Obituary: Bruce Ingalls Jordan; Physical Education Teacher, Coached 46 Sports Seasons of Football, Hockey and Track in Marblehead

Obituary from C.R. Lyons & Sons Funeral Directors.

Bruce Ingalls Jordan of Danvers, Massachusetts, beloved husband of Sandra Edmands Jordan, son of the late Madeline D. Jordan and Keith L. Jordan, passed away on Sunday, March 22,2015 at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers surrounded by his family. He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather.

Born in Portland, Maine on February 9, 1942, he was raised in Swampscott and graduated from Swampscott High School in 1960. Bruce was a member of the football, hockey and track teams, and participated in the band and student government. During his senior year, he was football captain, student council president, and recipient of the Stan Bondelevitch Award and the North Shore Harry Agganis Scholarship.

Bruce received a football scholarship to the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and graduated in 1964 with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education. He played football all four years, received two student football awards, was a Dean’s list student, a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity and was a fraternity officer. It was at UMASS that he met his future wife, Sandra.

After graduating from UMASS, Bruce was awarded a graduate assistant scholarship to Pennsylvania State University and earned his Master’s degree in Physical Education. While studying there, he coached the freshman football team and taught undergraduate courses.

His 36 year career at Marblehead High School began in 1965. He taught physical education and coached 46 sports seasons of football, hockey and track. He was head football coach for 13 seasons (1983-1995) during which time the Marblehead coaching staff broke all previous football win records. Bruce was named the 1984 Boston Globe Division 2 Coach of the Year and the Salem News and Lynn Item Coach of the Year. He was twice named Northeastern Conference Coach of the Year and received the Leonard Nolan Award. He coached two times in the Harry Agganis All-Star Game. He served as an assistant coach for three years at Danvers High School (1980-1982).

Bruce was inducted into the Swampscott High School Athletic Hall of Fame, Friends of Marblehead Hockey Hall of Fame, Marblehead Gridiron Club Hall of Fame and the Massachusetts State Football Coaches Hall of Fame. He enjoyed spending time with family and friends, being at his cabin in Naples, Maine, gardening, being a rock hound, adding to his many collections, traveling and attending concerts and sporting events.

He is survived by: his wife, Sandra; his son and wife, Craig and Norma of Pawtucket, RI and his daughter Hannah; his son and wife, Michael and Linda and their children Grace, Abigail, Caleb and Eden of Milford, CT; and his sisters; Ann Bruhn, wife of the late K. Richard Bruhn, and family and Judith and Paul Aikman and family.

At the request of Bruce, funeral services are private. Gifts in Bruce’s memory may be made to a charity or organization of your choice.