At 11 a.m. Saturday, June 30, 2012, the Grinnell community gathered in Herrick Chapel to celebrate the life of long-time coach and faculty member John Pfitsch. If you were unable to attend, we invite you to view the video of the service, read others’ memories and reflections of John’s life, and share your own.
It is with sadness and fond remembrance that we inform the campus community of the death Friday, June 15, of long-time coach and faculty member John Pfitsch. Beginning in 1948, John and Pioneer athletics were synonymous. He coached in virtually every sport during a 50-year career and even in retirement directed the men's soccer program and his beloved Pfitsch’s Pfishes. In addition to many seasons, records, and championships in basketball and soccer John also was justifiably proud of his role in instituting women's sports during his long tenure as athletic director.
After graduating from the University of Texas Pfitsch earned his M.A. in physical education and assisted famous Coach Phog Allen at the University of Kansas before and after service in World War II. At Grinnell he helped obtain a $2.2 million federal loan and headed the planning committee for construction of the former Physical Education Complex, where the fieldhouse was named in his honor.
Our thoughts are with the Pfitsch family at this time of honoring John’s life and legacy.
Read more about John Pfitsch in Enjoying Life: A Conversation with John Pfitsch, originally published in The Grinnell Magazine Spring 2010.
See John Pfitsch in action as he and Kenneth Christiansen, biology, describe past Grinnell College president Dr. Howard Bowen in an excerpt from Grinnell Stories: A Documentary History of a Pioneering Midwestern College on the Occasion of its 150th Anniversary, by David Buck & Co.
Condolences to the Pfitsch Family. John was a beloved man to so many and important to the Grinnell community and it's athletics. For me, he spanned the time my parents and I attended Grinnell and was a vital link to the youth of my parents, especially my dad. I was pleased and priviledged to know him.
I only met Coach Pfitsch a couple times - the most memorable time being when I visited as a prospective student. My Dad had known him when he was a student, and I was impressed at how well they got on so many years later - it was as if no time had passed!
But what really impressed me was the fact that he recruited me to join Grinnell's high-quality soccer team after I had decided to attend Grinnell - even tho I had dropped the sport after 6 weeks into my first year of high school!
Accodingly, I did not take up the offer to play - which is probably my loss. But I will always remember how impressed I was by the personal attention I received, simply from one little visit as a prospective "chip!"
What a great life to look back upon! We are sad for his passing, but this honorable and respected man will long be remembered by thousands of former students and friends. His contributions to Grinnell athletics over the years are well documented and subsequent honors received well deserved. His teaching skills, knowledge of the sport and a personable, mentoring style endeared himself to all athletes and staff. I anticipate hundreds of rememberances will be penned here over the next few weeks for a guy who taught us to play smart, play fair and play to win. Faced with our own game of life after the Grinnell experience, John certainly played a role in what we accomplished in the following years. It will be a memorable passing for me as he died on my birthday. It is a good bet I will remember him each and every year for the rest of my life. He was one of a kind.
Jerry E. Cozad '63
Capt USNR (ret.) and former footballer
Coach Pfitsch was my extremely patient & humorous golf instructor. After many discouraging classes in the basement of the phys ed building, when I finally hit the ball one time, he passed me for the course & told me not to come back!! I was forevermore his fan!
November, 2011 Grinnell
Visit Excerpts from Recent 1979 Class letter
Memories of Coach John Pfitsch from October 2011 and beyond.
Back to Grinnell head your stalwart Co-Class Agents, Chicago again the
launching point, another road trip, Poweshiek County on full alert. Peter Calvert ’79, flies in from
Richmond, VA and John Malkinson ‘79
joined by Ed Senn ‘79, Ed from DC, our
erstwhile member of the Alumni Council. Volunteer weekend rolls around in the
end of October each year—this will be the first go for your Class Agents. John
finishes up his legal work and pops the trunk on the company Beemer, we three
kings load the bags, unfurl the radar scanner, and hit the ribbon highway west.
Hurdling over the wide gash of the Mississippi. Cruising through glorious
rolling fields scribed by ordered furrows that angle away from the inter-snake
towards watchtower farmhouses. Drinking in sprawling farms punctuated by bright
orange trees, holding their leaves for one last wave towards summer ere the
cycle shifts and nature retrenches for another long sleep. Grinnell steadies
for the prow of our docking vessel, a shimmering oasis of cultured, quirky
thought after the frenzied pace of the Windy City and the standardized
offerings of the clicking I80 exits.
Ed Senn is staying with Chemistry Emeritus Professor Luther Erickson
and his delightful wife Jenny Erickson. Jenny ran the Student Activities
program out the Forum—Ed was one of her employees--and she also coordinated the
Craft Workshop in Darby Basement where students, including clay maverick Ed Gates ‘79, now co-owner with
Cornelia Gates of www.aloetile.com in Corpus Christi, TX, star diver Norm Zimmerman ’79, Trinity, NC,] now, with
his wife Leslie, co-owner of Zimmerman Vineyards, www.ZimmermanVineyards.net, emerging artist Peter C., and many others worked as student teachers and monitors.
The Ericksons reveal that Emeritus
Coach John Pfitsch and his wife Emily
are coming Friday night to their home for his 92nd birthday. That
is great news for brothers David and
Peter Calvert, a couple of former
soccer players. David Calvert, ’75, New
York, NY, is now a 75 Class Fund Director and as such back for the
Volunteer Weekend, and he is also Executive Director with www.YouthBuild.org in NYC. This marks
their first overlapping campus visit since the 78-79 school year. Dave, Peter
and Ed Senn head to the Ericksons late afternoon and spend 30 minutes with
Coach. Looking at his face, he looks the same as he did at 50 when he was our
soccer guru—while learning the game on the fly.
At the birthday party Pfitsch regaled us with tales of discovering in
the 1930’s he calling was as a coach--while an undergraduate at a Texas
University at Seguin—where an undersized
fellow might have a chance to play football—picked Seguin—small school--at
Austin I’d have no chance--because I wanted to play football—cause I wanted to
coach—but my father wanted me to be a doctor—he had been a doctor—a missionary
doctor—overseas—India--I took some pre-med classes to keep him happy—but I knew
I was a coach--my mother was more understanding—and I went to see the
University Of Kansas basketball team play UT—boy, were they good—fast, and they
controlled the game—and I went in the Kansas locker room after the game to talk
to the coach—Phog Allen–legendary coach--I just had to go there-- to
Lawrence—learn what they knew—I talked my way into the locker room--he was in
the shower—jets of water spraying around-- The cadence still there, the
rhythm still there, the memories strong and sure, holding the floor, the song
coming out like Kerouac, joyous flow of information, illumination and
inspiration. Lately, he has been ill, has been homebound, and later reports
said that our visit inspired him to stand longer than he had for 2 years. Now
attending football games in a wheelchair—fighting a chronic staph infection in
his hip and shoulder—but if you knew him—if he taught you as he taught me and
David and so many others—now he is always present. He looks us in the eyes and
places us in the arc of time, remember, he fixes us in his night sky, we are
the stars by which he steers. Coach John Pfitsch, Grinnell, Iowa.
He remains the coach in Midwest Conference History with the most
soccer wins—125-32-4, Won-Lost-Tied record in conference games, 1974-1997, with
193 wins in games overall, conference and non-conference. Incidentally, Mark Bailey ’79 remains in the top ten
categories for a number of Grinnell and Midwest Conference scoring records and Pete St. Thomas ’79, [Stephenson, VA], the Jersey Flyer, with 6 goals in one game
in 1977 continues to be tied with Vincent
Anku, (on team 1962-1964) in goals and points for the all-time,
single-game, Grinnell soccer record. Amazingly, in ‘63 Anku scored 5 goals in a game 4 times, and in ’64, twice got 6
goals in a game. Grinnell had no soccer team for the five years after
1964--probably no one wanted to play us anymore and they all stopped returning
our calls.
Wiki note: As our Kansas alums are no doubt aware, Forrest Clare
“Phog” Allen learned from James Naismith, inventor of the game of basketball,
and an earlier U of Kansas coach. Besides Pfitsch, Phog also taught coaching to
Adolph Rupp, coach at Kentucky, 1930-72, 4 national titles, and Dean Smith,
coach at UNC Chapel Hill, 1961-1997, 2 titles, 11 Final Fours, and Phog
recruited Wilt the Stilt Chamberlain to Kansas. In
his 39 seasons at the helm of the Jayhawks men’s basketball program, Phog’s
teams won 24 conference championships and three national titles. Phog coached
the US Men’s team to gold in ‘52 Helsinki Olympics. Allen Fieldhouse in
Lawrence is named in his honor. John Pfitsch studied with a giant and brought
that to Grinnell.
Peter Calvert, John Malkinson, Co-Class Agents, 1979
When asked about his memories of Coach
Pfitsch, Mark Bailey shared a few thoughts.
Mark Bailey, ‘79
Forest Grove, OR
Coach Pfitsch’s first season coaching soccer was a marvelous
adventure as he applied his ubiquitous coaching skills to this novel and
handless sport. Throughout that first season, the insouciant trio of Bailey, Mark Schwartz, ‘77, and David
Hoopes, ’77, would huddle with him before practice, helping Coach recognize
the particular peculiarities of podiocentric play. It was not uncommon
during games to hear his voice ring out across the pitch entreating us to “get
a bucket”. Away games regularly concluded with dinner in the Amana Colonies and being regaled with Coach’s exploits on the
field of competition. No one spins a sporting yarn with more loquacious wit
than coach Pfitsch.
Class Agents note: Dr. Bailey is Professor of Education; ECE Strand Coordinator,
MAT 5th Year Program at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon. Dr. Bailey is an educational
psychologist with a background in human learning and curriculum &
instruction. With experience teaching pre-school through middle school, he is
also the early childhood education specialist in the program. His research
interests include factors that affect children’s self-concepts, and the effects
of multimedia educational environments on student learning. He recently
presented at an Early Childhood Education conference in Florida in November
2011.
I feel privileged to have known John. Definitely one of the best story-tellers I've ever encountered. His genuine love for people was evident in all that he did!
John WAS Grinnell College to so many students, and especially to those of us who first came to Grinnell in '48, like John. How could he and Emily continue for so many years to know and care about each of us, as if we were family? Weren't we all lucky!
To Emily, our sincere condolences, and our deep gratitude.
Coach Pfitsch was my advisor freshman year in the fall of 1974. I had ample opportunity to wander into his office, greeted everytime by "how the hell ya doing Cmelik?" I can't remember any specific words of wisdom imparted during those meetings but I remember leaving laughing most of the time. A group of us also talked Coach Pfitsch into leading an independent study course. Met every Monday night at his house. Again, can't remember the exact subject matter but it was a delight to hear his stories. My senior year I played on a city rec basketball team with his son, Bill. John was certainly "one of the good ones." Rest in peace Coach.
Pfitsch (as we all knew him) espoused the very best in collegiate athletics; play your hardest, win if you can, but have fun. He was the first Grinnell coach to come up with what has become known as the Grinnell "run and gun offense" on the basketball court. He introduced it to the 1962 team that went onto win the conference championship for what I think was the first time in anyone's memory...he did it by utilizing 2 different types of full-court press, and then run on the fast break and he told his shooters of which that team had several to not be afraid to pull up and take a jump shot rather than drive for the layup...and then to sustain that pace he rotated many players into the game.
Together with Edd Bowers he made sports fun at Grinnell during the 60's and I expect students of later years will have many stories ro tell about how much he meant to their teams...BUT to the individuals who knew him during the 60's, he was important, he was the man, he taught us things for which no grades were given, but life-lessons were learned. He had an impact.
I was never a Grinnell jock, but I took a tennis course from John Pfitch and loved it. He had a simple way of explaining why the balls I hit would go into the net or out of bounds. I had never thought of the math or physics reasons behind what we were doing! He easily explained that the way you angle the racket as you swing can make all the difference. That was in 1961 and I am still enjoying playing the game today. Largely because the ball usually goes close to the direction I want it to go t- hanks to my teacher!
John's son Jack also joined Grinnell alumni Bob Winter, Ben Whitehill, Fred Winter, George and Bob McJimsey, Dan Hernden, George Drake, and others as a counselor at Camp Highlands for Boys in northern Wisconsin. The camp I still direct. Coach Pfitch steered a wonderful group of leaders our way! He was one of a kind.
I will remember Coach Pfitsch for his kindness and humor during my early morning lifeguard shifts in the 90s. I am so happy to have known this legend!
John Pfitsch had more to do with my quality of life, and my continued development in productive value after Grinnell than any other single person, other than my Father, that I can identify. He had a way of inspiring people that was infectous. He sure inspired me! And he taught me how to inspire others. Bless you John Pfitsch!
And we all love Emily - always there for John, and there, too, for a seemingly never ending flow of athletes, and would be athletes.
We'll all miss you.
Coach Pfitsch was an inspirational man whose words and actions have played a highly influential role in my own life and in the lives of everyone he ever interacted with. Although he was never able to make me into a superstar soccer player while I was at Grinnell (definately not his fault), his focus on the mental aspects of the game have stuck with me to this day. Everytime I have to do something that is stressful or requires me to step outside of my comfort zone I think back to Coach's advice to visualize what steps I need to take to achieve success and more often than not I presevere. This advice has helped me innumerable times and it is something that I try to express to the college students I work with everyday. Thanks for everything Coach!
Very sad indeed. He was a wonderful coach and a wonderful friend.
He coached the person and the player. Enough said!!!
He was a Pioneer through and through and I am a better person for being coached by him.
I am fond of the times that he told me that I would be a better biologist and soccer coach than a soccer player.
I had my moments as a soccer player and now dual total hip replacements as a result of playing into my 30s but he was right about being a better biologists and my kids being better soccer players.
My thoughts go out for the Pfitsch family in this sad time but what a wonderful man and a wonderful life that he led as well.
Erik Schwiebert, '87, 4-year letter winner for men's soccer and women's soccer club volunteer coach
Sad to hear about the passing of Coach Pfitsch. He was so Grinnell. I remember whe he was coaching baseball. Scott Adams ('81) was having a tough
day (which was not that often). Pfitsch said to Adams, "Adams! Do you
know what your problem is? You're a god damn existentialist." Or when
driving the 20 plus hours back from Ranger Junior College for our spring baseball trip, you could
tell if he was telling a story while he was driving.
The more he got into the story, the faster we would drive. We were
going 85 mph. And then someone else would talk and we would dropped back to 60.
We always made good times on those trips. He was the part of Grinnell
experience that makes it hard to explain to people who were not there. I
am glad I knew him.
John and Emily were a significant part of my Grinnell experience. I worked at the PEC office, lettered in field hockey, track and softball. I often played squash with John, as that was my best sport. He probably remembered me best for my bellydancing at the field hockey/soccer end of season party. My heartfelt condolences go to Emily and the entire Grinnell atheletic family. He was an amazing man with a great trajectorial vision.
Pfitsch was one of the sweetist people that I have known. He always made me laugh.
We became friends several years ago (I did not know him as a student) at the PEC pool. He sat and chatted with the lifeguard while his Pfishes worked out to the hup-ho-hup-hup of his recorded voice. I would run in, ready to jump into the pool to swim laps, and he would yell out to me to talk to him. The most important thing that I learned from him is how important it is to be patient and to spend time with people that you care about. I even managed to get up a little earlier so that we could have our time together before the pool closed on me!
I feel so fortunate that I got to soak up his kindness and generosity and lightness of spirit. He always made me laugh. He was a great alarm clock in the morning!
John Pfitsch taught me handball in a group of four guys looking for a fun way to satisfy a required PE component. It was 1974. From that simple commitment, I got a quarter-century of enjoyment in a series of healthy challenges. Although I don't play anymore due to various orthopedic matters, I still have visions of the ball bouncing around the walls of the 20 x 40 x 20 box, and Coach Pfitsch looking down on us from the gallery, sipping coffee and occasionally offering advice.
I was saddened to hear of Coach Pfitsch's death. I remember him very fondly from my time at Grinnell (1961-65). After a (very unusual) impressive victory on the wrestling team once, he invited me to join the football team. I declined, but I greatly admired his devotion to the student athletes at Grinnell. He will be missed.
Marilyn (58) and I wish to express our deepest condolences to Coach Pfitsch's family at this sad time. We fondly remember the "Coach" as a mentor, advisor, friend and most of all teacher. He has greatly influenced us in many ways. He was able to recall me after 20+ years when I visited the campus; he recalled my sport, swimming, and then tied me to a name. What a beautiful thing to be remembered after so long. I am sure he amazed many in much the same way.
May you rest in peace John and may your dedication and the memories you helped make for so many of us, live forever as you will for us. God speed to you sir.
Jon (59) and Marilyn (Cooke 58) Walker
John was a wonderful man who cared deeply for his family, friends and the College. He always had a good story to tell and was complementary of many of the people he met throughout his life with each story he told. The stories were a culmination of a man who lived many lives and enjoyed the life he lived.
He was most proud of his family because he believed they were living their lives in a manner without fear. Not worrying about what they did not have but being blessed for all they have. He was most proud of his grandchildren and beamed with delight when he talked about each of them.
I will remember him. He will be missed.
John Pfitsch's influence has spanned generations within the Drake family. He has been a coach, friend, and mentor to many in my family. I have many fond memories of John from his WWII stories he shared in his colorful language to my social studies class in middle school to our many conversations around the dinner table in John and Emilly's home or ours. I will miss him. The college and community would not be the amazing place it is today without his countless contributions. He is a Grinnell legend.
There will never be another Grinnellian quite like the amazing and loveable John Pfitsch. John's good will, generousity and good humor touched such a broad spectrum of people, from generations of Grinnell College students to local people of all ages, to poor kids in other countries. It seems to me that John never did anything for his own glory, but because he genuinely loved people and got a kick out of making life good and fun for everybody.
I remember the late Betty McKibben, professor emerita of classics, saying, "Oh, I just love John! Everytime he sees me he asks, 'Betty, how the hell are ya?'" John's lack of pretense was one of the reasons I liked him so very much, and I'm certain that Betty and I speak for many, many others.
After having just moved into a house on the same street as the Pfitsch's several years ago, I was walking my dog around the block hurriedly in order to get him home so I could get to where I was going that particular morning. I remember seeing John puttering around out in his yard. Even though I really did want to talk with him, I realized that I was already late for my next appointment, and a talk with John was never just a short "hello" by any means. So, I quickly spun around in the opposite direction in order to avoid a long conversation at an inopportune moment and scuttled quickly around the block only to come around the corner to find John waiting for me on the sidewalk in front of his house. He had seen me spin around on my heels and high-tail it away from him! His comment was, "Hell, if I'd have known that you could run that fast I'd have signed you up for the college track team when you were a student!"
To Emily and to the entire family, my heartfelt sympathy. Also, my heartfelt congratulations for having had a husband and a father who was one of the best human beings that I and thousands of others have ever had the good fortune to know.
God bless John Pfitsch and his legacy.
A great and truly monumental Grinnellian and an even greater man... John did more in any of the decades he lived than most do in a lifetime. He and Emily will always be among those most loyal Grinnellians who I've had the good fortune to know; my life is better because I had the good fortune to cross paths with John. He'll be missed, but never forgotten.