Obituary for John W. Durham
John W. Durham, longtime high school and collegiate football coach, passed away peacefully on January 6 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 January 15, 2022 from 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. Services and Inurnment private.
Family suggest memorial contributions may be made to the charity of your choice.
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 January 15, 2022 from 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. Services and Inurnment private.
Family suggest memorial contributions may be made to the charity of your choice.