John 'Jack' 'Coach' D. Hyland

John 'Jack' 'Coach' D. Hyland, 82, of 20422 Hedgerow Court, Meadville, formerly of 8890 Hyland Drive, Guys Mills, passed away Tuesday, August 6, 2013 at Wesbury United Methodist Community.

Jack was born in North Braddock, on May 1, 1931, a son of the late Thomas and Agnes (Green) Hyland.

On June 7, 1996 Jack married Mary Luciano Bloom; she survives.

He was a member of St. Brigid Roman Catholic Church, Meadville.

Jack graduated from Scott High School, North Braddock, where he lettered in football, baseball and basketball and was co-captain of the football team. While at Scott, he was the recipient of the American Legion School Award for honor, leadership, scholarship, service and courage. He was a graduate of Slippery Rock and was the starting quarterback for all four years and captain of the football team his senior year. He did graduate studies at the University of Pittsburgh, University of Indiana, Duquesne University and completed his masters degree studies at the University of Slippery Rock.

For 10 years he was a biology and physiology teacher at the Greater Ferndale School system where he also was Director of Athletics, head football and baseball coach and assistant basketball coach. While at Ferndale he supervised student teachers from PA State University, served on the organization committee for the PA Coaches Assoc. and served on the Middle States Evaluation Committee of Public Schools in PA. He then went to the Rochester School system where he taught biology and coached football and track. He was an officer in the Cambria and Beaver Counties Coaches Assoc. Jack came to Meadville in 1968 and was a biology, health and PE teacher, head football and swimming coach and assistant track coach for Crawford Central School District. From 1969-1974 he was a member of the University of Edinboro faculty, an advisor on health and PE and on the football staff. In 1970, Edinboro won the football conference, state championships, ranked 1st in the East, 3rd in the nation and won the Lambert Bowl for supremacy in the East. Jack returned to Crawford Central School District where he taught elementary PE and was head football coach from 1975-1978. While teaching at Crawford Central, he supervised student teachers from Slippery Rock and Edinboro. He also was assistant football coach at Allegheny College for three years during this period. He retired from Crawford Central School District in 1993 after 36 years of teaching and coaching in the public schools and colleges in PA.

In 1987 Jack was inducted into the Western PA Sports Hall of Fame. Throughout his career he helped many students attend sports camps and sponsored softball teams. He coached Little League and was involved in starting the Little Gridders program. He always tried to help young people develop athletic skills. He was a member of the PA State Education Assoc., PA Assoc. of School Retirees, Meadville Elks Lodge #219, and Taylor Hose.

He served on the Crawford County Juvenile Justice Advisory Board and was a committee member for the Community Athletic Project for renovation to Meadvilles Bender Field and development of the Barco-Duratz Athletic Complex. He was a member of the Invest in the Future committee for Crawford Central School District and was color commentator for WMGW broadcasts of MASH football. He enjoyed sporting events, golfing, hunting and following the Pittsburgh Steelers. He especially enjoyed time spent with his wife and best friend, Mary, family and friends.

In addition to his wife Mary of 17 years, Jack is survived by five children Cynthia Wombacker and her husband Carl of Hermitage, Thomas Hyland of Thornton, NH, Terri Coleman and her husband Dan of Meadville, Sandra Hyland of N. Woodstock, NH, Michael Hyland and his wife Pam of Lincoln, NH, two step children Nancy Eldred of Smyrna, DE, David Bloom of Meadville, fifteen grandchildren Erin, Lauren, Jaclyn, Alyson, Shannon and Jordan Wombacker, Megan Smargiasso and her husband Craig, Shane Hyland, Kara Teasdale and her husband Jess, Kelli Trenga and her husband Vince, Kristin Kightlinger, Jennifer Craven and her husband DJ, Brian Gildea and his wife Kim, Christopher and Lindsey Hyland, five step-grandchildren Jaime Rafferty and her husband Randy, Caleb and Colin Eldred, Mycaela and Tyler Bloom, four great grandchildren Santino and Blaine Trenga, Josephine Craven, Riley Teasdale, four step-great grandchildren Sarah, Nicholas and Nathan Rafferty, Thomas Eldred, two sisters Margaret Maniccia of Monroeville, Constance Nicholas of North Braddock, two sisters-in-law Jan Hyland of Hilton Head, NC, Marge Hyland of Johnstown, many nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, Jack was preceded in death by three brothers Thomas, James and Dennis Hyland.

Family and friends are invited to call on Thursday, August 8, 2013 from 2-7 at Stephen P. Mizner Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc., 404 Chestnut St., Meadville, where a Scripture Service will be conducted at 6 PM and an Elks service will be conducted at 6:30 PM.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday at 10:00 AM at St. Brigid Roman Catholic Church, 383 Arch St., Meadville.

Interment will take place in St. Brigid Cemetery, West Mead Twp.

Memorial Contributions may be made to St. Brigid Roman Catholic Church, 383 Arch St., Meadville, PA 16335.

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