Teacher & Fencing Coach Alan Kuver Passes Away
Alan Kuver’s passion for teaching, coaching and working with young people in the community never dissipated, even when he was faced with a life-threatening illness. The longtime Huntington School District technology teacher and fencing coach gave his classes and teams everything he had, every day, without fail.
Mr. Kuver passed away on Tuesday, July 1 after battling esophageal cancer for the past year. He was 47 years old. Despite his devastating diagnosis, the Huntington High School alum continued to teach at J. Taylor Finley Middle School and serve as head coach of the Blue Devil boys’ and girls’ fencing teams.
“Mr. Kuver was a beloved teacher and coach who truly cared about the students with whom he worked,” Huntington Superintendent James W. Polansky said. “Whether it was a classroom or gymnasium, he always put forth the effort to make the environment welcoming and provide students with ongoing opportunities to learn and grow.”
Alan Drew Kuver was a member of Huntington High School’s Class of 1984. An articulate, soft-spoken man with a wonderful sense of humor, he was also a great conversationalist. He could speak on virtually any topic. His colleagues found him fascinating.
Mr. Kuver was planning to return to his teaching and coaching posts in September. He attended first aid and CPR recertification classes with fellow coaches in early June and was looking forward to next winter’s fencing season.
At the 46th annual Blue Devil senior athletic awards dinner in Louis D. Giani Gymnasium on Thursday, June 12, Mr. Kuver spoke eloquently about the Huntington fencing program, its triumphs and finest moments and the senior athletes who have helped make it a force to be reckoned with in the region.
“Alan was an incredibly nice man,” said Georgia D. McCarthy, district director of health, physical education and interscholastic athletics. “All of us were devastated to hear of his passing. He was a valued member of our Blue Devil family and coaching fraternity.”
Mr. Kuver was supportive of all Huntington sports programs, even attending away games when he could make them. As the Blue Devils’ head fencing coach, he devoted an enormous number of hours to developing the skills of team members and giving the teenagers personal, academic, athletic and college advice. Well known as a very giving person, colleagues said they will always remember his generous spirit and warm personality.
In addition to his long association with the Huntington fencing program, Mr. Kuver served a stint as the Blue Devil varsity girls’ track and field coach. He taught industrial arts and technology at Huntington High School and J. Taylor Finley Middle School and never failed to win over his students in short order.
A resident of the Huntington School District, Mr. Kuver could often be seen around town. He was a professional every step of the way, guiding many of his fencers onto college teams with several reaching the NCAA Division I championships. Blue Devil alums kept in contact with him through phone calls, e-mails and visits back to Huntington.
A steady stream of visitors filed into Mr. Kuver’s room at Huntington Hospital over the past week to check on him, including Mrs. McCarthy, Mike Fabio, a Blue Devil assistant coach who Mr. Kuver coached in high school and current and past team members, among many others.
“Alan was a great coach and a really good guy,” said Ron Wilson, a Huntington High School dean and athletic coach. “He would often come by our football practices and ask how things were going and inquire about how certain players were doing. It was always fun to speak with Alan. He was such a positive and interesting person.”
“We are all saddened to have lost Alan and will miss him terribly,” Mrs. McCarthy said. “He will always be remembered by our Blue Devil athletic family for his kind ways and supportive nature.”