Edward W. Szucs, Sr.

(Sept. 26, 1925 - Feb. 4, 2000)

Edward W. Szucs, Sr., 74, of South Bend, Ind., died peacefully on Friday, Feb. 4, at Holy Cross Care and Rehabilitation Center following a long illness. He was born on Sept. 26, 1925, to the late Geza and Anna Szucs in South Bend, and was a lifelong resident.

On Sept. 18, 1948, he married Marie Van Wassenhove who survives along with two sons, Edward, Jr. (Jene') and James (Laurie); and five grandchildren, Peter, Michael, Scott, Jimmy and Michelle. Also surviving are a sister, Anne Aranowski; two brothers, Joseph (Evelyn) and John (Irene); and numerous nieces and nephews.

Ed was a 1945 graduate of Washington High School where he played football. He was named 1945 Most Valuable Lineman and later became a member of the Washington High School Hall of Fame. He attended Purdue University and graduated in 1948 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He received his Masters of Science degree in Education in 1956 from Indiana University.

Ed was a lifelong teacher and coach. He taught at Linden School from 1948 to 1951, then went on to teach and coach football and wrestling at Central High School from 1951 to 1966. He became Athletic Director at John Adams High School in 1966 and served in that position until his retirement in 1985. In addition to his coaching, Ed also served as a high school wrestling official for many years. He was also one of the founding fathers to the Summer Driver Education Program for the South Bend Community School Corp.

In 1973 to 1974, he served as president of the Indiana High School Athletic Directors Association. He was named the Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association Athletic Director of the Year for 1981 to 1982, and the National High School Athletic Coaches Association District 4, Athletic Director of the year in 1983.

Ed was inducted into the Indiana High School Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1985. He was the recipient of the Russ Oliver Memorial Award in 1986 and the Sam Wegner Memorial Award in 1994.

Family and friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday at the Welsheimer Funeral Home North, 17033 Cleveland Road, South Bend, where a Rosary will be recited at 3:30 p.m.. Funeral services will be held at St. Anthony de Padua Church, 2310 E. Jefferson Blvd., at 10 a.m. on Wednesday. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, the National Diabetes Foundation, or to the American Cancer Association.

South Bend Tribune, Death Notices; February 6, 2000

Sources: Ancestry.com and FindAGrave.com

03/23/2024 EJS