Last week I lost a good friend. His name was Keith Kalman. Keith was my wrestling coach during my senior year at Sanford High School in 1970.
Coach Kalman was a very humble man who never bragged about his athletic accomplishments. At Sanford High, Coach Kalman was a Maine and New England wrestling champion. At the University of Maine, Coach Kalman co-captained the University of Maine football team and played center for the historic Black Bear team in the prestigious Tangerine Bowl.
Only a few weeks ago, I was talking to Pete Norris, the punter for the team that year. Pete was still wondering why Coach Kalman had the ball hiked over his head during the game. Knowing Coach Kalman, he would have said that you would think that a guy who was 6' 3" could have caught the ball.
I always thought that Coach Kalman was indestructible and invincible. That is why I was shocked to learn of his unexpected death at the age of 61.
Longfellow wrote that "Lives of great men all remind us, we can make our lives sublime, and, departing, leave behind us, footprints on the sands of time."
May you rest in peace, coach. May your spirit be with us in our time of need.
John L. Tuttle Jr.
Sanford High School Wrestling Captain
Class of 1970