Peter William "Coach" Kurachek

Remembering Peter and thinking of your family as the holidays approach.

Dear Steve, Mary Lou, Pete & your families,
My thoughts are with you as you mourn the loss of your extraordinary father.
As the first Saltairian to sign this book, I want you to know what a fine and valued Athletic Director he was in our village from 1954-64. I accepted his rigorous taskmaster style as my swimming coach and his legendary life guard course complete with the underwater test "saving Uncle Pete" as a challenge. He made me strong and confident. Years later I jumped in the sea in Hawaii without hesitation and saved a drowning woman, and later still swam over clam beds and then 125 ' deep on shark currents on the Great Barrier Reef of Australia. He equipped many of us with the skill & discipline to pursue our dreams. What a gift!

Steve, I'm so sorry to hear about your dad's passing, but how wonderful that you had all those years together. Coach left an indelible memory on so many of us, from seeing him at your house in 5th grade, to passing him in the halls of PHS. And there must have been many shared bus trips to games with the team and cheerleaders! Many good memories. I wish you, your wife and kids, brother and sister much peace and comfort and love.

Steve, I have fond memories of going to PHS football games and then hearing the cars honking their horns as they drove through P'ville after winning many a game. Your Dad was a great coach and as a person he touched many lives at PHS and beyond. I'm sure he is in heaven.

Steve-

Your Dad was a great man. He inspired me, taught me the value of hard work, discipline, teamwork, and sportsmanship, among others, values I still carry to this day. I have very fond memories of our football teams in 1967 and 1968 and the experiences we shared, led by Coach.

I am sorry about your loss of such a great man. I am sure Peter (the younger) will always be proud of his grandfather.
The Rev. Bud Williams
The Gooden Center, Pasadena, CA

Steve and Family,
I was so sorry to hear about your father's passing. It is always hard for us left behind to grieve. He is safely in the hands of our Lord now, and from what I gather is probably back "coaching."

I was fortunate to have met him at some of our Christmas parties and had some of those "coaching" chats. In sympathy,

God bless Mr. Kurachek. After enjoying a wonderful and full life, may he rest in peace. God bless his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

What a fantastic obit. A writting this great required not only a great writer, but a great person to write it about. Very few people in this life can be remembered as fondly and admirably by as many friends as Coach Kurachek. He and Toni Sabella were cornerstones of P'Ville high and countless lives. The number of people they will be missed by, as well as the number of times they will be remembered, gives us a glimpse into the pertinance of there lives and lessons. Not only a life, but an entire era has passed.

In 1948 "Coach" took over a bedraggled football team unaccustomed to winning and turned it into a championship team by his second year (1949), the first ever at PHS. He did the same for me and as I look back at a rich and fulfilling life I have long known that he put me on the path to success.

We only knew Peter from "5:00 Mass" on Saturday afternoons! For many years he would sit in our pew, or nearby and always shake hands and have something nice to say. What a gentleman! He is sorely missed at our weekly celebration. We will keep you all in our prayers.

Dr. K, Mrs. K, Sarah, Peter and Sam,

I will always admire "coach's" passion for life and pursuit of personal happiness. He was a great man who touched many people's lives in ways that most couldn't realize or comprehend until years later.

A true legend in my book.... May his spirit and attitude live on through all he has touched.

I wish you all the best.

Steve, Mary and family,
Peter was quite an inspiration to me and my family. His devotion to his religious beliefs and to IHM are what I'll remember the most. I'll miss him. We are praying for you during this difficult time.
Sincerely, Jim Burrows & Stephanie Wolf

Steve, Mary, Sarah, Peter and Sam,

Marsha and I send our heartfelt sympathies and our prayers your way as you grieve the loss of a player's dream coach, your father, father-in-law and grandpa! Steve, thanks for the awesome tribute you paid your dad in your kind and thoughtful words you expressed in the paper but even more in all that you shared with me those late nights and weekends. I see that preparedness, discipline and passion everytime I get to be around you. What a great legacy to leave behind. He will truly be honored in Heaven and will always be coaching us. Take care and please know if there is anything Marsha and I can do please call and let us know.

All our love and prayers.
Steve and Marsha Baisch

Mary and Steve,Sarah,Peter,and Sam,

Granpa was "One for the Ages"-we will miss him so much.Now he is coaching the "angels" in his Kurachek offense.What a sight to behold.God bless you-you are in our prayers!
Roberta,Bill, and Family

Dear Dr. Kurachek(Dr.K)& Family, Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time of sadness God Bless You. Sierra Lacher-Hambor & Family

Steve and Mary
Sarah, Sam and Peter

My heartfelt sympathy for your loss. What an amazingly marvelous life "Coach" lived. He was such a BIG part of your lives, I expect his passing will be bitter sweet. Time to end the fight he fought so well and for him to walk the streets of gold. May God comfort you in those moments when his presence is most missed. My continued prayers for all of you. Christina Matthews CRCCS

Steve

You and your wife and family are in my thoughts, I'm so sorry about your father.

--Caly

Steve and mary,
I am so sorry for your loss. You were so good to your dad. He was lucky to have the two of you in his life.
Bonnie & Darren

Dr. Kurachek and family;
My most heartfelt prayers are with you and your family.