Our dad, Walter Nadzak, Jr., passed away peacefully in Charleston, SC on March 18, 2022, after a heart-wrenching battle with Alzheimer’s disease. He was 86 years old. Dad was born in Ambridge, PA in 1935. His life and career took him and his family through Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut before he and his amazing wife (our mom) Shirley ultimately settled in Charleston, SC in 1985. There Dad served for 15 years as the Athletic Director at The Citadel before his retirement in 2000. Dad meaningfully influenced many lives as a successful athlete, Marine, coach, and athletic director—but was most treasured as a husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He was a model of honor and integrity. Mom and Dad celebrated 62 years of marriage before her death in 2019; he was also preceded in death by his sister Betty. He is survived by his sister Sandra and his 4 kids (Cary, Tracy, Tripper, and Jeff)—along with 7 grandkids and 5 great grandkids who lovingly called him “Dah” or “Gramcracker.”
A celebration of Dad’s life will be held at the Summerall Chapel at The Citadel on Sunday, April 24 at 1:00 pm, followed by a reception in Mark Clark Hall. To read more about our dad and how his remarkable life unfolded—or to share memories or condolences—continue below. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Stall High Lady Warriors basketball team in Dad’s honor (contribute at www.facebook.com/cary.nadzak).
---------------------------------------------------------------
More About Our Dad…
Written by his daughter, Cary
Walter Nadzak, Jr. (Dad) was kind of a big deal. Before he was even 21 years old, he was laying the groundwork for future Hall of Fame accolades. He was inducted into the Ambridge High School (PA) and Beaver County Halls of Fame after earning seven letters and winning All State honors as a senior. His prowess at Denison University (OH), where he lettered four years in football and baseball, earned him a place in their Hall of Fame. Dad was the football team captain and MVP his senior year, and a three-time first-team All-Ohio Conference selection. In baseball, he was voted MVP and was a star hitter, with a .434 batting average. Appropriately, the SoConn baseball tournament’s MVP wins the “Walt Nadzak” award.
Somewhere in the middle of all the sports stuff, at Mom’s high school graduation party nearly seventy years ago, our father and mother had their first date. Dad fell in love with Mom, and she with him. Wherever Dad was, Mom was most likely beside him. When Mom died, Dad was in the throes of Alzheimer’s disease But, oh boy did he love her. He told his doctor he had lost his best player and that his life would never be the same.
Walt Nadzak was kind of a big deal. After graduating from Denison, he served as a commissioned Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was honorably discharged from active duty as a 1st Lieutenant before serving as a Captain in the Reserves. Dad was stationed in Okinawa and Mom couldn’t accept that she wouldn’t see him for fourteen months. She said others sang of the beautiful sites of San Diego, their home base, but her most beautiful sight was seeing Dad standing on the dock of the returning ship.
Walt Nadzak was kind of a big deal. Keeping an eye on his coaching dreams, he continued his education attending night school at Xavier University where he earned his Master’s Degree. He also played minor league football with the Columbus Colts. His desire to coach led him to stints at Sylvania, Chillicothe, and Utica high schools in Ohio. Then he threw his hat into the college football arena when he accepted a coaching position at Muskingum College (OH). Our father was not always even-tempered if he disagreed with a referee or umpire. One of his most notorious stories during his time with the Muskies was when the entire dugout followed Dad to the diamond to back him up with the umpire. It did not have the intended effect. Instead, the rest of the game was played with only the nine players on the field while Dad and all players in the dugout spent the rest of the game peeking over the centerfield fence!
Walt Nadzak was kind of a big deal. Juniata College was the next step in his career. He served as athletic director and head football coach, compiling a 45-26-3 record, earning a bid to the first NCAA Division III National Championship in 1973, and leaving as the winningest football coach at Juniata. It was Huntingdon, PA that the Nadzak family called home. Friendships continued long after Dad accepted a head football coaching position at the University of Connecticut. There, he captured two Yankee Conference championships and beat Yale!
After leaving the coaching profession for two years, Dad knew he must return to the sports world. In 1985 he did just that and became the athletic director at The Citadel. His accomplishments there won him yet another invitation to become a hall-of-famer as an honorary member of The Citadel’s Hall of Fame.
Walt Nadzak was kind of a big deal. During his tenure at The Citadel, Dad oversaw tremendous growth and success in the Department of Athletics. In 1992, the football team won the Southern Conference championship, advanced to the NCAA I-AA playoffs, and finished the season in a tie for the No. 1 spot in the national polls. The baseball team advanced to the 1990 College World Series, won five Southern Conference Tournament crowns and four regular-season titles. Dad is credited for bringing the SoCon Baseball Tournament to Charleston where it became a successful fixture for 19 years. Dad led the department in the aftermath of Hurricane Hugo and guided the department when it added women’s athletics. He laid the groundwork for the creation of the Altman Athletic Center, the future of Johnson Hagood Stadium, the renovation of McAlister Field House in 1989 and the Earle Tennis Center in 1990. Dad represented The Citadel’s interests in the creation of Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park in 1997. Under his leadership, The Citadel captured the SoCon Graduation Rate Award three times.
Walt Nadzak was kind of a big deal. Dad had the opportunity to meet many “famous people”. Among them were Neil Armstrong, President Ford, President Reagan, and Jack Hanna. He coached Jack Hanna, who always had weird animals at the fraternity house at Muskingum College! Dad used to tell us famous people were just like us but with a different job.
Walt Nadzak was kind of a big deal. Where he really excelled was as a husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. You can Google Walt Nadzak and discover all of his successes in the athletic arena. What you can’t Google is how much he loved his family. You can’t Google the extent of his integrity, loyalty, or how he is respected by so many. You can’t Google how he protected us and made us feel safe. What you can’t Google is the influence he had on so many people.
Sometimes God has a plan that does not align with ours. God’s plan for Dad to struggle with Alzheimer’s disease was not in our plan. Our plan was for Dad to slide into retirement and share stories of the good ‘ole days. Our plan was for Dad, hand in hand with Mom, to play golf and stroll along the beach. During the last few years we’ve asked God why, instead of resting on his laurels, Dad was living in memory care where he gradually forgot many of the cherished moments and accomplishments he earned. We asked God how he could be so cruel? But God quietly pressed on with the plan He had for our father. In Dad’s last days many of his fellow memory care residents stopped by his room for an update. They peppered the room with “he is a gentle soul”, “he never said an unkind word”, and “he’s everyone’s favorite”. One of the residents, wheelchair bound and still mourning the recent death of his son, came looking for Dad, taking a break from his own grief to try and relieve ours. After wishing Dad a speedy recovery, as he left the room, he looked back and said, “Your father may not have coached me, but it seems like ever since he’s been here, he has coached everyone.” That my friends, was God’s plan.
Walt Nadzak was not just kind of a big deal, he was a big deal. He was the real deal and we loved him.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.17