George, as the youngest in an immigrant family
George seated with his parents, sister Madeline,
and brothers Charles and Ed.
George T. Steitz Ideal
Teammate Awards
About the Awards
The "George T. Steitz Ideal Teammate Awards" are a tribute to Coach George Steitz
in recognition for all of his efforts over the years as a Teacher, Basketball Coach, Baseball Coach, Soccer Coach, Girls Softball Coach, Athletic Director, PHS Official as well as his summer efforts in teaching the youth of Penfield to swim.
Penfield High School has expanded the teammate award in Coach Steitz's name to now include the all Boys and Girls Varsity Teams.
How It Works
Each Team will choose an Ideal Teammate. Each team can also choose to “private label” their award based on a former Coach or Player. Each chosen Ideal Teammate for a given year will receive a grant of $500.
At school year end, a committee organized at the high school will then consider all of the winners. From this group an overall Boys winner and an overall Girls winner will be chosen.
Each of these winners will win the "George T. Steitz Ideal Teammate Award" for all Varsity programs along with an additional $2,000 grant.
This newly expanded program becomes effective for the 2025-26 school year at the Penfield High School.
Gratitude
We hope that this award conveys both the gratitude of Coach Steitz's family, friends, and former students for all he has done as well as our love for him!
After landing on Utah Beach as part of the D-Day Invasion force, George made his way to Paris, then to Northern France, the Ardennes, the Rhineland and finally to Central Europe.
The Penfield restaurant "Charley Browns" is Coach's favorite. Here he is on January 21, 2025 (still going strong at 100 years old!) with Scott Thon, Laura Cheney and Terri Thon.
