COACH JERRY H. WASSERMAN, 77, of Springfield passed away in the early hours of Thursday November 22, 2018 at Springfield Regional Medical Center surrounded by his wife, daughter, son, and a group of former coaches, players, and friends. He was born on June 4, 1941 in Fremont, Ohio. Jerry graduated from Toledo Waite High School in 1959 and obtained a Bachelor’s Degree from The University of Findlay (then Findlay College) in 1963.
He went on to also get his Master’s Degree in Education… Read More » from Bowling Green State University. Jerry was fortunate enough to immediately begin his career as a teacher and head football coach at Kansas Lakota in the fall of 1963. Jerry then continued his career as an educator, football coach, and wrestling coach at Mechanicsburg High School.
In 1979, Jerry found his home at Northeastern High School. He enjoyed 25 years there as a teacher, an assistant principal, a principal, an assistant softball coach, an assistant powerlifting coach, a wrestling coach, and a football coach. He married his wife, Libby, who was also a Northeastern employee, in 1980.
They raised their children, Jenna and Tad, in the Northeastern Local School district. Jenna and Tad are both graduates of Northeastern High School. After retiring from Northeastern, Jerry was lucky enough to find a second home with the Red Raiders of London High School.
While at London Jerry learned what it was like to be an assistant football coach and ultimately resumed the role of head coach for the last time. In 2014 Jerry retired for the second time and was able to enjoy years volunteering with the Northeastern High School Football team. He coached the sons of several former players and was happy to see men he coached as players become coaches themselves.
Of all the roles Jerry held, he will best be remembered as “Coach”. He was inducted into the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1997, has been awarded multiple Coach of the Year titles, as well as numerous other accolades. Jerry believed that the skills a young man needed for football transferred to life and created responsible adults out of impressionable teenagers.
He spent his life shaping as many of those young lives as possible. Jerry was truly larger than life and was a wonderful supporter, role model, and friend to all who knew him. He loved his family deeply, and made no secret that his life’s passions were both his biological family and his football family.
His contributions to the community will forever be remembered and his legacy will live on through all the lives he has touched. Jerry is survived by his beloved wife of 38 years, Libby; daughter Jenna; son Tad; son Scott (Leah) Wasserman; daughter Terri (Roger) Baldwin; brother-in-law, Jim (Joyce) Gentry; nephews John and Shawn (Connie) Gentry; niece Ruth Gentry; great nephew, Jack Gentry; great niece Natasha Gentry; grandchildren Tyler (Paige) Wasserman, Chloe Wasserman, Lynsey Cook, and Kiley Cook; as well as numerous non-biological family members and friends. He is preceded in death by his son Brett Wasserman, brother-in-law Robert Gentry, and numerous other friends.
His family would like to thank Dr. Arora, all the members of his practice, his surgical team, and the ICU staff at Springfield Regional Medical Center. Visitation will be held on Friday November 30, 2018 from 2pm-4pm and 6pm-8pm at LITTLETON & RUE FUNERAL HOME. Funeral services will take place at 10am on Saturday December 1, 2018, also at Littleton & Rue with a short ceremony to be held at Rose Hill Cemetery where Jerry will be laid to rest.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Northeastern Football by submitting checks or money to Northeastern High School Boosters 1480 Bowman Road Springfield, Ohio 45503 and writing “football” or Jerry’s name on the memo line. Donations may also be made in Jerry’s honor to the American Heart Association. Condolences may be expressed to the family by visiting www.
littletonandrue.com.
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