In Memoriam: John Pfitsch

John will be greatly missed but his legacy will live on.  I've had the pleasure, the honor, of hearing stories from alumni from all decades about the life skills, mentoring, support, grit and determination that Coach provided.  Alumni had a place to stay, a nudge into their future professions, an assertive push at graduate school admission offices, a timely bowl of ice cream... all when it was needed.  I'll miss hearing John's voice come in the door at the Old Glove Factory.  Emily & family, I pass along my condolences and wish you peace during the days and months to come. 

Forty-two years ago I, a candidate for a vacancy in the Department of History, was being shown around the campus by David Jordan.  In the old Forum Coffee House, he introduced me to John Pfitsch.  I wondered at the time what a coach was doing in the Forum Coffee House, but I was to learn that the entire campus was home to John:  one was likely to run into him anywhere.  Needless to say I found him an easy conversationalist.  At the end of the interview he said good-bye with these words, "Well, if you want the job, I hope you get it."  I remember this encounter as if it were yesterday.   This was echt-Pfitsch:  spontaneous, open-hearted, welcoming.  My father, a retired coach himself, visited Grinnell once, and John headed the list of those I wanted him to meet.  They did meet, and I recall that they ended up talking Democratic politics, something dear to both their hearts.  I bid a warm farewell to a good and faithfull servant of Grinnell Colllege at its best.

A great man and a great coach! He always had an inspirational story for every person.

He will be missed at soccer alumni reunions.

I grew up in Grinnell, Iowa, and knew John as a person before I

came to Grinnell College in 1956.  John was a close personal friend of the

DeLong clan, sharing golf, swimming and events at the Grinnell CC.

His passing leaves and emptiness that will not be replaced. A good

man.

Dave DeLong

I have been John and Emily's "spaghetti" relation for the years their son, Bill has been married to my daughter Andi. And I am so grateful this event brought our families together in love and spirit in spite of the distance separating us.

There are people, like John, we want to live  forever and never ever leave us.

Running into John Pfitsch always cheered me up, but that was especially the case in 1976-77, my first year on the faculty at Grinnell College. As for all beginners, it was a difficult year, and I tried to stay on top of the avalanche of work by swimming early on many mornings. However, what figuratively really kept my head above water was  John, stretched out on the table in the equipment room, greeting me with "Hello, Perfessor!"  Life was going to be ok. His greeting also solved an identity crisis I was having: I wasn't at all sure I wanted to be a "Professor," even an Assistant one, but being a "Perfessor" for John Pfitsch was just fine.

Jenny and I came to Grinnell in 1962, just 50 years ago this summer, and John and Emily Pfitsch have been an integral part of our lives for most of those 5 decades.  

My first two visits to Grinnell were part of Grinnell College’s athletic history, with John in a key role. 1954, my senior year at St. Olaf College, I was a small part of the Ole’s football team that played its opening game at Ward Field in Grinnell.  Having beaten Grinnell 60-12 in Northfield the previous year, St. Olaf’s first in the conference, we were not prepared for the spirited response of the Pioneers with Pfitsch on the coaching staff and Nick Ryan as a running back.  We were lucky to escape with a 13-13 tie.  Eight years later, when I came on a cold February day in 1962 to interview for a position in the Chemistry Department at the college, we followed up a dinner with science faculty and President Bowen with a hike to Darby Gym to watch the Pfitsch-coached Pioneer basketball team—with John sucking on his comfort towel--rack up another win on its way to the Midwest Conference basketball championship. 

John was a respected and successful coach when we came to Grinnell and his versatility as a coach was evident in his later stints as athletic director, coach of baseball and finally soccer, where he compiled an outstanding record well into his “retirement” years.  As a coach he taught skills and strategy, but his outstanding quality was his focus on the development of his charges as individual young people.  That was nowhere more evident than his interest in all the young people in the community, including our growing family.  And together the Pfitsch’s and Erickson’s have rejoiced in the progress and accomplishments of our five Grinnell College alumni grandchildren.

In the 1970s we became close friends as Grinnell faculty colleagues—John and I even served on the college Executive Council together--and through our mutual interest in rural property in the Grinnell area.  And in our retirement, we enjoyed many, many rounds of golf at the Grinnell Country Club.  The foursome of Peter Boeke, Don Howig, John Pfitsch, and I—joined by our wives on some occasions--enjoyed regular after-lunch rounds for at least a decade until the last couple years.

So today we honor John Pfitsch’s many accomplishments, We appreciate his half century presence in our lives. We treasure his memory .  And we offer our sympathy and love to Emily and the rest of the Pfitsch clan in the loss of their patriarch and role model.

The passing of Coach Pfitsch marks the end of an era for Grinnell. For me he was my winter tennis rallying partner when I was the fortunate only person to sign up for a tennis class one winter. A generation earlier he had coached my father on the football team. It is hard to imagine Grinnell without him. He touched so many lives.

I graduated in 1961 and played football 4 years, so I had plenty of contact with Coach Pfitsch.  He was always encouraging in the most positive way; sometimes stern and sometimes sympathetic.  In either case it was for the good of the individual.  I'll always remember him as the Pflugerville Pflash after the small central Texas town he came from.    Frank Scott

It is with much sadness that Marelle and I learn of John's death.  He was a wonderful mentor for me when I was in college and a wonderful friend thereafter.  We will remember him with a great deal of affection.  Our sympathies go out to Emily and family.  Jon Groteluschen '61

Other than my parents, Coach Pfitsch has been the biggest influence on my life.  He had such a wonderful life and touched so many people.

Eric Dahlin, Class of 1989, and Grinnell Baseball

It was my good fortune to get to know the Pfitsch family
while growing up in Grinnell, as John and Emily were friends of my parents and
grandparents. And I was so lucky to spend countless hours messing around in the
P.E.C. as a kid. It opened when I was 12, the perfect age to be enthralled by
that fabulous, almost exotic structure. My friends and I no doubt got in the
way of and annoyed at lot of college students, but no one could blame us for
wanting to hang out there. The P.E.C. was John Pfitsch’s great vision – a full-featured
indoor athletics facility (complete with saunas!) open to all. Who could count
the thousands who utilized it over the years and developed more positive
outlooks on fitness as a result.

My sole regret when it comes to Pfitsch is that I was only
coached by him for a couple weeks my sophomore year at Grinnell.  I’d taken up tennis at an early age and
played throughout high school but decided against going out as a freshman. The
following winter Pfitsch took over as coach so I signed on and began attending
the 8:00 p.m. practices. But rather
quickly I determined I couldn’t hack the schedule – I wasn’t disciplined enough
to get my studying done during late afternoons and/or late nights after
practice, so I decided to jump ship and join the indoor track team. Coach
Pfitsch responded by saying I’d been “corrupted” by a friend who ran track, but
he otherwise didn’t put up too much of a fuss. Although, every time thereafter he
saw me out running he’d call out something like “Kissane, you’ll never amount
to anything as a runner!” or “You’re just as damned slow as you were last week!”
I had no response to statements like those because, deep down, I knew he was
right.

Coach Pfitsch will be greatly missed but his wonderful life
will always be well remembered. My condolences to Emily and the family.

There are so many things about John Pfitch that are remarkable but the thing that stands out most for me was Coach's ability to establish an immediate and personal connection with every one of his students. He would uncover that one unique aspect of your background or personality and use it to challenge and motivate (and yes some times torment) you to perform your best.

I will miss the all the stories (especially Harry Truman's visit during the Vietnam War which was always my favorite) but most importantly I am great indebted to the Coach for the profound impact he has had in shaping my life.

My deepest condolences Emily, will miss all the stories!

I grew up in Grinnell, and roamed campus like a large playground.  The Pfitches trees are getting taller every year in our old yard on Summer Street, and whenever I am able to be home again I swim in the morning, and that HUP twothreefour HUP twothreefour cadence of the faithful morning pfishes is one of my favorite sounds.

Before her death, Mom swam laps religiously, and when we spoke she would always tell me, "well, went swimming with the Hup Two Three's this morning." 

During the 80's, Mom lost a lot of weight (like from 110 to 95 pounds), and typical of John, he marched up to me one day in the weight room, beginning the conversation by bellowing, "Well what are you, Kintner, Brains or Brawn?  And what's going on with that mother of yours?  She's practically anaerobic!" 

From our family to yours, our deepest condolences.

From the Kintners, by way of Judy

I appreciate John Pfitsch for keeping athletics important at this wonderful liberal arts college.

I was blessed to be coached by John Pfitsch two years in baseball in '79 & '80. He lead by example, and he was a true servant leader.  May we all who were blessed to be coached by him continue his legacy in our lives in service to others.

John taught both my brothers and me how to swim in the old "white building" swimming pool that was next to Loose Hall when we were children. He (and Emily) were great favorites of my parents, Lois & Al Meacham. Later, my mom worked at the college, & I took Spanish from Emily in High School. I took both swimming and gymnastics classes from John while I was at Grinnell College. He taught me a lot of great trampoline moves! He was such a fun person to talk to - he had so many interests. Everytime I would come back for a reunion over the years since my graduation in 1975, I was always happy to see both him and Emily. My mom & Emily later worked together at the Grinnell Museum. My thoughts and prayers go out to Emily and to the rest of their family at this time. He will be greatly missed! 

I am very sad to lose a great friend, and I give my heartfelt condolence to Emily and all their family.

John Pfitsch and I became acquainted early in my Grinnell years. I've always been a sports fan and John was as interesting a philosopher as he was a coach. He once told me that the fun and challenge of coaching soccer players was their "existentialism." His wisdom was one of the reasons I always enjoyed listening to him. Even on my third hearing of his battalion's capturing the munitions factory in Tangermunde and John's putting the Germans to work making baseball bats, I knew that there would be some enjoyable new insight on human nature. John would talk to anyone anytime. Once in Athens the Pfitsches, the Pattersons, and Dorrie and I were on our way to
coffee in the plateia. Suddenly John was missing. I went back and found him sitting with a group of Greeks fully engaged. I am not sure they knew any English but they seemed fascinated. John defied language barriers. When our alumni tour lost him in the Vatican, my first thought was, "He's found the Pope." John's monologues could be epical, and he really was like Homer in
the way he would stitch his stories together almost seamlessly, but he was a great storyteller and it was never an ego trip. The main reason I liked listening to him was that I enjoyed his company so much.

John had another unique facility. He could say with impunity things that no one else could get away with. Somewhere in his life he had figured out the role of that fellow who sits next to the king and has complete license. I have had the pleasure—especially in retrospect--of witnessing this on a number of occasions but I will give just one example. John and I had just
sat down to lunch at the Faculty House when our new President, Pam Ferguson, showed up. Pam, an imposing figure and personality, saw the empty chair next to John and sat down. John said, "You must be the new President." "Yes," she said. And John said, "I knew, because you're all gussied up. That's part of the job requirement, isn't it"? Maybe Pam had
done her homework on John, because she took this with perfect aplomb, but I found myself kicking his shin before he could go on.

Of course a great bonus of having John as a friend was to have a friend in Emily. She was the gracious and lovely yin to John's yang. Dorrie and I were blest to spend most of our lives as their friends.

Jerry Lalonde

Dept. of Classics

I first met John as a young teenager on a family summer vacation that took us through Grinnell. My dad, Mel Adams, class of 1951, was one of John's first projects on the hoops team....A project that lasted over 60 years. I'm not sure if my dad was more interested in trying to get his sons to consider Grinnell (two of us eventually did) or to use it as an excuse to see John (I'm going with the latter). John was so proud of the new PEC and gave us a tour of the entire modern facility, including the innovative pool.

A few years later, I became one of John's projects on the baseball team. We'd all want to ride shotgun in the biology van John was driving on road trips. I especially wanted to ride shotgun following one particular game. We were playing in a tight ball game. I came up with the bases loaded and no outs. John didn't give me any signals on the first three pitches as I worked the count to 3-0. Then I look at John on the third base line and he gives me the suicide squeeze sign. I stare at him in disbelief and ask for the sign again. Again he gives me the suicide squeeze sign. I get into the box knowing I have to figure out a way to usurp my coach. I'm lacking in choices as I know the runner on third will come barreling down. I think, if it's a ball, I don't have to bunt. If it's a strike, why waste an opportunity to trade an out for a run, 

I want to add one thing to what I said below.

Just as the movie "Big Fish" teaches that a man is measured by the stories he tells and that are told about him, I am reminded of a line from a eulogy I heard many years below.

A man who invests for a season plants wheat.

A man who invests for years plants trees.

A man who invests for a lifetime plants people.

John Pfitsch planted people, a lot of people, a lot of us.

First, I send my heartfelt condolences to Emily and all of the family and friends who are feeling the loss of John Pfitsch. Although the scores of recollections and tributes speak to John's enormous and powerful contributions to so many of us, our love was most often of "John and Emily." Emily, your wonderful smile and support of every one of us under John's tutelage means the world to us. Your ability to use a time-out sign to bring a close to an overwise seemingly un-ending story was as important as any T.O. John called from the bench. Well wishes and love from all of my family.

On Father's Day, it seems most fitting to acknowledge John Pfitsch as my second father; as a man who had as much impact on me as any man other than my father. John believed in me, challenged me, and was a role model for me in many ways.

I remember the phone call from Coach Pfitsch that flattered the ego of me as a high school soccer player. Lesson #1 - when recruiting, speak to the mother, she'll give you the straight goods; the father will just want to tell you how great his kid is.

Here's the moment when I start to worry about being too long-winded, but perhaps this is the time for loving payback. I think I can compete for total volume of hours listening to Pfitsch during my time at Grinnell. In addition to all of the talks and lectures associated with playing soccer, I had 4 academic classes - including a directed study where Patty Johnson had to rescue me to make it to my next class. John not only was a key factor in bringing me to Grinnell (one of the best decisions I ever made), he also fueled my interest in sport psychology. After I got my PhD, he told me I was the only one who studied the thing that mattered. As wonderful as that felt, I tell it as a way of showing how John became a fan, a champion, and a cheerleader, as well as being a coach.

In my 30+ years of coaching, I've heard all the platitudes, but I don't think I've ever met someone who lived by the values of student before athlete, personal development before winning, and caring about human beings first, as did John Pfitsch. Pfitsch was the moral compass for athletics. Our chalk talks had fewer X's and O's than insights about diversity, challenges to our assumptions, and key life lessons. 

Whitman wrote, "he that by me spreads a wider breast than my own proves the width of my own." I want whatever I've achieved to be tribute to John Pfitsch. John you will be remembered with great fondness, love, and appreciation. Many stories will be told. 

I was a lifeguard during my four years at Grinnell and I spent one summer in town working at the pool.  My favorite shift was the 6am shift with Pfitsch's Fishes and, most every morning, Pfitsch with a story.  I was a French major at Grinnell and he loved telling me stories from being in France during the war.  One story that he told me several times was about trying to find food - he and his buddies would go to farmhouses and offer to exchange cigarettes for "dayz erfs".  The first time he told me this story, it took me quite some time to understand what it was exactly that they were trying to get from the farmers, but finally (after several rounds of, "What were trying to get?" "You know, erfs!  You speak French - dayz erfs!") I understod "egg" (des oeufs).  He told me this story every so often when I was sitting in the lifeguard chair that summer and even though his French accent would not have gotten him very far in the French department, I loved it.  The following fall I kept my 6am shift.  People thought I was bit crazy for wanting to get up so early, but I knew that between the fishes and Pfitsch's stories, I'd be in good company.

I know that I'm a bit younger, but Pfitsch was a pressence at Grinnell while I was there - and every time I've been back, I've usually run into him.  He will be missed.

My thoughts and prayers go out to John Pfitsch's family. I was one of the many recreational swimmers at Grinnell when the PEC was new. Coach Pfitsch was always around, friendly, and encouraging--someone who loved being a coach and mentor and was unfailingly kind and welcoming to every student who came to the PEC. He lived fitness in a way that made it an appealing lifelong choice. A sedentary bookworm by nature, I am more active--and a better swimmer many decades later--for having had the pleasure of his example.

I graduated from Marshalltown, IA High School in May, 1956 with no money, no prospects and no idea about how to get to college. All I had going for me was the fact that I had been a member of a state championship high school basketball team. Coach Pfitsch showed up at the home of a Grinnell alum who had contacted me, and told me that I should come to Grinnell. Two weeks later, I was living in the student union and working as a member of the paint crew. I am a living example of what John Pfitsch did best. He had confidence that l could not only play basketball, but could also survive academically, which I did (just barely). Nobody, before or since my time spent with Coach Pfitsch, has been a greater influence on my life, and I am proud to say that I was one of "Pfitch's boys". I have lived by that great life lesson that he preached to everybody--"keep your knees bent". It has served me well.

The three seasons I played soccer at Grinnell started with a wonderful hour long meeting with Coach Pfitsch at his office in the PEC. I explained to Coach I loved playing soccer because the exercise from soccer helped me manage my diabetes. I had already played soccer the previous four years in high school so I shared with Coach the essential ground rules I had to apply so that soccer playing complemented diabetes management rather than impeding it. 

I was impressed that Coach Pfitsch admired the fact that I took the time to help him understand my requirements for playing soccer in a healthy way. Now as a founding member of A-Partnership Of Diabetics in Minneapoils I tell the Pfitsch meeting story time and again to diabetics who ask me if they should even tell their employer about their diabetes or take the time to test their blood sugar at their work place. Coach Pfitsch was not my employer but his respectful interest in my needs managing diabetes facilitated my playing soccer at Grinnell.

I treasure all the memories I have of John Pfitsch which began with his coaching me in soccer.

Sad news, indeed. Those of us who experienced Grinnell in the last 64 years, or many, many of us, owe John, and Emily too, enormous debts as well as recollections of good times shared. A few people have had major influences on my life--my dad, of course, and after him John. He helped an ego-centric young man, who'd been a big fish in a small pond, understand that community service (from a basketball team to bigger ones) rather than self service is a working career model. He also taught me to "keep my knees bent."  

The fall of 1948...prior two years we had gone through THREE BB coaches (losing season 46-47...break even 47-48). In walks JP...because of military service he was not much older than some players.Training to some meant not smoking in public. Season result....second place conference behind Beloit...we kept our knees bent. Little did anyone foresee the length of his  tenure.. Grinnell, and hundreds of students, not just athletes,were the beneficiaries. Several decades later he published his memoirs and we learned he was an officer attached to the 35th Infantry Division. I was an infantryman with the 26th Division...both part of Patton's 3rd Army in France.

My grandparents - Mose and June Killion - worked for Grinnell all their lives, and Grandpa Mose spent that entire time working in the Cage - in the PEC that Coach built. The had awesome stories about this great man. By the time I was a student, he was still coaching soccer as he transitioned to "emeritus" status step by step. Even after all those year, the love his players - my classmates - had for him was remarkable. Every college should be so lucky to have a Coach Pfitsch every century or so....

My memories of John began in 1952 with freshman football.  Through the years, he has been Grinnell to me as I've corresponded and visited.  It is hard to conceive of Grinnell without him.  I'm sure that I'm not alone is saying that he played a huge role in making me the man I am today.  I once heard that if you were fortunate enough to find one true mentor in life you could consider yourself lucky.  In my case, I had two - Joe Wall and John Pfitsch.  Neither will ever be forgotten.  As I face the remaining years of my life, I'll do so each day remembering to "keep my knees bent" as John taught me.  

I know that as Emily and the family face this tough time, they'll do it in the same spirit the coach would have encouraged them to follow. 

Dear Family and Friends,

      I knew John as a person with a quick smile and (often) a quicker story.  He was a consumate story teller, and did not mind if he knew that you had heard the tale before--he was going to tell the story.  I recall Ed Hirsch telling of a trip back from FLA for a spring Baseball Team series--don't know how John found the funds for this, but I am sure he did.  Anyway the tale goes that he told stories non-stop from Georgia to Grinnell (almost anyway--it is a great honor/story to tell about John!).

      As an alumnus of the class of '72, John constantly asked me why I did not play FB at Grinnell--he had heard that I was a successful QB for a small Nebraska HS.  No matter that Gary Johnson '72, a great Grinnell HS QB and the boyfriend/now son-in-law of the head FB coach Edd Bowers was way ahead of me in talent and grit--"Greg you should have played."  That was John's spirit; one should always reach further and farther.  John always did, into his 90's teaching swimming at the College pool and enjoying every minute of it.

       Thanks to Emily and John's wonderful family for giving us your Dad--he was blessing to you and to all of us at the College and really the world.  Being in Kansas and now a KU BB fan, I did not know about the "Phog Allen assistant" story until about 5 years ago when John was waxing about it.  That shows me that the man that some discounted as just an insatiable story teller was really a pretty fine coach and mentor also (even though John never coached me in sports).  He was one of the best coaches in life and we are all the better for his sharing his life with us!

Greg Vranicar, Class of 1972

As I wrote on Facebook last night: The movie "Big Fish" teaches that a man's life can be measured by the stories he tells and the stories told about him. In this regard, the Pfossil's life was a whopper.

Some of my recollections appeared in S&B articles; others I chose to withhold.

* It was during my first introduction to Emily that she recalled John's mother telling her early on that her son had been "inoculated with a Victrola needle." By then I already knew the truth of that statement.

* There was a story he told about setting up machinery to make baseball bats in post-war Germany. 

* There was a story he told about how over-estimating his skill speaking Portuguese got him hustled out of Brazil after, on television there, he inadvertantly called members of a women's basketball team he was coaching there . . . um . . . prostitutes.

* There was the story I heard about the incident in which he was smacked in the eye playing racquetball and rushed to the University of Iowa medical center, where one of the eye surgeons on duty looked at the man on the gurney and exclaimed, "It's Coach Pfitsch."

* There was the conference swim meet at Monmouth my freshman year. Coach Obermiller couldn't make it and sent Pfitsch in his sted. I remember swimmers Bob Winters and/or Tom Rowat accompanying Pfitsch into the pre-meet coaches meeting (something never done) because they were afraid of the lane assignments the team would be given.

* There was a soccer practice on a cold, wet November afternoon, when Pfitsch stopped practice, gathering everyone together and introduced a friend of his who talked about the Socialist revolution in Portugal, while it continued raining. (I also recall him reading a book on soccer when he started coaching the game, which he soon assumed he understood.)

* "Bristle, man, bristle!"

* It was during the days of his macrobiotic diet that Pfitsch climbed onto the bus that brought Maharishi International University to Grinnell and loudly asked, "Are you boys done meditating and ready to play some baseball?"

I can't remember ever having a conversation with him that did not leave me either laughing, shaking my head or otherwise just glad to have had the time in his presence. My condolences to Emily, his personal family and everyone in the Grinnell family who feels fortunate to have known Coach Pfitsch.

Dave Schechter '77

I was fortunate to have known John as a friend and professor for many years.  First a friend as my dad and uncle's basketball coach at Grinnell in the late 1950's. He would regail us with stories of the McJimsey twins swearing that he couldn't tell them apart aside from my dad's false tooth and frequent dislocated shoulders that, according to John, my dad would pop back into place as if it were a minor annoyance as opposed to an incredibly painful process -- my dad's recollection was not quite as herioc as John's.  While returning from a weekend soccer tournament in Colorado during the fall of my freshman year at Grinnell, we were involved in a car accident in which I received a concussion.  Over the ensuing three and a half years at Grinnell and continuing thereafter up to and including the last time I saw John ten years ago, he would grab me by the arm, press his finger up to my forehead and say, "How's that God damn head of yours, McJimsey? You doing alright? How many fingers am I holding up?" Then, he'd tell the story again, and true to form, assign more strength and bravery to me than I recall feeling at the time. He was always gracious in conversation and the absolute best at capturing people's attention through his gift of story-telling.

i also was a student of John's in his Sports Psychology course at Grinnell. He was once again ahead of his time in teaching the power of visualization and other exercises to hone an athlete's mental focus prior to competition.  His stories about his approach to coaching "student athletes" were as relevant then as they are today.

Emily, as I think I've shared in the past, but remember again today, until my eldest child was born, I hadn't known another Emily besides you. So, when Will proposed it as our daughter's name, I didn't have to look far to find another person with such a beautiful name with whom I would be glad for her to share hers.  You were his rock and his greatest source of love and pride.  We love you and send our hugs, prayers and support. John's legacy lives on.

-Elizabeth, Will and family

   As our daughter.Melanie, wrote, "John has spanned generations within the Drake family". Both he and Emily took us under their wings when we arrived in Grinnell in 1979 to beome the presidential family. John's obvious love for all people came through in his dealings with each of us. I was not on a John Pfitsch team, but I was part of a women's tennis foresome ( Emily included ) that John coached, to help us learn the "inner and outer game". He also taught us to "keep your knees bent"!  Yes, John had a philosophy for all of life.

   He will be greatly missed in the Drake family as well as the whole Grinnell Community.

I was at Grinnell in the early 80s and due to some sophomore issues, by the time I was a senior I needed one extra credit to graduate. I saw a one credit course in the spring catalogue that looked perfect, Theory of Golf taught by Coach Pfitsch. I talked seven friends into taking it with me so we could form two foursomes. Each of us had to have Coach Pfitsch sign our registration card to add the class. When the last one of us went in to get his signature he said to her, "What's going on? I've offered this class since 1964 and nobody's ever taken it, and now, suddenly, eight people want to take it? I want to know what's gong on?!" We spent the winter before Spring Break listening to Coach Pfitsch tell stories of coaching and we spent the weeks after playing a round of golf a week - the main requirement of the class. He also had us write a paper at the end so he could justify giving us a grade. It was a great class, and we had a blast with him. Interestingly, my daughter is now a biology major at Hamilton College and has Coach Pfitsch's son as her advisor!

I didn't know the Pfitschs very well but they were great friends of my brother Alf Johnsen - would often visit them in Madrid, Spain and I know they had a great time together. 

Grinnell has lost a legend. Coach Pfitsch was unforgettable and his service to the college was unparalleled. My condolences to the Pfitsch family. I'll always remember John; he made me laugh!

Janet Welsh '83

I made my way to the PEC and in its halls John Pfitsch was the first person I met on campus thirty-five years ago; he shook my hand heartily, looked deep into my eyes and acted as if he knew all about me and had in fact been waiting just to find me. He could make a person feel welcome like no one I've ever known.

"Keep your knees bent!" It was the greatest comment on how we are not in charge of life...but must always try to be prepared for what is to come.

A fine man. A great loss

I remember guarding the pool in the morning for Pfitsch's Pfishes.  He will truly be missed. 

John Pfitsch was a part of my life from my childhood.  My father was on the faculty at Grinnell, and he and Emily were their good friends. Our family moved, but I came back to Grinnell for college, as did my brother.  The Pfitsches looked out for us, and told us stories, and me feel like I wasn't so far away from home.  He coached my brother in track, and, later, when my brother died, he and Emily wrote the most insightful, calm, comforting letter to my mom and dad.  He was a person who really truly cared.  And a person who wanted to know and appreciate everyone he came in contact with.  I appreciated him, bought his book when it was published, and never really thought he would be mortal like the rest of us.  I am sad.  My condolences (and my thank you) to Emily.

I am deeply saddened to hear of John Pfitsch's death. I have very fond memories of him from my days as a student at Grinnell. He was an amazing man; kind and with a good sense of humour. He gave me encouragement as a runner on the Ladies Cross Country team and he helped me get over my fear of water and finally learn to swim! My thoughts are with his family at this time.

John Pfitsch was a bigger than life Grinnell legend.  How sad it is that he is now gone.  But fortunately we all got to experience him and his tales and witisms for many, many years.  Unfortunately, two long time friends and Grinnell legends are now only memories--John Pfitsch and Edd Bowers.  Each of them was my coach for only one season, but any time I was back on campus they would recognize me and strike up a conversation.  I remember one time when I was back in town John took a couple of us out to see his farm.  Thanks John for the memories.

I was a high school senior looking at colleges in May 1970.  My parents and I scheduled a visit to Grinnell.  Unfortunately, because of the Kent State shootings Grinnell, like many other colleges at the time, ended the academic year early, and when my parents and I arrived the campus was deserted.  I had no chance to observe Grinnell functioning and get a sense of student life.

However, we met with John Pfitsch.  I remember sitting around in lawn chairs outside, I think at his home, while he talked about the Grinnell experience.  I was not involved with sports in high school and had no plans to participate in any form of intramurals.  I don't know why it was that he met with us rather than some other faculty member.  But I do remember that he was warm and welcoming, and gave me and my parents a positive impression of Grinnell. 

I'm sad to hear of his passing and wish all the best to his family and close friends.

It's hard to believe that a figure so timeless is now not with us. He never failed to entertain us, motivate us, make us think about us. He used sport to as no one ever did, to understand life as it comes to us. His zany way of figuring out this thing we do , living , was an inspiration to all of us.

I only met John a few brief times, but was a Spanish student of Emily's throughout high school (GHS '75). I also went to school with Bill and we had many mutual friends. I just heard of John's passing and wanted to extend my sympathies to Emily and to Bill. I am glad to know Emily lives in such a supportive community where many people will reach out to her and offer help during this difficult time.  

I heard stories *about* Coach Pfitsch my first two years at Grinnell from soccer friends.  When he took over as tennis coach my junior year I heard (and heard and heard) stories *by* Coach Pfitsch.  Sometimes they made sense to me but frequently I lost the thread (and perhaps sometimes there was not a thread).  My sense is that he ultimately liked to make his points by analogy.  He surely had great points to make and even though he liked to swear a bit, he was surprisingly gentle in pointing out "challenges" his tennis players posed.

Each time I have returned to campus for a reunion or for the biannual alums vs. varsity sports weekend, a highlight has been to visit with Coach and Emily Pfitsch.  Years after leaving Grinnell I would still get great pleasure in having Coach's attention in conversation.  The warmth and love he gave and received is an inspiration.

Emily, thank you for sharing him all these years.

Rchard Catrambone '82 (tennis)

As was probably the case with many, it was only with hindsight that I truly appreciated how much impact Coach Pfitsch had on my maturation and growth as an athlete, parent, coach and proefessional.  As my basketball coach, he could easily have dismissed me for my antics as a player of modest ability, but refused, insisting we both needed to see my commitment through to "build character"; I am sure I was not his only "project" over the years and anyone in whom he took an interest surely benefitted from it.   In the off-season he was always interested and available, and as everyone knows, he was a great teller of tales and spontaneously offered some of the most memorable comments of anyone I have met.

Along with one of my classmates, I was fortunate enough to be able to visit him just recently at our class reunion ('72), and even after forty years and his declining health, not only was his memory keen, but his tales were as entertaining as ever.  It was hard to leave that much overdue visit with Coach, which has unfortunately turned out to be our last.

I know all who knew him, or knew of him, will sorely miss him and his contributions to the Grinnell community, its alumni and beyond.