Former Lakewood Football Coach Honors H.S. Teacher At His Award Ceremony

For any teachers who ever wondered if they touched the lives of their students, they only have to listen to remarks at any West Tech Hall of Fame Induction ceremony. This fall, one of those former teachers, Joyce Nader, heard the accolades in person, more than a half century after she taught inductee Angelo Privitera, class of Jan. ’58. Privitera, of Lakewood, was honored as a standout high school and college athlete and as an educator and the youngest head football coach at Lakewood High School.

Miss Nader and her student reunited at the West Tech Centennial in the summer, and the family invited Miss Nader to be their guest at the September event. While Privitera also thanked Eugene Kolach, his track coach, and Robert Lazzaro, his football coach, for inspiring him to “understand the value of hard work, perseverance and teamwork,” he used most of his time to focus on Miss Nader’s influence not only in high school, but on his own teaching career.

“You taught me the most important lesson of all: to remember that every student is worthy of a chance,” Privitera said, turning to Miss Nader. The track and football star at West Tech High School (WTH) and later at Bowling Green University explained he was unmotivated and under-achieving when he entered her classroom. He left highly motivated and striving to reach his potential. “Your steady encouragement made me feel important, and your refusal to quit on me as a person made a tremendous impact on my teaching and coaching career,” he explained. 

To underscore her lasting impact, Privitera shared an example from his coaching days at Lakewood High School.  Privitera instituted a “no cut” policy on his teams. He talked about a young man, fresh to the school in his senior year and right out of drug rehab.

Coach Privitera welcomed him to the team, even though he was a relatively small student who never had played football.  The student proved himself on the field and in life, applying his experiences to help other young people as a school psychologist.

“Miss Nader, I want you to know that the lessons you taught me were far reaching, beyond your own classroom and …impacted many young students that I was privileged to guide and mentor,” added Privitera.

After expressing thanks from the podium to his late wife and high school sweetheart Karen Krach Privitera, who also taught in the Lakewood School System, Miss Nader, his coaches and his family, Privitera posed for photos with Miss Nader. Following his remarks, she said “I just want to hug and kiss him.” Yet Miss Nader admitted that she and other colleagues often wondered if they were making a difference. She’s not wondering any longer.

Privitera has three adult children, Karen L., Anthony and Michael. Each resides in Lakewood. Other inductees into the West Tech Centennial Class of the Hall of Fame class are John Cimperman, ’53, athlete and historic preservationist, of Olmsted Falls; Linda Gunn Neiheiser, former West Tech faculty member and school psychologist, now of Florida; Theodore Zajac, ’36, inventor and engineer, of Lorain, and the late Edward B. Henning, ’40, artist and curator of the Cleveland Museum of Art.