TO:  ESU Campus Community
FROM: President Marcia G. Welsh, Ph.D.
RE:  Passing of Jack Gregory '52

The ESU campus mourns the loss of John C. "Jack" Gregory '52, former football coach and former member of the University Foundation Board, who left us on Thursday, December 4, 2014.

Coach Gregory guided the Warriors' football team to a record of 49-11-2 from 1959-65, culminating with two Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) championship teams in 1964 and 1965. He was inducted to the ESU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1983, and the 1964 and 1965 teams were inducted in October 2012. The Warriors had an 18-1 record in his final two years, including an undefeated (10-0) record in 1965. He also coached his team to the PSAC East championship in 1962, falling in the State Game at Slippery Rock, which was captained by current Warriors head coach Denny Douds.

Coach Gregory's many contributions to ESU were commemorated on October 30, 2010 with the announcement of "Gregory-Douds Field at Eiler-Martin Stadium", with two of ESU's legendary coaches (Gregory and Douds) added alongside coaching pioneers John Eiler and Gene Martin.

A 1952 graduate of East Stroudsburg State Teachers College with a bachelor's degree in physical education, Coach Gregory left his alma mater for an assistant coaching position at the U.S. Naval Academy in 1966. He was head football coach at Villanova (1967-69) and Rhode Island (1970-75) before serving in collegiate athletics administration as assistant Athletic Director at Yale (1978-82) and Athletic Director at Bowling Green (1982-94). He also served as a scout for the Green Bay Packers in the NFL during his coaching career.

Jack was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret A. "Peg" Gregory, on March 3, 2013. He is survived by two sons, John C. Gregory Jr. and his wife Marlou, of Phoenixville, Pa.; and Bruce L. Gregory and his wife Tracy, of Houston, Tx.; and two grandchildren, Megan and Brian.

Visitation will take place Thursday, December 11, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Maris Grove Retirement Community Chapel (http://www.ericksonliving.com/maris-grove/about-us/driving-directions)  in Glen Mills, Pa. Funeral services will be held Friday, December 12 at 10 a.m. at St. Cornelius Catholic Church (http://www.saintcornelius.org/) in Chadds Ford, Pa. Contributions may be made to: Peg and Jack Gregory Scholarship Fund c/o East Stroudsburg University Foundation, East Stroudsburg.
 
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Gregory family during this difficult time.  Jack will be missed.