JOHN WILLIAM "BILL" BANKERT Age 68, of Canton, passed away Thur. March 12, 2009, surrounded by his family, at Aultman Hospital after a four-year battle with Lewy Body Dementia. He was born in Canton on June 18, 1940 to the late Jack H. Bankert and Florence M. (Gill) Bankert, of Canton, who survives him. John grew up in Waynesburg and was known to everyone in that community as Bill". He was a 1958 graduate of Sandy Valley High School where he participated in track & field, basketball and football. In 1961, he joined the U. S. Army and served at Fort Lee, VA for two years. On Jan. 20, 1962, he married his high school sweetheart, Joan M. Moyer, and she survives. He is also survived by their four children: daughter and son-in-law Juli (Bankert) and Jason Haines, of Canton; three sons and daughters-in-law, Mark and Colleen Bankert, of Canton, John Craig Bankert, of Boca Raton, FL, and Brett and Mandy Bankert, of Canton; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Larry and Tammy Bankert, of Port Lucie, FL, and Norman Lee and Erin Bankert, of Canton; eight grandchildren, Rebecca, Joel, Joshua, Lauryn, Michael, John, Stephen, and Cora. He is also survived by his dear friend and colleague, former Executive Director of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Pete Elliott, of Canton, and his longtime friend, Dave Boyd, of Magnolia. In August of 1964, shortly after enrolling at Malone College, John began a 42-year career at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. A 1969 Malone graduate (in Business Administration and Economics), he worked his way up the ranks at the Hall of Fame from part-time film librarian and projectionist, to Administrative Assistant, to Business Manager, to Vice President of Operations, and finally to Executive Director and President in 1996, a position he held until his retirement in December 2005. He also worked for the National Football League as an Instant Replay Official for numerous years. John was a three-year letterman in golf at Malone and was involved in many civic activities throughout his life. He was a member of the Sandy Valley Jaycees and the Waynesburg City Council. He served as a two-term President of the International Association of Sports Museums and Halls of Fame and, for several years, as a member of that group's Board of Directors. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Little League Baseball Museum in Williamsport, PA. In addition to his love of professional football, John enjoyed playing golf, had a love of horse racing and even held ownership of a thoroughbred with several area friends. John was a gifted speaker, having numerous opportunities to speak at various events with humor and professionalism. He also enjoyed attending numerous Super Bowls, Pro Bowls and Hall of Fame events with Joan and their children throughout the years. John enjoyed mushroom hunting with his children and grandchildren, cooking for his family, and going for adventurous family car rides, always taking the scenic route to some new and exciting location. Bill was also quite popular with the neighborhood children for his Bankert Bobsled Run which he always looked forward to creating each winter. It would start in the woods behind his house in Waynesburg on Spring Valley Lane and take you all the way to Finefrock Furniture if you were lucky. He was such an integral part of not only his immediate but also his extended family, lending advice and support whenever needed. John was the rock of the Bankert family. John was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia at the Cleveland Clinic in March 2005. He fought a courageous battle with his illness during the past four years with Joan by his side as primary caregiver. She selflessly provided more love and support to him than anyone will ever know. Joan and their children would like to extend their sincere appreciation to everyone at the Pro Football Hall of Fame for their friendship, kindness and unwavering support. The family would also like to thank the House of Loreto for the wonderful love and care given to him during the last months of his life. John was truly blessed to have been welcomed into their loving arms. Services will be conducted Sat., March 21, 2009 at 11 a.m. in the Johnson Center at Malone University with Pastor David Tebbs officiating. Friends and family will be received Friday, March 20, 2009, 4-8 p.m. at the Formet-Clevenger & Gordon Funeral Home and Sat., March 21, 2009, one hour before the service at Malone University. Interment in North Lawn Cemetery. Online guest registration and condolences may be sent through the funeral home website at www.gordonfuneralhomes.com. Memorial contributions may be made to the House of Loreto, 2812 Harvard Ave. NW, Canton, OH 44709, the John Bankert Pro Football Hall of Fame Endowment Fund, 2121 George Halas Dr., Canton, OH 44708 or Malone University, 2600 Cleveland Ave. NW, Canton, OH 44709. Formet-Clevenger & Gordon (330) 456-4766