Peter Kohn
Peter Kohn was a longtime field manager at Middlebury College, Middlebury, Vermont.[1] He worked with the Men's Varsity Lacrosse Team for over 50 years.[2]
In 2004, Kohn was inducted into the Lacrosse Hall of Fame. He is one of the few people who did not play the sport to have been inducted into the Hall of Fame.[3]
In 2005, a movie was created about Kohn, called Keeper of the Kohn.[4]
In his later years, Kohn spent his winters in Florida, returning to Middlebury each spring to work with the lacrosse team.[5]
At age 77, Peter Kohn died at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia, PA. Kohn was unable to recover from a heart attack, which occurred while on a fishing trip near his home in Cape May, N.J., on August 1, 2009.[5]
Early life
Kohn was born in Baltimore, Maryland to Bernard Kohn, whose family owned the Hochschild Kohn's department store chain.[3] As a boy, Kohn struggled athletically and academically due to undiagnosed autism.[6]
Professional career
In 1954, Kohn began as a field manager at Baltimore's Park School. He moved to Middlebury becoming the manager of the men's lacrosse team from 1981-1988. He was also the equipment manager until 2003.[7]
Legacy
Peter was always determined and led by example. Even through a rainy day, Peter always gave it his all. Peter would walk up and down the sideline offering water, dry towels and items from his canvas tote bag. He would crawl through bushes and under bleachers to retrieve lost lacrosse balls. And occasionally, Peter would even lead the team stretch, counting in all sorts of languages from “German” to “Alien”.[8]
Before a game, Peter would rehearse his pregame speech in his hotel room. Before every game, a team member would ask him, “Hey Pete what time is it,” and Peter would respond with: “It’s time to beat (team in competition that day)."[9]
Peter Kohn Award
Every year an award is given to a member of the national lacrosse community who best represents the idea that “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13).[10]
Award Recipients[10]
1998 – Peter Kohn
1999 – Hank Janczyk
2000 – Buddy Beardmore
2001 – Jim Darcangelo
2002 – Susan Powell
2003 – Bob Scott
2004 – Jerry Schmidt
2005 – Richie Moran
2006 – Jim Grube
2007 – Ed Britton
2008 – Dave Urick
2009 – Richie Meade
2010 – Brad Corrigan
References
- ^ "Keeper of the Kohn - Middlebury College Athletics". athletics.middlebury.edu. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
- ^ "Longtime Middlebury Lacrosse Field Manager Peter Kohn Passes Away". Inside Lacrosse. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
- ^ a b Kelley, Jacques (August 10, 2009). "Peter Kohn Part Of The Hochschild Kohn Family, He Found His Niche In The World Of Lacrosse, Other Sports At Middlebury College". Baltimore Sun-Times. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
- ^ "Keeper-of-the-Kohn - Cast, Crew, Director and Awards - NYTimes.com". www.nytimes.com. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
- ^ a b "Give it Your All - A Tribute to Peter Kohn". Lacrosse Allstars. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
- ^ "Peter Kohn". tribunedigital-baltimoresun. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
- ^ "Peter Kohn Passes Away : NCAA Lacrosse : e-Lacrosse Blogs". e-lacrosse.com. Retrieved 2015-11-09.
- ^ "Give It Your All - A Tribute to Peter Kohn - Lacrosse All Stars". Lacrosse All Stars. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
- ^ "Watch "Keeper of the Kohn" Free, Full Documentary | Snagfilms". Snagfilms. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
- ^ a b "FCA's Peter Kohn Award | Lacrosse the Nations". lacrossethenations.org. Retrieved 2015-11-10.