Guenther, 76, died Friday morning after complications from a stroke he suffered the day before.
Funeral services are 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at St. Raphael Church in Springfield.
Guenther held a variety of positions at Catholic Central that many in the Irish family knew about: athletic director, varsity baseball coach, varsity basketball coach and assistant football coach. He also worked numerous jobs behind the scenes organizing fundraisers, starting scholarship programs, maintaining the gym and fields, and yes, even janitorial duties.
“His day would start at 7 a.m. and if there was a basketball game or football game it wouldn’t end until 11 p.m. at night,” David said. “Me and my brothers spent most of our lives at Catholic Central with my dad in the gym or at the football field. It was fun growing up.”
Guenther is survived by his wife of 51 years, Beverly (Garner), and sons Gary, Greg, Mark and David.
“He was basically what our mission as a Catholic institution, a religious-centered school, was all about,” said veteran Catholic Central football coach Steve DeWitt. “He was the epitome of what Jesus taught all of us. He cared so deeply about people and did things for them so quietly behind the scenes. When you start to look at the list of things it’s pretty remarkable. And all of it’s pretty much behind the scenes. That’s exactly the way Russ would have wanted it.”
Guenther was hired by Catholic Central as a teacher in 1965. He became athletic director in 1975, taking over a program with about four varsity sports. Under his guidance the department increased to 17 sports during the next 25 years.
At the time he took over, DeWitt said, the Archdiocese policy was that no money from the general fund or tuition could sponsor athletics. Coaching salaries, uniforms, medical supplies, etc. were generated by Guenther’s fund raising, the support of boosters and donations.
“He was an absolute workaholic for what he believed was a great cause,” DeWitt said. “Russ made a career out of not just coming to work every day and doing his job, but allowing everything in the athletic department to flourish because of him.”
Among his honors, Guenther was awarded the Green Blazer for his volunteer work at Catholic Central. David said his father will be buried in his Green Blazer. An Ohio State hat will also be placed in his casket.
“Those were really his two sports passions,” David said. “He had many opportunities to go to city schools or larger schools and make more money. That wasn’t what he wanted to do. He wanted to stay in a small Catholic school and a Catholic community.”
During his tenure as AD, the football team qualified for the playoffs four times including a state finals appearance in 1991. The boys basketball team made five state tournament appearances and won the state championship in 1996. The Irish finished second in 1995 and 1990. Among other highlights, the boys soccer team won three regional championships and the girls track team and boys golf team both were state finalists.
“I think the thrill of his life was being able to experience a state basketball championship,” DeWitt said. “He was very close to Jason (Collier) and I know that was a very special time for him and his accomplishments.
“Russ was always very low key. I heard stories about the first time we made the football playoffs. The coaches and I got in the car and headed to Chillicothe to make the film exchange. Russ was so excited for us and he made the announcement to the kids. Russ, in his own way was quiet and humble about the fact we made the playoffs, had to announce it three or four times because no one understood exactly what he was saying. He was so low key about it but inside he was so excited.”
Guenther also helped establish scholarship funds for the daughters of school secretary Pat Peters when she passed away suddenly and helped create memorial scholarships for Kristi Cross and Nancy Finnegan. He also played a key role in having the gym renamed in memory of Collier and establishing a scholarship in Collier’s memory.
The family asks that memorial donations be made to the Jason Collier Scholarship Fund.
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