Pip Rader Was One Of My Principals At The Panther Valley Middle School - To Say He Was One of the Best Is Like Saying "The Smart Kid in the Dumb Section"

Philip G. Rader

Philip G. "Pip" Rader, 73, of Nesquehoning, entered into eternal rest on Saturday, June 14, in the Mahoning Valley Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Mahoning Township. He was the husband of Elizabeth "Betty Ann" (Miller) Rader. They celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary on July 20, 2013.

Born in Palmerton, he was a son of the late Philip J. and Mildred (Haun) Rader.

He was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Nesquehoning.Pip graduated from Jim Thorpe High School in 1959 and attended East Stroudsburg University, where he earned a bachelor of science degree in English and Social Studies. He went on to earn his master's degree in secondary education from ESU and his principal certification from Penn State University.

As an educator, he began his teaching career in the Jim Thorpe School District and then joined the Panther Valley School District as a teacher and later as high school principal until retiring.
Coach Pip began his basketball coaching career as an assistant coach for Jim Thorpe in 1963. His head coaching career started in 1965-66, when his basketball team won the District 2, Anthracite League and Eastern Pa. Class C championships. His Olympians came back in 1967 and won the District 11 championship.
He went on to coach Panther Valley basketball, where he won the District 11 Class AA championships in 1974 and 1979. He was named Coach of the Year in the Lower Anthracite Area and the Schuylkill League in 1974.
Rader was inducted into the Jim Thorpe Hall of Fame in 1996 and the Carbon County Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 1997.
Philip will not only be remembered for being a teacher, principal and coach, but also as a community service member. He was past president of the Olympian Booster Club from 1967-71, as well as being one of its founding fathers.
He was named Man of the Year in Jim Thorpe in 1972 for his outstanding service to the youth of the community. He was past president of the LansfordRotary Club from 1988-89 and was the past co-host for the Dream Come True Telethon. 
Surviving in addition to his widow are a sister Judith, wife of Dale Reppert of Lehighton; and many nieces and nephews. 
He was also preceded in death by a brother James.
Service: Funeral service 10:30 a.m. Thursday, June 19, Joseph S. Blazosky Funeral Home, 81 E. Catawissa St., Nesquehoning; Mass of Christian Burial 11 a.m., St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Nesquehoning, with the Rev. Francis P. Schoenauer officiating. Interment, St. Joseph Cemetery, Jim Thorpe. Call 6-8 p.m. Wednesday and 9:30-10:30 a.m. Thursday. Contributions in his name may be made to the St. Luke Hospice, 1510 Valley Center Parkway, Suite 200, Bethlehem, Pa. 18015, or the National Parkinson Foundation, P.O. Box 5018, Hagerstown, Md. 21741-5018.