Press story for Saturday on Bernie Goldwater
By TONY GRAHAM
STAFF WRITER
Eric Salkin, who roamed centerfield for coach Bernie Goldwater's Freehold Township High School baseball teams in the mid 1970's, said he could always be certain of one thing.
""We always felt like we were more prepared when we took the field than any other team,''said Salkin.
But Salkin was unprepared to learn Friday morning that Goldwater, 74, had passed away Thursday in Florida.
""It came as a shock,'' said Salkin, owner of Salkin's Jewel Case, Freehold Township, who who described himself as a ""dear friend of the family.''
Goldwater amassed 331 coaching victories in 24 seasons at Southern Freehold High School (now Howell) and Freehold Township. He also served as an athletic director in the school district.
The 12th winningest high school baseball coach in the history of the Shore Conference retired from coaching in 1988.
""I think people learned more under him in the two years they generally played for him than they did in all their other years (playing baseball) combined,'' said Salkin. ""I've heard other people say that.
""Bernie was tough but he was fair,'' said Salkin. ""Personally, I was more afraid of disappointing him than I was of losing the the game.''
Losing was something that was never a habit under Goldwater. According to Asbury Park Press reports he began coaching at Southern Freehold High School in 1965 and left the school seven years later with a 75-57 record.
In 17 seasons at Freehold Township Goldwater's intense managerial style led the Patriots to six Shore Conference divisional titles, the Shore Conference championship in 1985, and the NJSIAA Group III title in 1986 behind pitchers Adam Lazarus, Dan Donovan, and Jason Gross.
""Bernie was synonymous with Freehold Township High School and was widely regarded as one of the best coaches in the Shore,'' said 12th year Patriots coach Frank Gualtieri.
""Bernie always spoke his mind and fought for what he thought was right,'' said Gualtieri. ""He was old school and gave nobody any quarter. A guy like that is missed. His track record speaks for itself.''
Goldwater's funeral will be 11 a.m. Monday at the Clayton and McGirr Funeral Home, Freehold Township, according to owner Bob McGirr.
STAFF WRITER
Eric Salkin, who roamed centerfield for coach Bernie Goldwater's Freehold Township High School baseball teams in the mid 1970's, said he could always be certain of one thing.
""We always felt like we were more prepared when we took the field than any other team,''said Salkin.
But Salkin was unprepared to learn Friday morning that Goldwater, 74, had passed away Thursday in Florida.
""It came as a shock,'' said Salkin, owner of Salkin's Jewel Case, Freehold Township, who who described himself as a ""dear friend of the family.''
Goldwater amassed 331 coaching victories in 24 seasons at Southern Freehold High School (now Howell) and Freehold Township. He also served as an athletic director in the school district.
The 12th winningest high school baseball coach in the history of the Shore Conference retired from coaching in 1988.
""I think people learned more under him in the two years they generally played for him than they did in all their other years (playing baseball) combined,'' said Salkin. ""I've heard other people say that.
""Bernie was tough but he was fair,'' said Salkin. ""Personally, I was more afraid of disappointing him than I was of losing the the game.''
Losing was something that was never a habit under Goldwater. According to Asbury Park Press reports he began coaching at Southern Freehold High School in 1965 and left the school seven years later with a 75-57 record.
In 17 seasons at Freehold Township Goldwater's intense managerial style led the Patriots to six Shore Conference divisional titles, the Shore Conference championship in 1985, and the NJSIAA Group III title in 1986 behind pitchers Adam Lazarus, Dan Donovan, and Jason Gross.
""Bernie was synonymous with Freehold Township High School and was widely regarded as one of the best coaches in the Shore,'' said 12th year Patriots coach Frank Gualtieri.
""Bernie always spoke his mind and fought for what he thought was right,'' said Gualtieri. ""He was old school and gave nobody any quarter. A guy like that is missed. His track record speaks for itself.''
Goldwater's funeral will be 11 a.m. Monday at the Clayton and McGirr Funeral Home, Freehold Township, according to owner Bob McGirr.
posted by Tony Graham at 2:49 PM
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