Rudy Yaksich, age 82 passed away on Christmas Day in Las Vegas, Nevada. Surviving are his wife Louise (Voorheis), daughters Sonya (Scott) Yaksich of Wintersville, OH, Lani Yaksich of Centreville, VA and Heather (David) Gouldthorpe of Las Vegas, NV, grandson, Brian Smith of Cincinnati, OH and granddaughter, Madison Gouldthorpe of Las Vegas, NV. Rudy graduated from Baldwin High School in Pittsburgh, PA. He was an all-star basketball player and later, Hall of Fame inductee at Bethany College in Bethany, WV. He coached and taught school in Adena, OH, Brilliant, OH, Toronto, OH and Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA. He was the author of a book, “Winning Basketball with the Free Lance System.” After moving to Doylestown, OH he became Athletic Director, High School Principal and finally, Superintendent of Schools in the Chippewa Local School system. After retiring from that position he worked for the State Department of Education in Ohio for a number of years. Private services are being held in Las Vegas on January 5 at Palm Northwest Mortuary and Cemetery 6701 N Jones Blvd, Las Vegas, NV.
