(RKYHS) One year ago, The Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School lost a valued and cherished member of its community, former RKYHS basketball coach Jan Sandusky, z”l. Coach Jan left a lasting impact on the lives of so many Kushner students, coaching in the early years of the high school, then returning several years later to coach once again. The night before Thanksgiving, in commemoration of Jan Sandusky’s first yahrzeit, alumni spanning many graduation years from 2001-2017 and former parents gathered to pay tribute to Coach Jan, and were joined by members of his family.

The evening began with dinner and a program in the Founder’s Atrium. Guests were welcomed by Rabbi Richard Kirsch, RKYHS athletic director, then heard from Corey Sandusky, Jan’s son, followed by JKHA/RKYHS Assistant Principal Gary Berger, and alum Dovid Schaulewicz (RKYHS ‘04) who played for Coach Jan as a Kushner student. A plaque dedicated to Coach Jan was presented to his family that will hang proudly in the RKYHS Zuckerman Family Gymnasium. The family was also presented with a tribute book filled with thoughts, photos and memories of Coach Jan that were submitted by alumni and alumni parents spanning the decades. After the meaningful program, the event moved to the Zuckerman Family Gymnasium as alumni who played under Jan throughout the years donned memorial jerseys and faced off against the current Kushner Cobras. They were cheered on by fellow alumni and alumni parents.