Elmer Kosub

Elmer M. Kosub of San Antonio, Texas, died peacefully on August 22, 2018. He was born on December 31, 1922 to Henry and Mary Kosub. He will be deeply missed by his loving wife of 67 years, Doris Ploch Kosub; children Joyce Kosub, Stephen Kosub (Deborah Aelvoet Kosub), Loretta Leonard (James Leonard), Kristy Kosub, and John Kosub (Deborah Hrncir Kosub); grandchildren, Stephanie Leonard, Kelly Kosub, Ryan Leonard, David Kosub (Andrea Kosub), Eric Kosub, and Alan Kosub; and numerous extended relatives and life-long friends.

Elmer honorably served in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1945 as a combat medic and participated in numerous operations in the Philippines, Guam, and Pacific Area. His life-long passion was college and amateur baseball. He started his coaching career at St. Gerard's High School where he was Director of Athletics and Coach from 1946 to 1955. Elmer then played baseball for St. Mary's University and graduated with a BA, followed by a MEd from Our Lady of the Lake University. He was Athletic Director and Men's Baseball Head Coach at St. Mary's University for 29 years, where he developed the athletic and academic talent of hundreds of young men and was responsible for the building of the original V.J. Keefe baseball field at the University. Elmer served in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA, 60 years), and was inducted into the ABCA Hall of Fame in 1980. He was an ardent ambassador for international baseball through his work in bringing baseball skills clinics to Mexico, Seoul, Korea, Taiwan, Guatemala, Japan, and the Philippines and serving as a coach in the summer Olympic Games in 1968, 1984, 1988, and 1992. Even though he won numerous national and international awards for his service to baseball and coaching expertise, Elmer was most honored by seeing the success of the hundreds of boys and men he taught and coached throughout the years. He was still called "Coach" by his players and friends long after his retirement in 1993.

The family is grateful to Elmer's devoted caregivers: Dr. Miguel Ayala, and the nurses and staff at the Forum at Lincoln Heights Skilled Nursing Facility and Heart to Heart Hospice.

Services will be held on Friday, August 31, 2018 at St. Gerard's Catholic Church, 1523 Iowa Street. Visitation begins at 9:00 am with Rosary recited at 10:30 am, followed by the Funeral Mass at 11:00 am. Private interment will follow at Annunciation Catholic Church cemetery, St. Hedwig, Texas.

In lieu of floral remembrances, memorial gifts in Elmer's name can be made to: St. Gerard's Catholic Church, 1523 Iowa Street, San Antonio, TX 78203, saintgerardchurch.org or to: St. Mary's University, Men's Baseball Program, One Camino Santa Maria, San Antonio, TX 78228-8544 or online at https://alumni.stmarytx.edu/supportgive-now/ . Please make notation for "Men's Baseball Program, In memory of Coach Elmer Kosub".

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