Jan. 20--Ex-teammates hugged each other and traded basketball stories. Former coaches showed family pictures to one another.
Johnny Bach would've loved the celebration of his life Wednesday at Old St. Patrick's Church, which touched on all his passions -- family, basketball, painting, his Naval Academy service. Bach, 91, the dashing defensive-minded assistant coach on the Bulls' first three-peat team, passed away Monday following complications from a stroke.
Former Bulls Craig Hodges, John Paxson, Horace Grant, Steve Kerr, Bill Wennington, Pete Myers and Stacey King attended. Kerr came with his current Warriors' assistant and former Bulls assistant Ron Adams, missing their shootaround to do so. In a similarly classy move, Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg attended with his entire staff after his team's shootaround. That included Mike Wilhelm, who quietly drove Bach to and from the Bulls' training camp practices he viewed this past October in a consultant role that Bach cherished.
Doug Collins, who had Bach on his staffs with the Bulls, Pistons and Wizards, also attended, along with Northwestern assistant Brian James. Bulls president Michael Reinsdorf, members of Johnny "Red" Kerr's family and a former Fenwick High School player who learned under Bach in one of his volunteer coaching roles he undertook late in his life also paid respects.
Bach was remembered by family members and his church as a wonderful storyteller who made the past feel present and a teacher who thrived on order and discipline.
Bach, a World War II veteran, received full military honors at the service's conclusion. And, yes, an ace of spades -- Bach's signature card of death symbol that he presented for big victories -- was present as well.
