Jacque R. "Jack" Bair

Jack Bair, 81, of New Philadelphia, passed away unexpectedly Wednesday, April 11, 2018, in his home.

Born February 3, 1937, in Dover, he was the son of the late Culver M. and Pearl E. Allison Bair. Jack graduated from New Philadelphia High School in 1954, and was a member of the undefeated 1953 New Philadelphia football team. He went on to earn his bachelor’s degree from Ohio University, where he was a member of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity with future governor and Senator George Voinovich. Jack married the former Joan T. Wright on January 25, 1958, and the couple reared three children and shared 57 years of marriage prior to Joan’s passing on January 25, 2015.

He enjoyed a long successful career as a teacher and football coach beginning at Greenfield-McClain and East Liverpool as an assistant coach, then head coach at Tusky Valley from ’64-’68 resulting in TVC Champs in ’65, then onto Kenston from ’68-’72 and a subsequent ’69 championship, Maple Heights from ’72-’75, then his longest stint at Southeast High School from ’75-’87 where he earned two Beacon Journal Portage County Coach of the Year in ’78 and ’82 and two Portage County League Championships. Jack finished his coaching career at Aurora High School, doing what he did best and that’s rebuilding a football program; from ’88-’92 he was able to lead them to a ’91 Mac 8 Championship. Jack was one of the top winningest coaches in northeast Ohio and by the end of his coaching career amassed a record of 170 wins, 109 losses and 8 ties.

In 2014, the 1953 Quaker football team was inducted into the Quaker Athletic Hall of Fame at an event that Jack and his family very much enjoyed and were especially proud of.

Jack is survived by his daughters, Laura M. (James) O’Connor of Solon, and Julie A. (David) Van Diest of Bedford; his granddaughter, Caitlin Bardos; his sister, Sandy Bean of Lehi, Utah; his beloved dog, JayJay; many nieces and nephews; and his many friends, including Nancy Seabrook of New Philadelphia.

In addition to his parents, and his wife, Joan, Jack was preceded in death by his son, Jack “Rusty” Bair Jr., and his sister, Carol Farrington.

Services will be at a later date with interment in New Philadelphia’s Evergreen Burial Park.

The family suggests that contributions in Jack’s memory be made to Royalty Dog Rescue, 828 N. Walnut St., Dover, Ohio, 44662, or http://www.royaltydogrescue.com/Sponsor-A-Dog.html.