service as an officer in the United States Army finishing as a company officer stationed in South Korea in 1963.
Following his military service, he was a teacher and an assistant football coach at Port Vue Liberty High School. In 1965, he was hired as head football coach and mathematics teacher at Bradford (Pa.) Area High School where he remained for 11 years. He also served there as Athletic Director.
In 1976, he returned to the Pittsburgh area when he was hired as head football coach and mathematics teacher at Keystone Oaks High School. Mr. Durham coached at KO for 21 years and taught there for 27 years until his retirement from teaching in 2003. As a reflection of his contribution to coaching high school football, he was inducted into the Pennsylvania High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame in 2000.
Following his 32 years as a high school head coach, he coached in the collegiate ranks, first as a defensive assistant for Washington and Jefferson College and later as a defensive assistant at California University of Pennsylvania where he finished his 49-year football coaching career in 2011. He was the author of five books on technical football.
In 1961, he married the love of his life Nadine Study. He is survived by his wife Nadine, his sons Steven (Catherine), Douglas (Susan), and Michael, his daughter Arlyn Wasco (William), his three grandsons and two granddaughters. He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He loved teaching both on the field and in the classroom almost as much as he loved ice cream. He was a great inspiration and touched the lives of so many over many years. His commitment to excellence was only surpassed by his unwavering commitment to integrity.
Funeral arrangements by BEINHAUERS. Family and friends welcome at 2828 Washington Road, McMurray , PA 15317 Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022 from 2 to 4 & 6 to 8 p.m. Services and Inurnment private.
Family suggest memorial contributions may be made to the charity of your choice.
Please view or add tributes at www.beinhauer.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Bradford Era from Jan. 8 to Jan. 15, 2022.

Memories and Condolences
for John Durham

Sponsored by Beinhauer Family Funeral Homes - Peters Township - McMurray Beinhauer Family Services, LLP.

18 Entries

Dave

January 2, 2024

Was coached and inspired by Coach Durham as his QB for years at Bradford High School. Had numerous dinners in his home while we studied game films. More importantly he taught me life lessons I carry with me forever. Teacher, coach, friend. Inspired man. Miss him.

Christine Fox

January 2, 2023

Mr. Durham was one of those teachers that I remember fondly. All those years teaching...just imagine how many kids loved and respected him.

Henry and Helen Marta

Sent Flowers

Gary Butler

January 11, 2022

I feel forever grateful to have been in your presence. You are a mentor, friend, and role model.

Thank you for everything

Mark Everett

January 10, 2022

I had the great fortune of being on Coach Durham's teams in Bradford. He had such a huge influence in my life, as I went into coaching also. I tried to stay in touch with coach, usually calling him once a year. He would say, "Call me John." I could never do it. He will always be "Coach".
I happen to possess all five of his football theory books. Although I learned a lot from the books, I learned so much more by being on his team. He was the master of organization.
"Men, we are going to practice for 85 minutes and then run 10 forty's!"
RIP Coach. God bless his wife, "the perfect coach's wife", and his family.
I RIGHT 65 on one.

Don Burns

January 10, 2022

My Deepest Sympathy To You All .....You have lost a Great Man who has touched so many lives...He had a positive approach to life and all those he came in contact with and his attitude influenced so many to be the best they could be. A Man ahead of his time in his approach to the fundamentals & tactics of the game he loved. His dedication to sportsmanship and the integrity of The Grid Iron Sport personified his First Class Character. He Showed Me That Family Was The Basis For All The Good Things In Our Lives. Your Family Personifies That Character. Your Family Personifies That Good.
Here Is a poem that I wrote about Coach Durham so many, many years ago......
The Dreams,
The Plans,
The Hopes That Were Once Cast,
The Years,
The Tears,
The Memories That Have Past

The Sweat,
The Anger,
The Frustration Of It All,
The Joys,
The Laughter,
That Revolve Around The Ball.

The Time,
The Effort,
It Sometime Seemed For Naught,
But Only The Old Fox Really Knows
The Elation It Has Brought

A Commitment To Be Better
In The Realm Of Grid Iron Sport
A Dedicated Leader
Is Our Rommel Of A Sort

We´ve Listened
We´ve Learned
The Tactics Which JD Taught
Our Wise Old Mentor Has Brought To Us ,
The Knowledge Which We Sought

The Owls,
The Eagles,
The Others Down The Line,
With Heart Felt Thanks Do All Join In
A Chorus Of Auld Lang Syne

He Is A Teacher!
A Doer!
An Inspiration To His Peers
Coach Is The Title
That Our Tutor, John Durham, Wears

George Bay

January 10, 2022

Grief can be so hard, but our special memories help us cope. Remembering you and your loved ones today and always. Loisanne and I have fond memories of Coach Durham when he was Head Coach at Bradford High School. I particularly recall the cowbells the wives carried to the away and home games. John will be missed, but we have good memories of days we shared with him.

The Slowey Family

January 10, 2022

John Durham ("JD" to us) and his wife Nadine have always been superb friends to the friends of their own children, Doug, Steve, Linn and Mike. We have enjoyed many laughs over the years, while together at a family gathering or seeing them at a piano recital.

JD had good insights of so many great football coaches that we did not ourselves see in person and would love to talk about them (Paul Brown! Chuck Noll!) with us. We really treasured all of those conversations and appreciated that friendship that John chose to extend to us. Those laughs come up again on the golf course every year and will in the future.

No doubt John is currently talking with George Allen about the how "the future is now" and needing some solid veterans to win. John Madden is welcoming John Durham to the newly improved Madden Cruiser.

God bless JD.

Mike Yaros

January 10, 2022

My first experience with Coach Durham was as a wide-eyed kid, fresh out of 9th grade, gung-ho for football and the opportunity to attend a summer workout program at Bradford High. Our workout facility was anything but modern by today´s standards! It was a makeshift room just outside the gymnasium where we would lift weights (no heat or a/c) and finish the workout running 20 each - 40 yard and 10 each - 100 yard dashes. A vivid memory that still exists in my mind today is Coach Durham with whistle in hand, sunglasses, yelling "On The Red" as the heat waves streamed across the field. Telling us that harsh conditions were only in the mind.... This memory epitomizes one of coach´s strongest attributes - he ALWAYS had us prepared!

Coach Durham´s attention to detail, technique and repetition were paramount. The repetition of blocking, tackling and play execution with all its minute details seemed boring and mundane at first. However, I learned over the next few years that these little details proved to be winning tactics against teams that initially seemed to have our team outmatched.
This was additionally reinforced by watching game film and seeing how all the pieces fit together. It was then I realized the brilliance of detail and preparation that Coach Durham brought to our team. Just as important, I also learned that there are valuable lessons learned through a tough loss. He taught all of us that it is important to get back up, regroup and come back out fighting together as a team.
I find myself thinking of these moments and realizing what Coach was teaching. These lessons were extremely important, not only in football - but in life. Stick with the basics - you don´t have to be fancy - continue to do the right things well and you will prevail.
Another lesson that I learned from Coach was dealing with "mind over matter". Many times I heard Coach say: "if you think you can, you will... but you have to work for it!"
Rain, Snow, Heat - we are still going to play; the team that has the right attitude will definitely have the advantage.

Coach Durham wasn´t much of a rah-rah guy. He didn´t make a lot of inspirational speeches. He truly believed the game was won before it even started, through good game plan preparations, good practices and strong mental preparation. I believe this is also very true today in our everyday life.

Playing the QB position, I was blessed with the opportunity to work closely and spend additional quality time with Coach Durham. I learned the importance of what he was teaching and absorbed all I could during the short time we worked together. The X´s and O´s were great, but the experience and life lessons he taught us were invaluable. Thank You for everything Coach! Job well done! Rest in Peace!

Tracy Kautzman

January 10, 2022

Doug and family, may you take time to reflect on your father's life and embrace the positive impact he had on so many others. In this time of grief, remember that his love is still with you.

January 9, 2022

As the days and weeks pass, and as you return to life's routine, may you continue to feel comforted by the love and support of God, family and friends. Please take comfort in the words found at 2nd Thessalonians 2: 16,17.

Christine Fox Noble

January 8, 2022

I remember Mr. Durham when he was a new teacher at PVL Hugh School. I liked him a lot and respected him.
He was clear about his expectations for his students but also had a good sense of humor. Once as a discipline measure he requested I needed to find, and report to him, the serial number on the ice cream machine on one of the Navy ships. Of course I just made up a number and of course he called my bluff. May he have eternal peace in God´s care. Thank you Mr. Durham.

Ted Feitt Jr and Amanda Feitt, McMurray PA

January 8, 2022

Deepest sympathy on the loss of your father and husband. Coach Durham taught more than math and football.
A man of great character, intelligence, humor and integrity.

Gunner Moore

January 8, 2022

My condolences to the family. RIP Coach you taught me so much. I love you Coach

Rick Tilves

January 8, 2022

To my friends, I am so sorry about the passing of Coach, your husband & father. All I could ever call him was Coach out of the respect I had for him. I never called him John, even in a casual setting. Coach was a man's man & one great coach. He taught me more about football than any coach I ever played for in my life. I Pray Coach RIP in God's loving arms forever. May God also be with all of you during this time of grieving.

Eternal Affection Arrangement- BASKET INCLUDED

Frank and Cindy Fisher

Sent Flowers

Randi Starr

Planted Trees

David Ross

January 8, 2022

My thoughts and prayers are with you. Coach Durham was my coach and teacher at Bradford High. I was his QB for 3 years. Was an inspirational teacher, coach, friend, he changed my life. He will be missed but remembered always.

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