Submitted by: Dan Rich

Sebastian J. Nowicki

May 18, 1919 - Aug. 30, 2008

South Bend Tribune 9/2/2008
SOUTH BEND - Sebastian J. "Subby" Nowicki, 89, of South Bend, IN, died at 9:30 p.m. Saturday, August 30, 2008, in the Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center in South Bend. He was born on May 18, 1919, to the late Frank and Catherine (Puroll) Nowicki in South Bend, IN, where he lived most of his life. Along with his parents, five sisters and four brothers preceded him in death. Subby graduated from South Bend Central High School in 1938, where he was coached by the legendary John Wooden. He attended Notre Dame on an athletic scholarship and was a pitcher on the baseball team and a member of the basketball team. He graduated from Notre Dame in 1942. He received his master's degree from Indiana University. Mr. Nowicki retired in 1984 from the South Bend Community School Corporation, where he taught and coached for 31 years at Washington High School. Subby was the head varsity basketball coach and assistant baseball coach at Washington High School. Prior to that, he had taught and coached at St. Francis Borgia High School in Washington, MO, for seven years. There, Subby initiated the volleyball program and coached boys' varsity basketball. Subby also worked for the South Bend Recreation Department during the summers, coaching baseball for 40 years. On November 7, 1942, he married Katheryn Johnson, who died on June 2, 1971. He then married Bernadine Golubski on May 22, 1976.

He is survived by his loving wife of 32 years, Bernadine Nowicki of South Bend, IN; two daughters, Kathleen (Altan) Stalker of Darien, CT, and Patricia Hershberger of Elkhart, IN; four sons, Thomas (Linda) Nowicki of South Bend, IN, Dennis Nowicki of Mishawaka, IN, James (Cheryl) Nowicki of South Bend, IN, and John (Wendi) Nowicki of Cassopolis, MI; six grandchildren, Katheryn (Shannon) Burchett, Altan J. (Amy) Stalker, Jamie (Jeffrey) Hemmerlein, Adam J. Nowicki, Carl Hershberger and Michael Nowicki; four great-grandchildren, Altan T. Stalker, Rebecca Stalker, Shannon Burchett and Maxwell Burchett. Mr. Nowicki was a member of St. Hedwig Parish, where he belonged to the Holy Name Society and Golden Cluster. He was a member of the Achievement Forum, where he served as a past president and was "Man of the Year"; he received the 1997 Sam Wegner Award, and was also a member of the St. Joseph Valley Teachers Association and Indiana Retired Teachers Association, the former University Club at Notre Dame, Notre Dame Monogram Club, Bowlers Country Club, St. Joseph Young Men's Society, Knights of Columbus Council #5570 and American Legion Post #284. He was a Navy officer during WWII. Subby was an avid sports fan, especially of Notre Dame teams. He enjoyed spending time with his friends and family, and always looked forward to his annual fishing trips with his sons and grandsons.