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![Mr. Esper Keiser [Teacher: P. E. ]](/000/6/4/9/9946/yearbook/Mr.-Esper-Keiser-Teacher-P.-E.-1961-Claremont-High-School-Claremont-CA.jpg)
Our beloved Coach Esper Keiser passed away in June, 2011, at his home on Balboa Island. He had been fighting heart disease for years. Esper was a major positive influence in the lives of so many CHS teens during his long coaching & teaching career, & he practically grew up with our class as he was a young beginning coach when we were in school. He always had a happy smile & a word of encouragement, and was as much our friend as our teacher.
Memorial contributions in honor of Coach Keiser may be directed to the
Be Perfect Foundation,
720 Indigo Ct., Pomona, CA 91767
or to the
Claremont High School Associated Student Body/Weight Room,
1601 N. Indian Hill Blvd., Claremont, CA 91711.
1961 - Esper signed my back instead of my yearbook! ;-)
Costa Mesa Daily Pilot
July 7, 2011 | 1:29 p.m.
Esper Keiser Jr.
Legendary coach remembered as a kind, caring individual
by Pat Yarborough
Esper Hardy Keiser Jr., a prominent figure in athletic education in Claremont for four decades, died in his sleep on June 24, 2011 at his home on Balboa Island. ‘Coach’ Keiser was 74 years of age.
A ‘local’ from the beginning, Coach Keiser was born on February 1, 1937 to Esper Hardy Keiser and Christine Rodrigues Keiser in Pomona. His father was in the insurance business for many years. He grew up and attended schools in Pomona—Emerson Junior High and Pomona High Schools. He was a member of the Pomona High School Class of 1954 and then graduated from La Verne College (now University of La Verne) in 1958.
Coach Keiser was influenced strongly by athletics and particularly by the people involved. He played football from junior high on through his high school and college years. He played for and learned from Coach Harold “Hoppy” Hopkins at Pomona High and the legendary Roland “Ort” Ortmayer at La Verne—and was then a colleague of Len Cohn at Claremont High School.
Coach Keiser was associated with Claremont High School from 1959 until his retirement in 1999 when he followed his dream of being near the ocean with his move to Balboa Island.
There were, of course, championships along the way, but what emerges most strongly is the kindness and caring of the man.
Coach Keiser is survived by his daughter, Laurie Keiser of Newport Beach; by his daughter and son-in-law Linda Keiser McWilliam and Duncan McWilliam of Mt. Mauganui, New Zealand, and by his former wife, Lois Brant of Hermosa Beach.
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Steve Burt
Ken Johnson (CHS '63)
What a loss! I remember Coach Keiser from high school days ('63), but also from a little different perspective. As a member of CUSD teaching staff I knew him as a colleague during some difficult times for the district. He was always a reminder of why we were there; his unfailing devotion to students, the way he took his job so seriously (as a heart attack: absolutely no pun intended!), his ability to remind each of us on the staff how important it was to remember our good fortune in being here. I saw Coach get up before the entire district staff on a day marked with strife and give a testimony reminding us why each had come our jobs in the same way he would remind his teams that no matter what the circumstances, they were there for each other.
He loved teaching and he loved each of us.
Ken Johnson
Sharon Esterley
From Claremont Unified School District
I write today to let you know of the passing of an icon in the CUSD
family. Esper Keiser was an integral part of CHS from 1959 until his
retirement in 1999. In addition to being a distinguished teacher,
recognized as Teacher of the Year for the '86-'87 school year, Coach Keiser
led the football program as an Assistant Coach for twelve years and Head
Coach for ten years. His teams were followed fervently by the residents of
Claremont, often hosting standing room only crowds. I am just now beginning
to hear of the impact he had on countless players and students, a number
who returned to CUSD as employees.
Those who knew and loved him have told me that he was a champion in
making sure that every student knew someone cared about him/her. He took
that extra time to connect students to sports or learning by really getting
to know their dreams and pushing them to reach new heights. He made sure
students who needed guidance or assistance in their high school experience
received it. He was a great motivator, both on the football field and in
life.
A former player and later assistant coach described him as the “John
Wooden of CUSD.” He died of heart disease on Balboa Island, where he moved
upon his retirement to enjoy his boat and the bay.
His two daughters are in contact with his friends here in Claremont.
There is talk that Esper may have left instructions for no services to be
held, which has been commented to me would be consistent with his humility
and his love to be on the sidelines coaching those on the field as the
center of attention. I will let all of you know of the family’s wishes and
how to express your love and support to them.
Sincerely,
Kevin
Kevin Ward
Director, Human Resources
Claremont Unified School District
Sharon Esterley
Published in Inland Daily Bulletin & The Sun
Former Claremont coach Keiser dies
Keiser began his career at Claremont in 1959 and retired in 1999 having spent 22 of those years as a football coach. He was an assistant coach for 12 years before a 10-year stint as the head football coach beginning in 1968.
Keiser died at his home on Balboa Island, according to the Claremont Unified School District.
"We played better than we were because of how much we loved him," said Brad Kessler, who played under Keiser from 1970-72. "You knew that he cared so much about you that you wanted to be better for him. He was really an influential person, even outside of football, at the high school."
Kessler, a highly recruited running back who was a first-round selection of the Cincinnati Reds out of Claremont, was one of the many great players under the tutelage of Keiser.
Several former players of Keiser's noted their awareness of the coach's presence even before arriving at Claremont High School. The coach was known to pay visits to El Roble Intermediate School to speak with future Claremont students and football players.
In addition to coaching football, Keiser was a physical education teacher at Claremont. By all accounts he had a wide-ranging effect on the student body that reached well beyond the football team.
"He was the guy that everybody looked up to," Rob Haerr, a defensive back under Keiser in Claremont's class of 1976, said. "He was a gentle, warm and caring person who really wanted to be your best friend. I remember the first time I saw him when I was a junior high kid riding my bike by the high school. He just had such a presence at Claremont."
A banner paying tribute to Keiser and his effect on those he touched in the Claremont community is expected to be hung today on the Claremont High School fence that borders the football field and faces Indian Hill Blvd.
Keiser inspired his players to the degree that early in the 1972 season one of the captains of the team constructed an impromptu fable that the coach was suffering from an ailment and Claremont's game against an Upland High School team ranked No. 1 in their CIF-SS Division could be his last on the sideline. Claremont won the game by the score of 32-0.
Kessler recalls throwing a halfback pass that went for the game-winning touchdown in a playoff game and Keiser ripping off his headset, sprinting onto the field and lifting Kessler off his feet in celebration.
Kessler was one of the players who regularly visited Keiser's home for weekly meetings the coach conducted in order to prepare the football team captains for their duties.
"When we would go to his house there was invariably a flood of former players coming to see their old coach," Kessler said. "It was amazing to see how many stopped by to say hi. He was an endearing figure for all of us."