Mr. Jack Turner, an Ambler resident, Hall of Fame football coach, Army veteran, and former athletic director, math and physical education teacher, and star athlete at Germantown Academy in Fort Washington, passed away on Saturday, September 20 at his home. He was 88.
Mr. Turner, who was also a pitch chart coach for the Phillies, taught and coached at Germantown Academy from 1963 to 1988. He and his family created the Jack Turner ’56 Endowment Fund for qualified GA students who demonstrate “excellence in athletics”, his obituary said.
“Mr. Turner played football, baseball, basketball, and track at Germantown Academy in the 1950s. He starred on the 1952 football team that went 8-0, made all-league as a senior, and was inducted into the school’s inaugural Hall of Fame in 1995,” his obituary said.
From his Hall of Fame biography:
As a student, coach and Athletic Director at Germantown Academy, Jack Turner’s athletic career has been impressive. During his high school years, Jack played football, basketball, baseball and track. He was honored as All-Inter-ac in football his senior year, before going on to the University of Delaware, where he was a three-time letter winner in football and baseball. Jack was honored as a two-time All-American in football and an All-American in baseball and was inducted into the University of Delaware’ s Athletic Hall of Fame. He came to work at GA, where he was the Athletic Director from 1964-1986, coached varsity football and varsity baseball. As the football coach, Jack won more games than any other coach in GA’s history. One of his most notable seasons was the fall of 1973 when his team went 10-0 and was ranked #2 in the Philadelphia area. Jack played a major role in the development of the men’s athletic program at GA.
His grandfather and brother attended Germantown Academy, and all four of his children are graduates.
He was inducted into the Delaware Hall of Fame for baseball and football in 2021 and served in the Army Reserve from 1961 to 1978.
Visitation with the family is to be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18, at St. Genevieve Church, 1225 Bethlehem Pike, Flourtown, Pa. 19031. A Funeral Mass is to be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19, at St. Genevieve. A reception is to follow at the PineCrest Country Club, 101 Country Club Dr., Lansdale, Pa. 19446.
Donations in his name may be made to the Jack Turner ’56 Endowment at Germantown Academy, 340 Morris Rd., Fort Washington, Pa. 19034; and Hope Lodge, 110 W. Laurel Ave., Cheltenham, Pa. 19012.
Feature photo: Courtesy of the family via The Inquirer