Northwestern would like to honor former members of the Wildcat family (student-athletes, coaches, staff members, boosters, etc.) who have recently passed on. To submit obituary information for inclusion in our In Memoriam section, please send an email to program assistant Jocelyn Serranilla.
LEON BROCKMEIER
Leon Edward Brockmeier, a second-team All Big Ten offensive lineman for Northwestern, passed away at age 34 from natural causes on Sept. 22, 2012.
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A powerful tackle, Brockmeier started 35 games for Northwestern between 1997 and 2001 and was a member of the Wildcats’ 2000 Big Ten championship team, in which the offense scored 36.8 points per game, a school record.
Brockmeier started 24 straight games for a ‘Cats offense that led the Big Ten in total offense in 2000 with 467.9 yards per game and was second in 2001 with 442 yards per game. He opened up holes for running back Damien Andersen, who totaled 2,063 yards on the ground. Brockmeier was selected to play in the 2002 Tyco Grid Iron Classic.
Brockmeier, a native of Tallahassee, Fla., graduated in 2001 with a major in communication studies and a minor in sociology. In addition to working as a commercial realtor, he coached high school fooball Freedom High School in Tampa where he was named Track Coach of the Year in 2006 for Hillsborough County. He is survived by his wife, Melanie, and two sons.
Information from Leon Brockmeier's obituary released by Zipperer’s Funeral Home was used in this In Memoriam.
ALFRED KUHN
Alfred John Kuhn, a four year NCAA All American swimmer, passed away on Jan. 20, 2012. Kuhn, 78, lived in a home on Silver Lake in Traverse City, Mich.
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Kuhn had an outstanding swimming career at Northwestern. He was selected as a member of the NCAA All American Collegiate Swimming Team each of his four years. In 1956, Kuhn proved himself in the pool and was the NCAA National Champion in the 100-yard freestyle. That same year he also received the award of a being a Northwestern Big Ten Medal of Honor winner.
Not only was Kuhn a sensational swimmer, he also found success as a volleyball player. 1950 to 1962 Al played volleyball across the country and abroad. He won a gold medal in volleyball in the 1955 Pan American Games and was named all-American several years. In 2009, he was awarded the USA Volleyball All-Time Great Male Player Award.
In 1956, Kuhn graduated from Northwestern with a degree in Civil Engineering. After finishing up his successful collegiate swimming career, Kuhn became active in his community serving on the Hammond, Ind., School Board, the Indiana State School Board and the Hammond Sanitary District. He was also a member of the Hammond Jaycees, Kiwanis, and Optimist Club. Kuhn, an Eagle Scout, was also extremely involved in scouting.
Al is survived by his brother Paul A. (Sherry) Kuhn of Lake Tomahawk, Wis.; children, Alfred John (Christa) Kuhn Jr. of Huntsville, Thomas E. (Kelly) Kuhn of Hammond, Ind., Patricia Anne (Marcus) Maier of Forrest, Ill., and Dave (Bekki) Kuhn of Colon, Mich.; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; two nieces and three nephews.
Information from Alfred Kuhn’s Jan. 25, 2012 The Huntsville Times obituary was used in this In Memoriam.
ALBERT "OLLIE" ADELMAN
Albert "Ollie" Adelman, a 1998 inductee into Northwestern's Athletic Hall of Fame and a superb athlete in both football and tennis at Northwestern, passed away on Jan. 13, 2012. Adelman, 96, lived at his home designed by the renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright in Fox Point, Wis.
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On the field, Adelman was a gritty halfback. In 1935, he played his part in a Wildcat victory over Notre Dame, the first since 1901. A week later, he scored three touchdowns in a decisive victory against Wisconsin. Adelman was a key contributor to the backfield in 1936, fighting to win the first outright conference title in school history. Adelman earned All-America honors at halfback.
On the tennis court, Adelman shone just as brightly. In 1936, Adelman was a conference champion at No. 6 singles. His performance helped the Wildcats to a 10-3 record that year and a second-place finish in the conference.
Following his unforgettable career at Northwestern, Adelman rivaled his athletic career with an equally successful business endeavor. Adelman turned down a contract with the Chicago Cardinals of the NFL and returned to Milwaukee to help his father run a cleaning business he had started. He soon became president of Adelman Laundry and Dry Cleaners, which had many locations in the Milwaukee area.
Adelman was extremely active in the Jewish community and served as the Wisconsin chairman of State of Israel Bonds. He was national chairman of the United Jewish Appeal and president of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation. He was also one of 12 original members of the Board of Governors of the Global Jewish Agency in Israel. Adelman was a devoted husband to his late wife, Edie, and is survived by three sons: Lynn, Craig and Gary, as well as three grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Information from Albert "Ollie" Adelman's Jan. 14, 2012, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel obituary and the Jan. 14, 2012, The Journal Times (Racine) obituary was used in this In Memoriam.
FRANK ASCHENBRENNER
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Frank Aschenbrenner, a key player who scored the first touchdown in Northwestern's 1949 Rose Bowl championship, died January 30, 2012, after a bout with cancer. Aschenbrenner, 86, lived in Arizona with his wife, Charleyne.
Early in the 1949 Rose Bowl, Aschenbrenner took a handoff and scampered 73 yards to the end zone, setting a Rose Bowl record that stood for 44 years as the longest run from scrimmage. "He was a real leader and an unbelievably good football player," said Gaspar Perricone, a Northwestern teammate. "He was named the most valuable player for the game."
Aschenbrenner was born in Germany. He came to the United States with his parents when he was 3 and grew up in Milwaukee. He began college at Marquette University in Milwaukee and played football there but left school after a year to train as a Navy pilot during World War II. He was stationed at Naval Station Great Lakes on the North Shore, and he played on football teams that competed against other service or college teams for troop entertainment, his wife said.
After the war, Aschenbrenner resumed his studies and continued playing football at Northwestern. After graduating in 1949 with a degree in business administration, he continued to play football for a few years, first with the Chicago Hornets of the All-America Football Conference and then with the Montreal Alouettes in Canada, his wife said.
He eventually left football to work in Chicago. A job transfer took him to California, where he later opened a packaging business before moving to Arizona.
Mr. Aschenbrenner also is survived by a daughter, Pam Aguilu; sons Rob Duncan, Paul Trompeter and P.J. Trompeter III; seven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Information from Frank Aschenbrenner's Feb. 6, 2012, Chicago Tribune obituary was used in this In Memoriam.
CHARLOTTE REMENYIK
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Charlotte Remenyik, the woman credited with revitalizing the Northwestern fencing program in the mid-1970's, passed away on December 21, 2011.
Remenyik took the reins in 1976 and led the Wildcats to a spotless 9-0 record and a Big Ten title in her first year. The next year produced similar results with a 6-2 overall mark and a second straight Big Ten title. Following the 1977-78 campaign, Laurie Schiller took over head coaching duties and has been at the helm ever since.
Remenyik's contributions to Northwestern fencing are recognized every October when the 'Cats host the Remenyik Open which attracts top competition from around the country for an exciting weekend.
ANDY CVERCKO
Andrew Cvercko, a three-year starter for the football team on both the offensive and defensive lines and a member of Northwestern's Athletic Hall of Fame, died Dec. 3, 2010, in Rolling Meadows, Ill.
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Cvercko earned All-America and Academic All-America honors in 1958, the first Wildcat to accomplish that feat. He was on the Academic All-Big Ten team in 1957 and 1958, and in 1959, won the Big Ten Medal of Honor and participated in the College All-Star game. Cvercko played his entire NU career for head coach Ara Parseghian, going 5-4 in Cvercko's senior season of 1958 with wins over then-No. 19 Michigan (55-24) and then-No. 5 Ohio State (21-0).
After graduation, Cvercko was drafted in the fifth round of the 1959 NFL Draft, going on to play for the Green Bay Packers (1960), the Dallas Cowboys (1961-62), the Cleveland Browns (1963) and the Washington Redskins (1963).
Cvercko was inducted into the Northwestern Athletic Hall of Fame in 2000 alongside his brother, Jack, who played primarily as a guard in 1960, 1962-63.
GEORGE M. STEINBRENNER
George Steinbrenner, longtime principal owner and managing partner of the New York Yankees and former Northwestern football assistant coach, died July 13, 2010. Steinbrenner spent one year with the Wildcats in 1955 under head coach Lou Saban, serving as end coach. He joined Northwestern after a stint coaching football and basketball at Aquinas High School in Columbus, Ohio.
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Steinbrenner became the Yankees owner on Jan. 3, 1973 when he and minority partner Michael Burke led a group of investors in purchasing the franchise from CBS. During Steinbrenner's 37-year ownership from 1973 to his death in July 2010, the longest in club history, the Yankees earned 7 World Series titles and 11 pennants. He retired from his primary functions with the team beginning in 2006, leaving day-to-day operations to his sons Hank and Hal Steinbrenner.
The Rocky River, Ohio, native attended Culver Military Academy in Indiana before earning a bachelor's degree from Williams College in Massachusetts. He then joined the United States Air Force and did some postgraduate work at Ohio State prior to his season spent in Evanston.
ROLAND "ORT" ORTMAYER
Former member of the Northwestern football team Roland "Ort" Ortmayer, 91, died Oct. 9, 2008. Ortmayer was a member of the 1938 Wildcat gridiron squad under legendary head coach Lynn "Pappy" Waldorf before going on to a long and respected career as a faculty member and 43-year head coach of the football program at the University of La Verne in La Verne, Calif.
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Ortmayer, who was appointed head football and baseball coach in 1948 at what was then La Verne College, grew to become an iconic figure at the school by the time he retired in 1991. While he also managed the basketball and track & field programs and served as athletic director during his tenure, he was most recognized for coaching football, finishing his career with a 182-193-8 record and earning induction into the NAIA Hall of Fame in 1979. In September 1989 he was the subject of a feature article in Sports Illustrated'sCollege Football Preview issue. Written by Douglas S. Looney, "A Most Unusual Man" focused on Ortmayer's influence on the lives of those around him. To simply label him as a coach, Looney wrote, "Is like praising Picasso for knowing the primary colors."
Roland Ortmayer is preceded in death by his wife, Corni, and son, David, who died in 1953 at the age of 6. He is survived by a sister, Marillee Franke of Madison (Wis.), two daughters, Suzi Bowles of Belgrade (Mont.) and Corlan Harrison of Upland, along with four grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
CLARENCE DAVID HINTON
Dr. Clarence Hinton, 91, a halfback for the football Wildcats from 1935-37 -- including the 1936 Big Ten Championship team -- and the nation's oldest, board-certified, African-American Otolaryngologist, died Sept. 23, 2008, in Silver Spring, Md.
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Upon graduating from Peoria Central High School with an "A" average and membership in the National Honor Society, Hinton was granted an academic scholarship to Northwestern, where he received his B.S. degree in 1938. While at Northwestern, he also became a member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity and served as Polemarch of the chapter. Hinton went on to earn an M.D. degree from Howard in 1942 before serving in the U.S. Army from 1943-46.
Dr. Hinton served as Chairman of the Division of Otolaryngology -- Head and Neck Surgery -- at Howard University Hospital from 1963-1979 and became the first of his race to serve as Chairman of the Section on Otolaryngology of the D.C. Medical Society from 1978-1980. Dr. Hinton had a great appreciation for classical music that dated back to his pre-teenage years when he studied violin. He continued to play the violin every day for his own enjoyment and relaxation until just before his death.
Dr. Hinton is survived by his three children, ViCurtis Audrey Hinton, Diane Hinton Perry (Phillip Craig Perry), and Clarence David Hinton, Jr.; two grandchildren, Phillip Craig Perry, Jr., and Tiffany Diane Hinton; his sister, Louise Hinton Long, who moved to Silver Spring last May to live with her "baby brother"; his godson and nephew, Michael Gray; his son's companion, Linda Johnson; scores of cousins; and a host of friends.
JOSEPH F. BALES
Former Northwestern All-American wrestler Joei Bales, 41, passed away Thursday, Oct. 2, 2008, at Joliet Area Community Hospice Home. Bales was a four-year letterwinner for the Wildcats, earning All-America honors in 1988 in the 134 lbs. division. Bales still ranks fifth in career victories at Northwestern with 115; his 35 wins in 1987 remains tied for the 10th most in a single season in program history.
Bales is survived by his three daughters, Alicia "Allie", Emma and Nikkola Bales of Joliet; his mother, Jeanine Paul (nee Fox) of Sun City, Ariz.; two brothers, James (Eileen) Bales of Naperville and Gerald "Jeep" Bales of Peoria, Ariz.; his aunts and uncles, Larry and Nancy Fox, Pat and Sam Parker, Bob and Colleen Fox; cousins, Cindy and Debbie Fox, Tracy Novak, Eric and Lindsey Parker, Erin Cimino and Kelly Fox; his grandmother, Frances Bales of Joliet; a very special friend, Michelle Baker and her daughters, Britney and Tristen; also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
Bales was preceded in death by his father, Gerald Bales; grandparents, James and Josephine Fox and Ferris Bales.
Bales was a graduate of Joliet Central High School class of 1985 and Northwestern University class of 1989. Joei was a member of the 1985 Illinois state champion wrestling team and was an Illinois state wrestling champion. He was a former Lieutenant with the City of Joliet Fire Department and was also a master plumber.
DONALD H. AMIDEI
Former Northwestern track coach Don Amidei, 82, passed away Thursday, July 17, 2008. Amidei served as the Wildcats' head men's track and cross country coach for 13 seasons from 1969-82. A well-respected distance coach, Amidei mentored seven track All-Americans during his time with the Wildcats. Prior to coaching at NU, Amidei was the head coach at St. George High School in Evanston and DePaul. He also was an assistant coach at Loyola. Amidei graduated from DePaul in 1949, and is a member of the school's Athletic Hall of Fame, finishing as the NCAA's runner-up in the middleweight boxing division in 1949. For complete obituary information, click here.
JOHN PONT
John Pont, former head football coach and director of athletics at Northwestern University, passed away July 1, 2008 at the age of 80.
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The former long-time college coach and administrator, who owns the distinction as the only coach in Indiana University history to lead the Hoosiers to a Rose Bowl and the last to lead them to a Big Ten title, was NU's head football coach from 1973 through 1977. His best season came in 1973 when he guided Northwestern to a 4-7 overall record and a 4-4 mark in Big Ten action.
In 1975, he was named Northwestern's director of athletics, and served as both football coach and AD for three seasons. After the 1977 football campaign, he gave up his coaching duties to focus solely on his AD responsibilities. Pont held the AD title until the fall of 1980.
Pont was a star football player at Miami (Ohio) University and became Miami's head coach at the age of 27. Considered one of the pillars among Miami's Cradle of Coaches, Pont coached at four Division I institutions: Miami (1956-62), Yale (1963-64), Indiana (1965-72) and then Northwestern (1973-77).
Visitation will be on Sunday, July 6 from 3 to 6 p.m. in Oxford, Ohio, at the Smith and Ogle Funeral Home (5086 College Corner Pike). A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Oxford on Monday at 10 a.m. Burial will be in the Miami University section of the Oxford Cemetary. The public is invited to attend all of the observances.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the McCullough-Hyde Oncology Department (Oxford), The John Pont Scholarship Fund at Miami University, The John Pont Scholarship Fund at Indiana University, and the Athletic Department at the College of Mount Saint Joseph.
For a complete obituary on Pont's life, visit Miami University's web site.
CHARLES 'DOC' GLASS
Charles ‘Doc’ Glass, a beloved Northwestern athletic recruiter, passed away at his home in Evanston at age 76 on Oct. 5, 1990.
Glass was a recruiter and counselor for young African-American student athletes at Northwestern. Glass served as a father figure for the African-American student athletes at a time when there were few minority students. He began his work for Northwestern in 1957 when he saw that an African-American sprinter had no one to congratulate him after winning a Big Ten track championship.
Glass also worked as a custodian at the Evanston City Hall for 30 years. He is survived by his wife Helen; a son, Charles; three daughters, Dorothy Hutchison, Charlene Emmons and Helen Fulce; and four grandchildren.
Information from the 'Doc' Glass' Chicago Sun Times obituary was used in this In Memoriam.
