Former Pitt Football Administrator Alex Kramer Passes Away
8/19/2020 9:30:00 AM | Football
PITTSBURGH—Alex Kramer, a highly trusted and beloved Pitt football administrator who served five different Panthers head coaches, has passed away at the age of 91.
Kramer's formal Pitt tenure spanned 17 seasons. He joined Coach Jackie Sherrill's staff in 1978 as the program's administrative assistant and worked in that capacity until his retirement in July 1995. In addition to Sherrill, Kramer loyally served under head coaches Foge Fazio (1982-85), Mike Gottfried (1986-89), Paul Hackett (1990-92) and John Majors (1993-94).
Kramer's Pitt responsibilities were a forerunner to those that now fall under the watch of a director of football operations. A meticulous professional, he oversaw team travel and weekly regimens, while serving as a liaison with other departmental and university offices.
Kramer also led Pitt football's community service efforts. He personally organized the "John Pruitt Children's Hospital Volunteer Group" of Pitt football student-athletes who regularly visited young patients.
But Kramer's ties to Pitt football went well beyond his administrative career. His lifelong love of the Panthers began when he was a boy in the 1930s watching Coach Jock Sutherland's legendary teams at Pitt Stadium.
Kramer was a Pitt student football manager from 1948-51, rooming with future Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Joe Schmidt.
Following his 1952 graduation from Pitt, Kramer served a four-year enlistment in the Air Force. He then became a teacher and administrator in the Moon Area School District. He left his position as director of curriculum at Moon to join Pitt prior to the 1978 season.
An avid historian, he was highly knowledgeable in an array of subjects that ranged from Pitt football lore to Sir Winston Churchill. Kramer was an invaluable member of the Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame selection committee since its 2018 inception.
In addition to his undergraduate studies, Kramer earned a master's degree in history from Pitt in 1961.
In 1997, he was named an Awardee of Distinction by the Pitt Varsity Letter Club.
Born July 8, 1929, Kramer was married to the late Betty McCormick. They had two children, son Charles and daughter Michele.
"Alex Kramer is a true Pitt gem," Director of Athletics Heather Lyke said. "He proudly represented the University of Pittsburgh as an alumnus, administrator and, of course, as a lifelong Panthers fan. I'll be forever appreciative of his support and contributions as we launched the Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame. His knowledge of the University was surpassed only by his love for it. I was very blessed to get to know him the past three years. Our deepest sympathies to his family and loved ones."
"Alex truly represented what it means to be a Pitt Man," head football coach Pat Narduzzi said. "He was incredibly passionate about his University. Alex loved the football program like family, and the many coaches and players he touched felt the same way about him. I'll never forget our dinners together at the annual Pitt Football Alumni Golf Outing, which he never missed. The Kramer family will be on our hearts and in our prayers."
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Kramer's formal Pitt tenure spanned 17 seasons. He joined Coach Jackie Sherrill's staff in 1978 as the program's administrative assistant and worked in that capacity until his retirement in July 1995. In addition to Sherrill, Kramer loyally served under head coaches Foge Fazio (1982-85), Mike Gottfried (1986-89), Paul Hackett (1990-92) and John Majors (1993-94).
Kramer's Pitt responsibilities were a forerunner to those that now fall under the watch of a director of football operations. A meticulous professional, he oversaw team travel and weekly regimens, while serving as a liaison with other departmental and university offices.
Kramer also led Pitt football's community service efforts. He personally organized the "John Pruitt Children's Hospital Volunteer Group" of Pitt football student-athletes who regularly visited young patients.
But Kramer's ties to Pitt football went well beyond his administrative career. His lifelong love of the Panthers began when he was a boy in the 1930s watching Coach Jock Sutherland's legendary teams at Pitt Stadium.
Kramer was a Pitt student football manager from 1948-51, rooming with future Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Joe Schmidt.
Following his 1952 graduation from Pitt, Kramer served a four-year enlistment in the Air Force. He then became a teacher and administrator in the Moon Area School District. He left his position as director of curriculum at Moon to join Pitt prior to the 1978 season.
An avid historian, he was highly knowledgeable in an array of subjects that ranged from Pitt football lore to Sir Winston Churchill. Kramer was an invaluable member of the Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame selection committee since its 2018 inception.
In addition to his undergraduate studies, Kramer earned a master's degree in history from Pitt in 1961.
In 1997, he was named an Awardee of Distinction by the Pitt Varsity Letter Club.
Born July 8, 1929, Kramer was married to the late Betty McCormick. They had two children, son Charles and daughter Michele.
"Alex Kramer is a true Pitt gem," Director of Athletics Heather Lyke said. "He proudly represented the University of Pittsburgh as an alumnus, administrator and, of course, as a lifelong Panthers fan. I'll be forever appreciative of his support and contributions as we launched the Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame. His knowledge of the University was surpassed only by his love for it. I was very blessed to get to know him the past three years. Our deepest sympathies to his family and loved ones."
"Alex truly represented what it means to be a Pitt Man," head football coach Pat Narduzzi said. "He was incredibly passionate about his University. Alex loved the football program like family, and the many coaches and players he touched felt the same way about him. I'll never forget our dinners together at the annual Pitt Football Alumni Golf Outing, which he never missed. The Kramer family will be on our hearts and in our prayers."
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