Dear Ridgewood High School faculty, this was a heartfelt tribute to a man that I once knew years ago. Coach Lorenz was my high school gymnastics coach back in Skokie, Il at Niles North High School. I graduated in 1975 and knew Coach for those 4 years. I was a scrawny little freshmen when I showed up in the gymnastics room back then. Coach was welcoming, sincere and always knew how to get me motivated to excel at the sport. Coach (I still can't bring myself to call him Jack) inspired me, kept me working hard and he IS one huge reason I am who I am at 57 years old. I owe so much to him and when I heard of his passing...a little bit of me died as well. We were fortunate to have a Celebration of Life for Coach several months ago and many of us attended and shared stories. My friend found this on youtube and shared it on FB. As one of you said in the interview, its very hard to describe Coach and his affect on me personally in just a sentence or two but as you are all aware...you really don't have to. He is a part of us and at the end of the day...if any of us can affect another's life in a way that Coach has, then we have been truly blessed. Coach Lorenz had a gift and he continued to give ... what more can be said. To Coach, To Life! Steve Elster
Dear Ridgewood High School faculty, this was a heartfelt tribute to a man that I once knew years ago. Coach Lorenz was my high school gymnastics coach back in Skokie, Il at Niles North High School. I graduated in 1975 and knew Coach for those 4 years. I was a scrawny little freshmen when I showed up in the gymnastics room back then. Coach was welcoming, sincere and always knew how to get me motivated to excel at the sport. Coach (I still can't bring myself to call him Jack) inspired me, kept me working hard and he IS one huge reason I am who I am at 57 years old. I owe so much to him and when I heard of his passing...a little bit of me died as well. We were fortunate to have a Celebration of Life for Coach several months ago and many of us attended and shared stories.
My friend found this on youtube and shared it on FB. As one of you said in the interview, its very hard to describe Coach and his affect on me personally in just a sentence or two but as you are all aware...you really don't have to. He is a part of us and at the end of the day...if any of us can affect another's life in a way that Coach has, then we have been truly blessed. Coach Lorenz had a gift and he continued to give ... what more can be said.
To Coach, To Life!
Steve Elster