Esper Keiser, a renowned football coach and teacher at Claremont High School for 40 years, died last week of heart failure at the age of 74.
Keiser began his career at Claremont in 1959 and retired in 1999 having spent 22 of those years as a football coach. He was an assistant coach for 12 years before a 10-year stint as the head football coach beginning in 1968.
Keiser died at his home on Balboa Island, according to the Claremont Unified School District.
"We played better than we were because of how much we loved him," said Brad Kessler, who played under Keiser from 1970-72. "You knew that he cared so much about you that you wanted to be better for him. He was really an influential person, even outside of football, at the high school."
Kessler, a highly recruited running back who was a first-round selection of the Cincinnati Reds out of Claremont, was one of the many great players under the tutelage of Keiser.
Several former players of Keiser's noted their awareness of the coach's presence even before arriving at Claremont High School. The coach was known to pay visits to El Roble Intermediate School to speak with future Claremont students and football players.
In addition to coaching football, Keiser was a physical education teacher at Claremont. By all accounts he had a wide-ranging effect on the student body that reached well beyond the football team.
"He was the guy that everybody looked up to," Rob Haerr, a defensive back under Keiser in Claremont's class of 1976, said. "He was a gentle, warm and caring person who really wanted to be your best friend. I remember the first time I saw him when I was a junior high kid riding my bike by the high school. He just had such a presence at Claremont."
A banner paying tribute to Keiser and his effect on those he touched in the Claremont community is expected to be hung today on the Claremont High School fence that borders the football field and faces Indian Hill Blvd.
Keiser inspired his players to the degree that early in the 1972 season one of the captains of the team constructed an impromptu fable that the coach was suffering from an ailment and Claremont's game against an Upland High School team ranked No. 1 in their CIF-SS Division could be his last on the sideline. Claremont won the game by the score of 32-0.
Kessler recalls throwing a halfback pass that went for the game-winning touchdown in a playoff game and Keiser ripping off his headset, sprinting onto the field and lifting Kessler off his feet in celebration.
Kessler was one of the players who regularly visited Keiser's home for weekly meetings the coach conducted in order to prepare the football team captains for their duties.
"When we would go to his house there was invariably a flood of former players coming to see their old coach," Kessler said. "It was amazing to see how many stopped by to say hi. He was an endearing figure for all of us."
Sharon Esterley (1961)
One of the girls touched by Esper - yearbook signing day June, 1961. His name is gone from my back, but still inscribed on my heart. He loved us all - his kids. We miss him.
Paul Schenck (1963)
thanks for your belief, paul schenck
Lynne Herman Saunders (1962)
I hooked up with Coach at John Stevenson memorial in Claremont with my wife Mari. We reminisced for more than a few minutes when he turned to my wife and said "you know Lynne played for me during the 1960, 61 and 62 seasons his jerseys number was 61 but he was always #1 in heart. I was speechless to think after all the kids he had coached over 40 years he remembered my jersey number. That is what made him the giant of the man he was. I was so sad to hear of your passing, rest in peace I know you have found a bunch of kids to teach on the other side. Class of 1962Wayne Edward McNabb (1962)
When I was a Junior in school family problems caused me to leave Claremont High School. I loved to play football at Claremont, and when I was a Senior I had a chance to come back to play for Esper. My mother and I did not have a home in Claremont at the time so I asked Esper if he knew of any place we could afford. Esper took a whole Saturday out of his life to drive my mother and I around Claremont until we found a place we could afford to live in. Once again I was able to play for Esper. He was an outstanding man, and now that I am older I can really understand how great he really was. Thanks Esper for taking time for me every day of my school years at Claremont .