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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E361]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING THE LIFE OF BELOVED CAPITAL REGION EDUCATOR ERNEST D. STECK
______
HON. PAUL TONKO
of new york
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, March 27, 2019
Mr. TONKO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the legacy of beloved
community leader, veteran and educator Ernest D. Steck who passed away
in February.
Mr. Steck was a symbol of virtue and discipline to many in our
Capital Region Our community owes him a debt of gratitude for his
commitment to educating and shaping the minds of the young men under
his tutelage, both in his history classroom and on the football field.
Ernest was born in Rock Island, Illinois and grew up in Chicago and
Brooklyn during the Great Depression He enlisted and served in the U.S.
Army during World War II and fought in the Pacific Theater. After the
war, he went back to school to earn his undergraduate and advanced
degrees in physical education at the University of Iowa.
After brief stints teaching in Bridgeport, Connecticut and
Providence, Rhode Island, Ernest moved to Albany and brought his love
of teaching to the Albany Academy, where he taught from 1953 to 1991.
He also coached football, basketball, track, and tennis Each discipline
provided a welcome opportunity for Ernest to share the principles that
guided his life: the importance of hard work, discipline, and
integrity. These earned him the respect of his colleagues and students.
Classrooms were known to fall silent before he arrived while students
waited eagerly for him to speak.
Ernest's legacy of service earned him a promotion to athletic
director and a spot in the Capital Region Hall of Fame in August of
2014. If not reminding his teams that ``cool heads win games,'' he
could be found virtually silent on the sidelines He believed in
allowing the students to call their own plays, giving them a chance to
develop team unity and trust. His creative approaches worked time and
time again. In 1970, the Albany Academy football team won the State
Championship for small high schools. He led a record-achieving
championship streak until 1982. Students he coached referred to
themselves as ``Ernie's Boys,'' a moniker that denoted their respect
and appreciation Even to people who never stepped foot on a court or
entered an arena, Ernest was legendary.
Above all, Ernest was a proud family man His legacy lives on in his
sons David and Phillip and grandchildren Kaylee, James, Alexandra, and
Aaron He was laid to rest in late February alongside his wife Roselyn.
To those who knew him, loved him, and were made better by his presence,
I offer my sincere condolences.
May we all take inspiration from the incredible service and courage
of Ernest Steck and honor his legacy for years to come.
____________________
