Longtime basketball coach at Michigan and Iowa State

Johnny Orr, who chose more money but far less prestige when he gave up his high-profile role as basketball coach at the University of Michigan to coach lowly Iowa State — and went on to lead the Cyclones to multiple appearances in the NCAA tournament — died Dec. 31 in Des Moines, Iowa. He was 86.

His death was confirmed by Mike Green, a spokesman for the Iowa State athletic department.

Mr. Orr had a strong 12-year run at Michigan; he took the Wolverines to the NCAA final in 1976 and amassed a record of 209-113. Then, in March 1980, he

LATEST DEATHS

surprised many people by leaving for Iowa State. He said Iowa State had offered him the highest salary of any college basketball coach in the country: $45,000, a substantial raise from the $33,665 he was earning at Michigan.

Over the next 14 seasons, Mr. Orr brought speed, success and a measure of spectacle to Ames, Iowa, and the arena the Cyclones called home, Hilton Coliseum. Fans would stomp and cheer as he entered the arena to the theme from Johnny Carson’s “Tonight Show.” He would respond by giving his succinct signature fist pump to the crowd — and often by leading his teams to victory.

Teams coached by Mr. Orr won

The Post-Gazette’s comprehensive report of recent deaths includes three types of obituaries. News obituaries, prepared by our staff, are published at the discretion of our editors. Classified obituaries are paid death notices prepared by funeral home directors. To place a classified obituary call 412-2631371. To suggest a news obituary, call 412263-1601. Funeral home directors may also call 412-263-1601 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to note a death for which there is no classified obituary. Those names will be listed under other deaths. a remarkable 76.7 percent of their games in the coliseum, including 20 wins over teams ranked in the top 25. “Hilton Magic,” they began calling it. According to the university, the average attendance at home games the season before Mr. Orr arrived was 6,470. In the 1985-86 season, attendance averaged 14,024.

Before Mr. Orr arrived, the Cyclones had not been to the NCAA tournament since just after World War II. He took them to the tournament six times by emphasizing speed over size, often wearing down opponents with a full-court press. In 1986, Iowa State, led by point guard Jeff Hornacek, made it to the tournament’s Round of 16 by beating

CLASSIFIED OBITUARIES

Joyce L., Ligonier Beverly Patricia, Monroeville Catherine M., Export, formerly Murrysville and Shaler

Orzo, Mountain Home, Ariz. Dorothy Jean Mannella, Bloomfield

Leo W. James Lee Jr., Hill District Marjorie L. “Madge” Philip James, Moon Dorothy E., Shaler

Nancy S., McCandless Louise G., Mt. Lebanon, formerly Robinson and McCandless Tuesday, January 14, 2014 at 10: 30 a. m., with Father Kua Apple, officiating. Interment will follow in Restland Memorial Park. Corl Family Directors 412-372-2100.

www.corlfuneralchapel.com Send condolences at post-gazette.com/gb fifth-ranked Michigan, 72-69.

“This was my biggest victory,” Mr. Orr said at the time. “Bigger than finishing first in the Big Ten. I took a program that couldn’t do anything, and everyone thought I was nutty.”

He retired in 1994 with a record of 218-200. At Iowa State, as at Michigan, he is the career leader in both wins and losses.

John Michael Orr was born on June 10, 1927, in Taylorville, Ill. His father, Bert, was a coal miner, and his mother, Ann, was a nurse. He was a star of his state championship high school team and at Beloit College, where he graduated in 1949.

After a brief professional playing career, he coached high

Stephen D. “Dirt,” Scott, formerly Oakland and Brookline

George W., Penn Hills Philip Patrick, LaVale, Md. Elsie Jessell, Swissvale

Rose A., Bloomfield Fay A. Tegge

Dennis R., Bethel Park, formerly Garfield

Audrey Louise, Jeannette Margaret “Marge,” Carrick

John F., Forest Hills Kathleen M. “Kay,” Whitehall Lawrence Joseph, Ross William J. Sr., Point Breeze

Daune, Moon January 5, 2014. Funeral Mass 10 a.m. Friday, St. Peter the Fisherman Catholic Church, Mountain Home, AR. Funeral Arrangements by ROLLER FUNERAL HOME.

www.rollerfuneralhomes.com Send condolences at post-gazette.com/gb COLBert JAMES LEE, Jr. Age 67, of the Hill District, passed away on January 8, 2014. Visitation on Monday, Jan. 13, 2014 from 4-8 p.m. in the SAMUEL J. JONES FUNERAL HOME, 2644 Wylie Ave., Pgh., PA 15219 where Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday Jan. 14, 2014 at 11 a.m. Send condolences at post-gazette.com/gb

COLDren MARJORIE L. “MADGE” On Wednesday, January 8, 2014, 86 years young. Wife of the late Robert E. Coldren. Survived by her loving family, Anne Winkler, Judy Grystar, and Eileen Cole; six grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; nieces; and nephews. NO VISITATION. Family and friends are invited to attend the funeral Mass in St. Margaret school teams and served as an assistant at the University of Wisconsin. In 1963, he was named coach at the University of Massachusetts. Five years later, he went to Michigan, where his teams reached the Round of 8 three times, including in 1976, when Michigan lost to Indiana in the national final. That season, he was named coach of the year by the National Association of Basketball Coaches.

Always colorful and not hesitant to criticize, Mr. Orr threatened to quit Iowa State if several proposals to improve the academic performance of basketball and football players were instituted. In 1991, he was suspended for one game for his criticism of

Robert M. “Bob,” Kent, Wash., formerly Peters Robert A. Josephine J. “Jay” Nowakowski, East Pittsburgh Clay, Troy Hill

Robert E. “Bob” Sr., Homestead Raymond S., Long Beach, Calif., formerly Penn Hills Paul Eugene, Fort Worth, Texas Daniel P. Olga, Forest Hills

Mae Boyer, Whitehall Rita J. “Reets,” Brookline George A., New Wilmington, Lawrence County, formerly Robinson Greentown, IN and Robert L. married to Deborah Hoffman, Wilkes-Barre; also survived by grandchildren, Elizabeth K., Leah M., and Briana L. Cantwell, Christine R. (Cantwell) Aubert and Joseph and Christina Marie DeLisi; great-grandchildren, Ava, Amelia and Gavin DeLisi and Joshua M. and Matthew J. Aubert. Leo served in the 13th Air Force in the South Pacific during WWII, and upon discharge, graduated from St. Joseph University with additional study at Notre Dame University. He began his career with U.S. Steel at Fairless Works, near Philadelphia in 1951, followed by additional management appointments in the Chicago and Johnstown Plants as well as the Pittsburgh Headquarters Unit, retiring in 1982. Leo coached amateur ice hockey in the Pittsburgh Amateur League and Bethel Park High School. Friends will be received from 1-6 p.m., Sunday at PICKING - TREECE - BENNETT MORTUARY, INC., 921 Menoher Blvd., Johnstown. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a. m., Monday, at Our Mother of Sorrows Catholic Church. The Very Rev. Mark S. Begly, V.F. Interment Grandview Cemetery, where military rites will be conducted courtesy of Major General Charles T. Menoher V.F.W., Post #155.

ptbmortuary.com Send condolences at post-gazette.com/gb

Irene, Mount Oliver Selena A., Monaca

Clarence W. “Steve,” Richland, formerly Middlessex

Jerome “Jerry” T., Carrick Margaret Imelda Albertson, Mt. Lebanon, formerly Dormont Elsie K. Karas, North Side Edward E. Sr., formerly Penn Hills of Scotland Church Monday 11 a.m. Burial to follow in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Monongahela. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a charity of one’s choice. Arrangements entrusted to WILLIAM SLATER II FUNERAL SERVICE, Scott Twp., (412-563-2800).

www.slaterfuneral.com Send condolences at post-gazette.com/gb COLeLLa PHILIP JAMES 88, of Moon Twp., died on January 8, 2014. He was born in Rochester, PA on September 30, 1925, the son of the late James and Carmel “Tooch” Colella. Philip served his country during WWII in the US Navy. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame and St. Bonaventure University, and received his Master’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh. He retired after many years as a secondary English teacher in the Moon Area School District. Philip was a member of St. James Catholic Church, Sewickley. He also was a member of the Notre Dame Monogram Club. He was inducted into the Beaver County Hall of Fame and the Saint Bonaventure University Hall of Fame. In addition to his parents, Philip was preceded in death by his wife, Ann L. (Tomei) Colella in 2005; and three sisters, Cecilia Leopardi, Josephine Sayers and Anna Mae Spickerman. He is survived by his two daughters, Phyllis Bates ( Richard), Spartanburg, SC; Christie Covelli ( Larry), Moon Twp.; five grandchildren, Jason Bates, Jayna Lehrer, Kelli Bates, Jennifer Hayn, and Todd Bates; five great-grandchildren, Cole, Emily, Connor, Gia, and Dominic; three sisters, Jennie ( Fusco) Dioguardi, Carmel Cook and Donna Grace Colella; along with numerous nieces and nephews. Friends will be received on Sunday, January 12 from 1- 4 officiating in the Big Eight tournament. He also criticized other coaches.

“That Rollie Massimino,” he told The New York Times in 1986, referring to the Villanova coach. “His team’s down by seven points with 10 seconds to play, and he’s coaching his tail off. To me, that’s asinine.”

Among his star players at Iowa State over the years were Mr. Hornacek, who went on to star in the NBA and now coaches the Phoenix Suns; Jeff Grayer, the university’s career scoring leader; and Fred Hoiberg, a sharpshooting guard who played 10 seasons in the NBA and is now in his fourth year as coach of the Cyclones.

OTHER DEATHS

and 6-8 p.m. in the HUNTSMAN FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES OF MOON TWP. (1522 Coraopolis Hts. Rd.), where a Prayer Service will be held on Monday at 9:30 a.m. with Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 10 a.m. in St. James Catholic Church, Sewickley. Interment to follow in St. James Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Good Samaritan Hospice (www.concordialm.org) or the Community of Holy Family Manor (www.chfmanor.org)

www.huntsmanfuneralhomes.com

Send condolences at post-gazette.com/gb

COYLe DOROTHY E. Age 89, of Shaler Township, on January 9, 2014. Wife of the late Charles J.; mother of Patricia J. (John) Powell, David J. (Cindy) Coyle, and Charles B. ( Kathy) Coyle; daughter of the late Lawrence and Robertha Dunbar; sister of Ida Mae Braddock and the late M. Jean Cooper, and Robert and Lawrence Dunbar; grandmother of Rebecca J. Shank, Kelly Sealander, Eric J., Lisa M., Kelsey Lynn, and Kaylee R. Coyle; great- grandmother of Bradley, Sarah, Hannah, Molly, and Luke. Visitation Sunday 1-4 and 6-8 p.m. at NEELY FUNERAL HOME, 2208 Mt. Royal Blvd., Glenshaw. Service Monday 10 a.m. at Elfinwild Presbyterian Church, Mt. Royal Boulevard. In lieu of flowers, memorials suggested to Good Samaritan Hospice, Suite 320, 3500 Brooktree Road, Wexford, PA 15090. Please visit us at:

www.neelyfuneralhome.com Send condolences at post-gazette.com/gb DanKLefSen

NANCY S. On Wednesday, January 8, 2014, Nancy ( Swinderman) Danklefsen, age 76, of McCandless Twp. Beloved wife of Bill Danklefsen; mother of Heather McElroy of Shaler, Karla