DERRY — It was a fitting tribute to a man who meant so much to Pinkerton Academy.
Last Thursday family, friends, former students and coworkers gathered at the Stockbridge Theatre to celebrate the life of Ralph Van Nostrand, a longtime Pinkerton career education counselor and coach.
Van Nostrand, 60, lost his battle with melanoma on Jan. 21.
He was remembered by the Pinkerton community as a man of great humor, dedication, family values, and commitment to his students and friends.
Van Nostrand, known as "Coach Van," also coached numerous teams while working at Pinkerton during his 37-year career.
The theater was filled with many of those teams, sitting together to honor their coach, wearing uniforms and showing solidarity and affection.
"Ralph was a great guy," Pinkerton athletic director Tim Powers said. "One can look at the records he amassed as a coach and the years he coached — 20-plus in boys volleyball with nine titles and seven runner-ups, 25-plus in baseball, 15-plus in boys basketball, and a year in football. But the difference he made in the lives of the athletes that he coached is what I will remember him for."
Powers said Van Nostrand was a positive role model for all his players, showing great passion for whatever sport he was involved in and also for the athletes.
"He wanted to see them succeed in their sport and also in life," Powers said.
Many agreed with that sentiment.
"He truly was a great man, a wonderful father, loving husband, and had so much impact on so many people," Dean of Students Glenn Ahrens said of his friend.
For Ahrens, knowing Van Nostrand was not only a friendship at Pinkerton, but also a foundation for many years of fishing trips and times spent together outside of school, too.
Ahrens, along with Pinkerton's Career and Technical Education director Jack Grube, shared memories of their friend "Ralphie" from some of those trips, where a dozen or so friends would take to the road for fishing trips to Canada and beyond.
"Ralph was the first friend I made at Pinkerton Academy 35 years ago," Grube said.
He said Van Nostrand held firm to a strong work ethic. He expected hard work from his students and the athletes he coached, but always maintained a good sense of humor and was very loyal to family and friends.
During his tenure at Pinkerton, Van Nostrand founded the boys volleyball team, guiding them to many state championships and establishing it as a varsity sport in the state.
He also coached boys junior varsity basketball, junior varsity baseball, and volunteered with Derry's Little League and American Legion baseball teams.
He was the voice of Pinkerton football games for many years and ran the clocks during the winter at ice hockey and basketball games, always showing up with a smile, friends said.
English teacher Doreen Hutchins, a cancer survivor, said Van Nostrand always asked her how she was feeling.
"I didn't even know he was sick," Hutchins said. "It would have been nice to show him the same compassion and kindness he showed me."
Retired Dean of Students Charles Varney said Van Nostrand cared a lot about the Pinkerton community. "Ralph was a wonderful person who cared about kids and loved sports and was involved with the school in so many ways," Varney said. "He was always smiling with a positive upbeat attitude, encouraging students and staff alike to look for the best. I am sure he is going to be deeply missed by everyone. I feel his passing is a great loss to the Pinkerton community."
• • •
Join the discussion. To comment on stories and see what others are saying, log on to derrynews.com.
