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Event to honor Alexander slated for Sunday at Logan Field
The past five years have been a long, adversity-filled road for longtime community member Jamie Alexander and his family.
Alexander, who has been a member of the Nevada High School and middle school football coaching staff at various junctures since the mid-90s, was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2015. A public event to honor Alexander, called "Share the Light" will take place from 8-9:30 p.m., Sunday at Logan Field. The event is being organized by family friend Tonya Cliffman, and Alexander's son — Jerrod. Individuals are encouraged to bring flashlights, cell phones, or solar lights — for a visual display of light at dark.
Patti said Jamie and the family will arrive to Logan Field at 7, for those wanting to say hi or chat with Jamie.
Alexander has left an indelible legacy on the youth he has positively impacted over the years. Jamie's wife, Patti, said the event was inspired because he's been a shining light to so many people, adding he's always been an uplifting and encouraging mentor to those he's coached.
Patti said Jamie's health has declined considerably in recent weeks, and felt now would be a good time to hold the event, which will include several guest speakers.
"At the end of it, when it gets a little closer to dark, we're going to do a little ceremony where people can turn on their cellphone, flashlight, or some kind of light that they have," Patti said. "It's not necessarily for Jamie, but it's more of, just be a light — live your life that way. Be encouraging, be uplifting, and positive. That's kind of how he's handled his illness."
Jamie received his diagnosis in August 2015, and shortly after underwent surgery to remove a walnut-sized tumor. He then underwent six-and-a-half weeks of radiation therapy, and followed that with powerful meds. Patti said for the first three years after the diagnosis the radiation and multiple medications Jamie was prescribed had held the cancer at bay. Additionally, Jamie had since undergone more surgeries since the first one.
"It was always considered being dormant," Patti explained. "The cancer was there, but it didn't grow. It started spreading in march of 2019. And it's been growing at a slow pace, but a very steady pace since then. And the last few months, we're seeing huge effects of it. He's still handling it with grace and poise, and still being a very positive influence to a lot of people."
Added Patti: "If you came up and asked him how he was feeling, or how he was doing, the first thing out of his mouth is going to be 'I feel great, I'm doing good.'"
Patti said the plight has helped bring the family closer together, as her and Jamie have three adult children and 10 grandkids.
"I believe that we raised three very strong children," Patti said of Shawna, Jerrod, and Andrea. "They do anything and everything they can to help. Jerrod came by the other day and took his dad for a haircut, for the little bit of time they can spend together. The girls come over just to spend time with him, and bring the grandkids. We're getting ready to have our 11th grandchild — they are his joy. He doesn't get to get down on the floor and play with them like he used to, but they light up his day. So. we're very thankful and blessed that they all get to be here with us. It's made a huge impact on them, and brought our family closer together."
Patti said Jamie, a Sunday School teacher, has been guided by his faith throughout his journey. He's had incredible faith through it all. From the very beginning, the first day we found out he had cancer, he said 'It's okay Pat, whatever happens, it's going to be okay.' He has had that opinion of it since the beginning. He's not faltered, in that whatever was going to happen was going to happen — and it was going to be okay."
The diagnosis did not hold Jamie back from his passion of coaching and mentoring youth student-athletes.
"Eleven days after his original surgery, he was back on the practice field," Patti recounted. "He said 'I needed to be around the kids, they were what gave me the strength.' He just loved being around the kids. He used it in such a positive manner. He would say 'Look at me, I have brain cancer, and if I can get up every day and put a smile on my face — so can you. Let's go, let's do this and win this game."
Jamie has also previously coached his daughters and granddaughters in softball, and took time off from coaching to follow Jerrod when he was a standout baseball student-athlete at Nevada High School. Jamie also served as an assistant baseball coach to his son, after Jerrod was named the Bronaugh High School head coach several years ago.
"It was never, ever about winning," Patti said. "His policy was always about let's have fun, let's do our best, let's do the right thing on-and-off the field. He would tell me he made a 'positive sandwich.' Start out with something positive, then tell them what they did wrong, and always end with something positive. He might yell at them in the middle — but he always started out with something good, and ended with something good. He loves his kids, he loves the kids that he coached. And that's just who he is — I'm blessed to be married to him."
Patti said she believes one reason Jamie is so well-regarded by those he coached, was because of his honesty.
"I think kids appreciate honesty, and I think they can see through non-sense," she said. "They're very perceptive. And he realized that."
Patti said one of her most special memories was being able to witness Jamie and Jerrod coach together at Bronaugh. Additionally, they were both on the Nevada High varsity football staff together at one time as well.
"I know how much they both loved the game," she said. "And I know that Jerrod has wanted that more than anything, to be able to coach with his dad. That's probably one of things that makes me the saddest, is that they are not going to get to continue to do that together. That's something that they had talked about for years, was coaching together. And it's just not going to be possible anymore."
Nevada High head varsity football coach Wes Beachler spoke glowingly of "Coach A."
"If you know Jamie, you know what his priorities are, and coaching was always a big part of his life," Beachler said. "To impact young people, and coach, and teach the game of football and baseball, and whatever else he could help out with. Just as a teacher of the game, and as a man, one of the best assistants I've ever had in my 28 years of coaching."