Fred Marcus

My father, Fred Marcus, who originated and wrote this blog died suddenly last Friday. It followed no lengthy illness, it was peaceful, and it was sudden and without suffering.

According to Dad, he created the Pitt Sports Optimist to bring hope to a depressed Panther Nation. And honestly, he considered dropping the blog when they announced Narduzzi, because, as he put it, “I don’t have to write anything now. They do have hope.”

And he loved the program, the people in it, scheduled his last vacation around the spring game, and his last conversation with me was in part about the new coordinators. He knew about everyone affiliated with the program – recruits, coaching staff, front office staff, and equipment managers – those that are just starting here now and ones from years past. But that day, he was talking about John Peterson. Near the computer, we found a Post-It-marked Ohio State gameday magazine from 2005, along with handwritten notes about Coach Peterson’s history and achievements. If Dad could, he would be telling you all about Coach Peterson’s journey from Middleton to Pittsburgh and why this is yet another reason to believe in the program this year.

So, my mom, my brother, and I wanted to thank you all for your involvement with the blog and Twitter feed. If you read this blog, he checked the statistics daily and was glad of and inspired by every reader, each view, and was looking forward to the fall. If you followed him on Twitter, he would look at your feed and tell us how glad he was you were following him. There were stories by screen name of what you retweeted, who you followed, and what you’d favorited.

And if you were part of the program itself, we know your name and history because of him. We also know to be expecting great things from the Panthers because of you.

If you’d like to know more about him or leave a story, there is both an online guest book and obituary at: http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=Fred-Marcus&lc=2515&pid=174933260&mid=6456153&locale=en_US

Thanks again.

H2P.