John C. Altersitz

rnCactus High School in Glendale, Ariz. did not have a soccer program before Jack Altersitz arrived, and what he leaves behind today stands in legacy of his knowledge, devotion and persistence. When he retired after more than 20 years of coaching, Jack had a winning percentage of .800 and many players had gone on to play collegiate level soccer. In fact, two of his six Arizona state soccer championships were won against teams coached by his former players. As he used to say, “I taught them everything they know, just not everything I know.” He was National Region 8 Coach of the Year twice, inducted into the Arizona Coaches Hall of Fame and recognized here at home with his induction into the West Deptford High School Hall of Fame.rn rnOutside of soccer, Jack was a man ever on the move, always setting and achieving lofty goals. In his life, he traveled to all 50 states and saw all seven continents. He ran with the bulls in Pamplona, coached a soccer team in Australia, climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak, just 2 years ago and went to Antarctica this past year.rnrnIt is important to note that, for all of his accomplishments, nothing trumped what Jack knew to be most important: family. As the middle child of five siblings, he returned to Ocean City, NJ, every summer for his son, Jacob, to be close to his aunts, uncles and cousins. He kept relationships strong even when others in the family did not. He was a surrogate father to his nieces and nephews. He took his son, nieces and nephew on cross-country trips every summer for many years and he recently hiked the Grand Canyon with another nephew. When his sister, Lucy, became ill, he put his life on hold to care for her. For many years, his Uncle Richard could depend on Jack to help open and maintain his 150-year-old cabin in the woods. rnrnJack is survived by his son, a sister, Jean Taylor, and two brothers, Larry and Russell. He is also survived by his friend and companion, Joanna Forest. He is predeceased by his sister, Lucy Oldt-Rapp.rnCome celebrate 58 adventuresome years on Sunday, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Daley Life Celebration Studio in Swedesboro, with a private family service to follow. Log on and tell us a great story about Jack at lifecelebrationstudio.com. In lieu of flowers, the family requests blood donations in Jack’s name.rn – See more at: https://sweeneyfamilyroom.com/john-c-altersitz/#sthash.SbVFSWuZ.dpuf