The following is a correspondence I had with Coach Josh Pastner .

From: Gary Gillespie
Sent: Monday, May 26, 2014 8:10 AM
To: Joshua P Pastner
Subject: Thank you, Thank you, Thank you

Coach Pastner,

I am writing to you today with a broken heart but full of pride. Last year when i turned 50, my kids wrote to you and asked for you to help them give me a unforgettable birthday. You impressed them so much by immediately getting back to them and sending some Tiger gifts. Without getting to our life history, I can tell you Tiger basketball has always been a celebration for my 3 sons and I. We regularly gathered at each others' homes in in the St. Louis are to watch games. We are all proud of the way you are running the program.

My youngest son Will,tragically lost his life this Past Friday. His wife has decided that his last shirt he will have on his body will be his favorite Tiger hoody. I can't begin to tell you how many conversations we had about you and the program. He has always been so proud to call himself a Tiger fan but never as much as the past five years since you became the coach. He told me on several different occasions how nice it was to tell people he was a Tiger and not have to defend it any longer. He himself, was a coach. he coached high school volleyball for four years and he understood the importance of not only coaching, but mentoring and teaching.

I just wanted to let you know that are many people out here who support you, are greatful for and believe in what you are doing. I have no doubt if the two of had ever crossed paths, you would have become great friends. Just know that I am not writing to you to ask for anything, I just want you to know that you make a difference . Thanks for all you do, keep the faith and bless you.

Gary Gillespie
From: Joshua P Pastner
Sent: Monday, May 26, 2014 8:10 AM
To: Gary Gillespie
Subject: RE: Thank you, Thank you, Thank you
Gary,
i am so sorry to hear about Will. I am so sorry. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Please please pass to his wife my thoughts and prayers to her as well.
Again, I am so sorry to hear about Will.
Please know he will have the best seat in the house for all tiger games next season and beyond.
If you need me to call his wife or anything, please let me know and I will call her right away.
Again, I am here for you if you need me
Josh Pastner

He did call her and he did give me the okay to post this.

(05-26-2014 09:26 PM)realtigerinstl Wrote:  The following is a correspondence I had with Coach Josh Pastner .

From: Gary Gillespie
Sent: Monday, May 26, 2014 8:10 AM
To: Joshua P Pastner
Subject: Thank you, Thank you, Thank you

Coach Pastner,

I am writing to you today with a broken heart but full of pride. Last year when i turned 50, my kids wrote to you and asked for you to help them give me a unforgettable birthday. You impressed them so much by immediately getting back to them and sending some Tiger gifts. Without getting to our life history, I can tell you Tiger basketball has always been a celebration for my 3 sons and I. We regularly gathered at each others' homes in in the St. Louis are to watch games. We are all proud of the way you are running the program.

My youngest son Will,tragically lost his life this Past Friday. His wife has decided that his last shirt he will have on his body will be his favorite Tiger hoody. I can't begin to tell you how many conversations we had about you and the program. He has always been so proud to call himself a Tiger fan but never as much as the past five years since you became the coach. He told me on several different occasions how nice it was to tell people he was a Tiger and not have to defend it any longer. He himself, was a coach. he coached high school volleyball for four years and he understood the importance of not only coaching, but mentoring and teaching.

I just wanted to let you know that are many people out here who support you, are greatful for and believe in what you are doing. I have no doubt if the two of had ever crossed paths, you would have become great friends. Just know that I am not writing to you to ask for anything, I just want you to know that you make a difference . Thanks for all you do, keep the faith and bless you.

Gary Gillespie
From: Joshua P Pastner
Sent: Monday, May 26, 2014 8:10 AM
To: Gary Gillespie
Subject: RE: Thank you, Thank you, Thank you
Gary,
i am so sorry to hear about Will. I am so sorry. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Please please pass to his wife my thoughts and prayers to her as well.
Again, I am so sorry to hear about Will.
Please know he will have the best seat in the house for all tiger games next season and beyond.
If you need me to call his wife or anything, please let me know and I will call her right away.
Again, I am here for you if you need me
Josh Pastner

He did call her and he did give me the okay to post this.

He's a class act, but we already knew that. Glad he's a Tiger!

Just simply awesome

Character makes a huge difference.

Thanks for sharing this. Josh is one of a kind.

Whether Pastner is a good coach we can debate, but not his worth as a human being.

Wow,nothing like being a Tiger ; RIP

So very sorry for your loss. But thank you for sharing that beautiful story.

Another great story...glad Josh is our coach.

Very sorry for your loss STL. Very classy of CJP to call. My prayers are with your family.Hang in there.

I am so sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing this, coach Pastner is incredible.

This does not surprise me. He is truly a wonderful human being who cares deeply about other people. So very very sorry about Will.

First of all, I am very sorry to hear of your family's loss. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Thanks for sharing this story. Pastner is an asset to the community and to the university.

(05-26-2014 09:26 PM)realtigerinstl Wrote:  The following is a correspondence I had with Coach Josh Pastner .

From: Gary Gillespie
Sent: Monday, May 26, 2014 8:10 AM
To: Joshua P Pastner
Subject: Thank you, Thank you, Thank you

Coach Pastner,

I am writing to you today with a broken heart but full of pride. Last year when i turned 50, my kids wrote to you and asked for you to help them give me a unforgettable birthday. You impressed them so much by immediately getting back to them and sending some Tiger gifts. Without getting to our life history, I can tell you Tiger basketball has always been a celebration for my 3 sons and I. We regularly gathered at each others' homes in in the St. Louis are to watch games. We are all proud of the way you are running the program.

My youngest son Will,tragically lost his life this Past Friday. His wife has decided that his last shirt he will have on his body will be his favorite Tiger hoody. I can't begin to tell you how many conversations we had about you and the program. He has always been so proud to call himself a Tiger fan but never as much as the past five years since you became the coach. He told me on several different occasions how nice it was to tell people he was a Tiger and not have to defend it any longer. He himself, was a coach. he coached high school volleyball for four years and he understood the importance of not only coaching, but mentoring and teaching.

I just wanted to let you know that are many people out here who support you, are greatful for and believe in what you are doing. I have no doubt if the two of had ever crossed paths, you would have become great friends. Just know that I am not writing to you to ask for anything, I just want you to know that you make a difference . Thanks for all you do, keep the faith and bless you.

Gary Gillespie
From: Joshua P Pastner
Sent: Monday, May 26, 2014 8:10 AM
To: Gary Gillespie
Subject: RE: Thank you, Thank you, Thank you
Gary,
i am so sorry to hear about Will. I am so sorry. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Please please pass to his wife my thoughts and prayers to her as well.
Again, I am so sorry to hear about Will.
Please know he will have the best seat in the house for all tiger games next season and beyond.
If you need me to call his wife or anything, please let me know and I will call her right away.
Again, I am here for you if you need me
Josh Pastner

He did call her and he did give me the okay to post this.

I wrote a letter similar to this when my brother died 4 yrs ago, CJP wrote me back in 45 minutes, tremendous human being, we are blessed to have him!!

Gary, one the greatest gifts God gives us other than His Son, is our memories of the loved ones who have gone home, these will bring comfort in the days to come, praying for you and your family!!!

(05-26-2014 09:26 PM)realtigerinstl Wrote:  The following is a correspondence I had with Coach Josh Pastner .

From: Gary Gillespie
Sent: Monday, May 26, 2014 8:10 AM
To: Joshua P Pastner
Subject: Thank you, Thank you, Thank you

Coach Pastner,

I am writing to you today with a broken heart but full of pride. Last year when i turned 50, my kids wrote to you and asked for you to help them give me a unforgettable birthday. You impressed them so much by immediately getting back to them and sending some Tiger gifts. Without getting to our life history, I can tell you Tiger basketball has always been a celebration for my 3 sons and I. We regularly gathered at each others' homes in in the St. Louis are to watch games. We are all proud of the way you are running the program.

My youngest son Will,tragically lost his life this Past Friday. His wife has decided that his last shirt he will have on his body will be his favorite Tiger hoody. I can't begin to tell you how many conversations we had about you and the program. He has always been so proud to call himself a Tiger fan but never as much as the past five years since you became the coach. He told me on several different occasions how nice it was to tell people he was a Tiger and not have to defend it any longer. He himself, was a coach. he coached high school volleyball for four years and he understood the importance of not only coaching, but mentoring and teaching.

I just wanted to let you know that are many people out here who support you, are greatful for and believe in what you are doing. I have no doubt if the two of had ever crossed paths, you would have become great friends. Just know that I am not writing to you to ask for anything, I just want you to know that you make a difference . Thanks for all you do, keep the faith and bless you.

Gary Gillespie
From: Joshua P Pastner
Sent: Monday, May 26, 2014 8:10 AM
To: Gary Gillespie
Subject: RE: Thank you, Thank you, Thank you
Gary,
i am so sorry to hear about Will. I am so sorry. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Please please pass to his wife my thoughts and prayers to her as well.
Again, I am so sorry to hear about Will.
Please know he will have the best seat in the house for all tiger games next season and beyond.
If you need me to call his wife or anything, please let me know and I will call her right away.
Again, I am here for you if you need me
Josh Pastner

He did call her and he did give me the okay to post this.

Thank you for posting! Say what you will about Josh, but he is genuinely an awesome person. So sorry for your loss.

Great post and great reply from Josh. And I'd agree with 'motivational speaker' for JO.

I feel truly blessed to be a small part of Tiger Nation. Coach Josh and so many Tigers I have met are all so awesome. I will continue praying for you and your family. We are here if you need us.

I hope you don't mind, but let's keep this thread at the top for awhile...

Class act! Thoughts and prayers go out to your family at this difficult time!

There are some folks that make you wonder about the future of the human race and then there are people like you, your son and CJP. Thanks for posting CJP's letter to your family.