Nicholas Noel Jr. of North Coventry
Nicholas Noel, Jr. passed away on Thursday, March 1, 2018, in hospice after a brief illness. His wife of over 67 years, Elaine Buckwalter Noel, resides in Country Meadows of Forks Township, Pennsylvania. Mr. Noel was born in 1927 to Nicholas Noel and Mildred Bauman Noel, and grew up in Spring City, Pennsylvania.
Mr. Noel is also survived by sons Nicholas Noel, III and his wife Karen of Easton, Pennsylvania, and Christopher Noel and his wife Deborah of Morgantown, Pennsylvania.
Grandchildren include Carol Noel Michaels and her husband Tom of Forks Township, Nicholas Noel, IV of Durham, North Carolina, Zachary Noel and his wife Jenna of Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, and Joanna Noel Banack and her husband Stephen of Lititz, Pennsylvania.
Great-grandchildren include Fiona Noel Michaels and Karenna Noel Michaels of Forks Township and Porter Banack of Lititz.
Prior to graduation from Spring City High School, where he excelled at football and baseball, Mr. Noel joined the United States Coast Guard, serving in World War II in the Pacific Theatre on troop ship General William Weigel as it transported soldiers to various Southeast Asia locations, including the Philippines and Japan, where he was stationed a short time during the end of the war.
Following his honorable discharge, Mr. Noel earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Math and History from Millersville State University, where he was captain of the football team. He later received his Masters of Science degree from Temple University.
Mr. Noel began his civilian career as a math teacher and housemaster at Girard College in Philadelphia in 1950 and in 1952 was hired by Spring City High School as a math teacher and a football and baseball coach, continuing his lifelong interest and participation in athletics.
In 1953, Mr. Noel accepted a math teaching position at Boyertown Area High School, as well as assistant coach for both football and baseball. He became head football coach beginning in 1963, and led the Bears to a ChesMont League Championship in 1968 and was voted Coach of the Year. He was also elected by fellow coaches as President of the League, having been instrumental in its formation. In 1972, Mr. Noel became Boyertown’s first Athletic Director for the entire District, a position he held until retiring in 1986. During his tenure, Boyertown undertook significant improvements to its athletic facilities, including the construction of Bear Stadium for baseball and reconstruction of the football stadium. He was inducted into the Boyertown Sports Hall of Fame in 2010.
After retiring, Mr. Noel and his wife lived not only at their home in North Coventry, Chester County, but also spent their winters at their condominium in Lake Worth, Florida, interspersed with many enjoyable trips to Europe, Central America and the Caribbean islands.
Arrangements were made by the Pennsylvania Cremation Society for private internment at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, gifts in his memory will be gratefully accepted by Heifer International, P.O. Box 8058, Little Rock, AR 72203-8058.