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Jean Pederson (Curry) (1966)
.jpg) Perkins's photo.
Keith Perkins with John Hansen.
11 hrs · Sitka, AK ·
"Just try to be the best you can be; never cease trying to be the best you can be. That's in your power." ~~ John Wooden
"Well, if you are true to yourself, you will be true to others." ~~ John Wooden
"The most important thing in the world is Family and Love." ~~ John Wooden
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The profession of a coach, a good coach, is that he is a teacher of life, through the profession of coaching. Through his or her lessons in coaching - generations of student-athletes may not see those lessons until later in life, from his/her individual charges who they coached. The even stronger measurement in those athletes is how much they respect and love their coach when they are adults and understand the lessons he or she was using to instill good and positive qualities and traits in that student-athlete.
"Itchy"........that brings so many memories to me about this larger than life character who was such a good, fun, close, crazy, happy, laughing, smiling friend of my dad's. I knew Mr. Hansen as "Itchy" when I was little, such was the length of friendship he and my dad enjoyed. I got to know him as "Coach" from back in the day, as I grew up and also as my Vice Principal in the hallways of Sitka High School. I cannot think of any generation of high school basketball players from around SE Alaska, above me, where Coach "Itchy" Hansen's name didn't come up when we started reflecting on coaches we respected, and we had fun with.
I didn't have him as a coach for my high school years. By that time, he was enjoying the world of "retirement" from coaching after decades of being at the helm. I DID have him for a couple of weeks, during Christmas break, coaching our practices. I think I was probably in the best shape of my life after two weeks with him, learned a lot, and dang it was fun. And who could forget "the Spock" grip he had while he was smiling with you. And I will NEVER forget the experience of him and Turtle Davis coaching us in Babe Ruth All Stars. Thaaaaat only brings fun, funny memories back.
It is the enduring friendship aspect of Mr. Hansen that I truly appreciated in him, for me and my sons, for Gary, for my Dad, but truly, it was always amazing to me how he worked to try to keep up on and with so many of his friends even as he and his beloved, beautiful wife Pat had been wintering, of late, down south. In recent years, it was truly "summer" in Sitka when he and Pat would show up at Moller Park to raz me and other umpires in little league games, only to enjoy the laughing and fun of it all, after the games were over. And, as always, he wanted to know how me and the boys were doing - family things.
I treasure the HPR Rec gathering where we were celebrating Tammee, and the family was gathered. It was fun to see him in the element of being "Dad." So many conversations, such much smiling, so many thoughtful moments he shared with kids and grandkids. A lasting impression for me, about Coach, about "Itchy".....that husband, father, grandpa, great grandpa aspect about this larger than life character we all know. I truly appreciate that, through his close friendship with my Dad, that I was able to enjoy a good, close friendship with Mr. Hansen. It's so many moments when I think of the conversations that he and I have had over the years. He was more of an Uncle to me than a friend of my dad's or to me.
I appreciate that John and Ron let me know this morning about Mr. Hansen leaving us. But dang, did he leave an imprint on this world. And I suspect, they are both right - that reunion he has been having with Dad is nothing but LOUD laughter, smiles and hugs between friends, him slapping dad on the back and seeing what sort of mischief they can begin creating. Two characters who loved life and gave so much of themselves yet enjoyed doing and being who they were, and are, to us all.
As the family gathers to Mom, I cannot help but think that "Itchy" is wanting them to think of him and smile - he valued family and loyalty and to be the best you can be. That shows in his entire family - the kids and grandkids that he and Pat raised, and helped raise. That is truly his lasting mark on generations of family and also generations of kids that he coached - a great legacy on life. That is something I'm sure he is most proud of - how he helped his kids prepare to be the best they can be in life and for us that he coached in life - to strive to be the best we can be, to be true to oneself, and to honor the Family.
Cheers to you, Coach, for living a full life and impacting so many. To always approaching life with the kind of focus and yet fun that you brought to the table......every day. To being that husband, dad, grandpa, and great grandpa with all that you knew, and for being that "uncle" kind of man to me.
Cheers to a great man. A life lived well. Well done, "Itchy." Well done. ❤️
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