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Gary Nesbitt Obituary
Fort Gratiot - Gary L. "Coach" Nesbitt, 77, of Fort Gratiot, passed away on Monday, December 11, 2017, at Lake Huron Medical Center after a short illness. He was born in Erie, Pa., on March 5, 1940, to Max and Linnie (Everwine) Nesbitt. He married his sweetheart, best friend and love of his life Eugenia (Storch) Nesbitt on March 25, 1961, in the Edinboro Methodist Church.
"Coach" Nesbitt graduated from Edinboro High School, and subsequently attended Edinboro State University where he obtained his teaching degree. He began his teaching and coaching career in 1963 at Elkton Pidgeon Bayport High School, where he taught science and coached football, basketball and track. In 1971 he moved his family to Port Huron and began teaching science, and coaching football, basketball and girls track at Port Huron Central High School. Upon the closure of Central in 1980, he moved to Port Huron Northern High School, where he continued to coach football, basketball and girls track. He also coached men's basketball at St. Clair Community College from 1986-1991.
"Coach" Nesbitt was Girls Track Coach of the Year in 1978 & 79, while at Port Huron Central, and again in 1995, 1997, and 1998 while at Port Huron Northern. He was inducted into the Michigan High School Basketball Association Hall of Honor in 1987, while he was the junior varsity coach, at Port Huron Northern High School, coaching with his fellow inductee Dan Hanton. He is also a Hall of Fame inductee in the Great American Rivalry Series for his long participation in the Port Huron Central, Port Huron Northern and Port Huron High School rivalry games. He was very active in the Michigan Education Association and started the first union chapter in the Elkton Pidgeon Bayport School District. He served as vice president of the Port Huron Education Association, and was on several contract bargaining teams. During his 40-year teaching and coaching career, "Coach" Nesbitt touched the lives of over 10,000 students and athletes, and valued the friendship and comradery of his fellow teachers and especially his fellow coaches.
He is survived by his wife Eugenia Nesbitt, sons Gary (Laura) Nesbitt II of North Street, Jeffrey Nesbitt of Port Huron, Tracey (Rebecca) Nesbitt of Macomb, and Christopher (Michelle) Nesbitt of Marysville; and six grandchildren Garrett and Grant, Cullen, Rachel, Connor and Abigaile Nesbitt.
A visitation will be held at the Smith Family Funeral Home (North), on Friday, December, 15, 2017 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. A second visitation will be from 1:00-2:00 p.m., on Saturday, December 16, with a memorial service presided over by Rev. Dan Hanton beginning at 2:00 p.m., at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to the Port Huron Northern Athletic Department. www.smithfamilyfuneralhomecom.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Gary Nesbitt
Sponsored by Grace Memorial - Smith Chapel - Port Huron.
Gary + Tracey watching a PHN basketball game.
Doug Anter
December 26, 2017
Roy Johnson
December 19, 2017
Coach Gary Nesbitt was one of the most influential coaches and teachers in the Port Huron Area School District. His knowledge of football and science was incomparable and he loved to share all that he knew with anyone . he had a tremendous sense of humor and was an asset to both Port Huron Northern' s and centrals Football and all sports teams. he was a very good father and family man. he loved his wife and children. I enjoyed coaching with him, talking about how successful and proud he was of his children. It was a privilege to know him . Blessings to his family and he will be greatly missed, but his influence will be forever.
Russ Wolford
December 19, 2017
I'm so sorry for your loss. Our prayers are with your family. Coach will be missed by all.
Roy Harter
December 16, 2017
I'm incredibly saddened to read of the passing of a great teacher and Coach. I was fortunate enough to have him as both at Port Huron Northern. As a teacher and coach myself I find myself regularly quoting Coach Nesbitt. You will be missed but your influence will continue. Thank you Coach for being an incredible mentor.
Joyce McGathy
December 16, 2017
My sincere condolence to all of the Nesbitt family. I recall Gary well from his career at Laker High School. He was a very tall red-head with a beautiful smile, and always working with students involved in sports. RIP Mr. Nesbitt.
Jim Steinhaus
December 16, 2017
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
Phyllis Fournier
December 16, 2017
Condolences to the Nesbitt family. Gary was the kindest and caring man. I was blessed to have him as a neighbor and friend. No matter what he was doing, he would drop it to help me if I needed it. Heaven gained an angel with his passing.
Linda Campbell
December 15, 2017
May his memory be a blessing
Linda Campbell
December 15, 2017
My sympathies to the entire Nesbitt family. I was fortunate enough to have Coach Nesbitt as a teacher at Northern. I try to emulate his compassion and kindness with my own students. Coach Nesbitt touched thousands of lives and I hope that brings some comfort to his family.
KEVIN SENN
December 15, 2017
I was lucky enough to have Gary as a neighbor and fellow teacher/coach.We had many discussions about Port Huron Area Schools being the place to be. He gave His all and I thank Him and His family for their sacrifices.We are all in a better place because of Gary Nesbitt.
Tim Koerber
December 15, 2017
So sorry to learn of the passing of Coach Nesbitt, a friend and former colleague. The Port Huron Central Facebook page is filled with tributes from Coach's former students and athletes. He was a gentle giant who loved his students and players and taught them so much more than what was in the textbook. His legacy and the positive impact he had on so many, will live on. My condolences to his family.
Christina Serafin
December 15, 2017
Coach Nesbitt will be so missed. I think of him often, even though it's been about 25 years since I was in his class. He taught science, but he embedded so many life lessons too!
Leslie Haas (f/k/a Snyder)
December 15, 2017
Mr. Nesbitt was the best teacher. Had him for Human Biology was back in 1985. He really had a great sense of humor and made the class so enjoyable. Definitely a man you would never forget. Prayers to the family for their great loss.
Robert Brown
December 14, 2017
Coach Nesbitt was a Man who Loved Teaching and Coaching! He was Never afraid to Let it be known when he wasn't happy, yet he was just as Quick to Compliment an Athlete or Student on a Job well done. God Bless you Coach Nesbitt. You were a Man who always told it Like it is!
December 14, 2017
I had the pleasure of working with Gary at PH Central and always considered him one of the nicest people I ever met in teaching. He was so upbeat and always greeted you with a smile. Gary touched so many lives in athletics and the classroom where his students loved him. I feel privileged to have known Gary. To the Nesbitt family, know that you are all in the thoughts and prayers of so many who knew Gary.
George Popa
The Villages, Florida
Joyce Bailey
December 14, 2017
Gary Nesbitt will live on in the lives of those he touched. He valued each and every friend and every friend valued him. Bless his family because
he will be missed by those who loved him most.
Craig Dahlke
December 14, 2017
Always enjoyed working with Coach Nesbitt over many of those 40 years. My son really enjoyed playing on his teams. May peace and and comfort come to his family during this time and in the future.
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Memorial Events
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Dec
15
Visitation
5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Grace Memorial - Smith Chapel - Port Huron1525 Hancock Street, Port Huron, MI 48060
Dec
16
Visitation
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Grace Memorial - Smith Chapel - Port Huron1525 Hancock Street, Port Huron, MI 48060
Dec
16
Memorial service
2:00 p.m.
Grace Memorial - Smith Chapel - Port Huron1525 Hancock Street, Port Huron, MI 48060
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Grace Memorial - Smith Chapel - Port Huron1525 Hancock Street, Port Huron, MI 48060
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