John Fredrick Nadell

his parents Gloria Trentacosta and Charles Nadell. John is survived by his wife of 64 years Caroline

Frances Gardiner, his children John (Drew) Nadell (Susan) and Laura Nadell, his grandchildren Katherine

and Bryant Nadell, his brother Charles (Chick) Nadell, and several nieces and nephews.

John attended the University of Alabama from New York on a track scholarship, met his future wife and

never went back. He lettered in Track and served as the President of A Club, the University's Letterman

Club. He was a lifelong avid Crimson Tide Athletics supporter. He recently attended a reunion of Coach

"Red" Drew's track athletes and was the oldest former student athlete present. His last U of A activity

was a Red Elephant Club dinner in August 2023.

After college, John "Coach" Nadell was hired as the Track and Field Coach and Assistant Football Coach

at John Carroll Catholic High School, Through this position, he started the Alabama Track Club which

allowed disadvantaged and minority students to compete in track events over the summers. He

challenged what turned out to be a non-existent City of Birmingham rule that prohibited Birmingham

City Schools from playing JCCHS which led to the first football game between JCCHS and Ramsay High

School which John Carroll won. He worked tirelessly during the 1960s to obtain track and field

scholarships for his athletes including successfully helping African American student athletes obtain

scholarships at colleges and universities outside of the South.

He also organized the first indoor track meet in Alabama at the fairgrounds which is the current site of

the Birmingham Crossplex Track and Field Facility. He attended the ribbon cutting in 2011 which

occurred exactly 50 years after that first meet as a guest of former Birmingham Mayor William Bell, one

of his former students.

He continued to officiate Collegiate Track and Field events into his 80s, working the SEC Championship

on several occasions.

John was a pivotal part of uplifting Track and Field in the State of Alabama. He was proud of this legacy,

and it meant the world to him.

After leaving JCCHS, he had a long career as a sporting goods sales representative before retiring.

In retirement, John was well known on the food festival circuit and always tried to attend each one

throughout the years. He loved to break bread and socialize. He attended numerous Alabama Crimson

Tide sporting events and volunteered yearly at the SEC Baseball Tournament.

He will be missed.

Visitation will be Thursday November 2, 2023, from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM with the funeral to follow in the

Elmwood Chapel.

In Lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the John Carrol High School "Friends of Catholic

Education" fund by sending a check to John Carroll Catholic High School, Attn: Sarah Maze, 300

Lakeshore Parkway, Birmingham, AL 35209 with a note that your donation is in memory of Coach John

Nadell.

Here is a link for online donations:

https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E109721&id=75