Saint Francis Head Men’s Golf Coach Bob Hahn Passes Away at Age 72
LORETTO, Pa. (Mar. 6, 2007) – Saint Francis University and its surrounding community are deeply saddened after learning that long-time head men’s golf coach Robert “Bob” M. Hahn suddenly passed away at the age of 72 at his home on Monday evening in nearby Ebensburg.
Hahn, who was the 2005-06 Northeast Conference Men’s Golf Coach-of-the-Year, was hired by former University President Father Vincent Negherbon, T.O.R. in the spring of 1970 as head men’s golf coach and Golf Pro at the Immergrun Golf Club. He was in his 37th year with the University.
“Bob Hahn has been an integral part of the Saint Francis University community for many years,” said Saint Francis University President Father Gabriel Zeis, T.O.R. “His work with our golf team has produced not only some fantastic professional and amateur golfers, but has taught the art of this sport to many who have enjoyed it because he showed them how to value the game. Bob was an enthusiastic supporter of the athletic programs of Saint Francis University, but he was also enthusiastic about its values and its vision. He lived its mission in his dealings with everyone. He was a gentleman, a great teacher and coach, and an inspirational member of the Saint Francis University community. He will be greatly missed, and his memory will be etched in our hearts forever.”
Well respected among his peers, Hahn was inducted into the Saint Francis University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2001 in recognition of his contributions and dedication to the Red Flash athletics program.
“Saint Francis has lost a legend, but his impact will forever be with us,” said Saint Francis Director of Athletics Bob Krimmel. “Bob Hahn epitomized the spirit of our athletic program and made a lasting impression on all of us. I will miss his sense of humor, guidance and the passion he displayed every day for our students and this University.”
Hahn came to Saint Francis University from the Blairmont Country Club in Hollidaysburg, and was hired to rebuild the Loretto course, and to make it a source of pride. One of his proudest moments came last season when he led the Red Flash men’s golf team to its first-ever Northeast Conference golf title. Under Hahn’s tutelage, Steve Foisy led the way by winning the individual title.
“Being second in line to Bob Hahn in seniority in the athletics department at Saint Francis, I would frequently joke with him that I was right behind him,” said Saint Francis Director of Sports Medicine Terry Bennett, ATC. “He would always assure me that he was never leaving here. I believe his spirit never will leave us, and we are blessed for that. One of my fondest memories of Bob was when I had the opportunity to take Bob, his wife Ann, and Father Vince (Negherbon) to the Blair County Hall of Fame Dinner last summer in Altoona. He sat in the back seat and demanded that I drive very carefully due to having over 125 years of Saint Francis experience in the car. Between Father Vince, Bob Hahn and myself, we had a total of 126 years of service to Saint Francis. Wherever I travel with the Saint Francis athletics teams, I always run into former Saint Francis student-athletes. Most of them ask how coach Hahn is doing, and they always ask to tell him ‘hello.’ I have always been amazed as to how many people knew Bob and had so many fond memories of him. I am sure his spirit will live through not only his family and friends, but through the many people he has touched while associated with Saint Francis.”
Hahn’s interest in Red Flash athletics extended far beyond the golf program. He was a very active member of the Stokes Club, the University’s booster organization for intercollegiate athletics, which has been providing financial support to all Saint Francis programs since 1972. It was through Hahn’s efforts that the Stokes Club was able to play the Maurice Stokes Memorial Golf Tournament at the Oakmont Country Club and Arnold Palmer’s Latrobe Country Club in the 1980s. This tournament, which Hahn has coordinated for the past 25 years, remains one of the Stokes Club’s primary fundraising ventures.
“Bob Hahn’s impact on Saint Francis reached far beyond the golf course and well beyond his front row seat at basketball games,” said former Saint Francis University President, Father Christian Oravec, T.O.R. “A man of good humor and common sense, he was intensely loyal to the University and to all of our students, staff and alumni. He will always remain in our hearts and in our prayers.”
During his tenure, Hahn helped groom the games of Alan Rosensteel, a 1977 graduate who played in the 1983 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club; Paul Dumm, a 1984 graduate who carded a perfect 36-0 record in dual match competition during his four-year career; Caroline O’Connor, who currently serves as the head women’s golf coach at Stanford University; former Red Flash women’s golf coach Tom Crist, a two-time NEC Champion; 2003 NEC individual champion and current Canadian PGA Tour player Eric Couture; Foisy, last year’s NEC individual champion and NEC Men’s Golfer-of-the-Year; and Nick Wheeler, a current Red Flash player who carded a remarkable 13-under-par 59 at Forest City National, in London, Ontario, Canada, last June, setting the course record.
“Coach Hahn has meant a great deal to myself and to our team,” said Wheeler, who is a senior on this year’s team. “He always joked around about how he couldn’t believe that it took five Canadians to win a conference championship after all these years. His sense of humor was contagious. We talked just yesterday, and the last thing he said to me was that ‘You’ve got to start getting the guys ready for conference championships.’ That’s what he would want us to do, and we’re going to give it our best to bring him another championship this year.”
“Bob Hahn was a kind and tender guy,” said Father Vince Negherbon, T.O.R. “He could spot kindness before a guy picked up a club. He could not predict a player’s score, but he could come close. In a few minutes of conversation, he could tell you what the player’s score was going to be – and in many cases he was correct or close. To all, Bob Hahn managed to present a picture of greatness.”
Hahn, who was born on Oct. 10, 1934, in nearby Johnstown, began his golf career at the Sunnehanna Country Club. He is survived by his wife, the former Ann Zadell; his daughter Pamela Ley and husband Brian; daughter Amy Kirsch and husband Jesse; and daughter Krista Jones and husband Darrell. Bob and Ann Hahn’s three daughters have all earned degrees from Saint Francis University. Bob Hahn is also survived by three grandchildren: Charlotte, Owen and Oliver