Anthony Janicek, teacher, coach

Anthony Janicek was a kindly, helpful man who for 37 yearscoached sports, taught physiology, typing and computers, and urgedthousands of boys attending Quigley South and later ArchbishopQuigley preparatory seminaries to be the best person they could.

Many of those boys went on to become Roman Catholic priests,while others are police officers, lawyers and civic leaders.

"He was a very kind coach. He motivated you to be your best bystressing to us to use the gifts God had given to us, not byscreaming as some coaches do," said a former student, the Rev. MartinMichniewicz, pastor of St. Andrew the Apostle Church in Calumet City.Mr. Janicek, 61, was murdered Monday when he returned late fromschool and was ambushed at his house near Midway Airport by would-berobbers. Neighbors who saw men entering the house called police.Two men were arrested at the scene and charged with the killing.Quigley officials knew about his death even before Mr. Janicek'srelatives were found because two of the investigating officersrecognized him as their former teacher, said his brother-in-law,Casey Ladowski, a veteran employee of the Sun-Times sales department.Arizona police tried to notify Mr. Janicek's mother and sisterof his death, but they already had left for the airport to visit himfor Christmas. When he failed to meet their overnight flight earlyTuesday, they called his sister, who drove them to Mr. Janicek'sresidence.They let themselves in with a key, found blood on the floor,feared he had had an accident and called a neighbor, Ladowski said.The neighbor came over and told them about the murder."He was also a part-time guard at the Marquette National Bank at63rd and Western. You'd think if he was going to get killed the wayhe did, it would be in the line of duty as opposed to coming homewith schoolwork," Ladowski said.Walter Liptak, Mr. Janicek's stepbrother, said Mr. Janicek wasknown by amateur athletes around Chicago because of his work in ParkDistrict programs, where he refereed football and basketball gamesand umpired baseball games. He graduated with a degree in physicaleducation from DePaul University in 1962.Archbishop Quigley students dedicated their Advent program tothe man they called "Mr. J." At Quigley South, he had been known as"Coach."Survivors in addition to his stepbrother are Mr. Janicek'smother, Wilma Liptak; two sisters, Helen Snarski and Ann Ladowski,and eight nieces and nephews.A memorial service was scheduled at 10:30 a.m. today at St.Gall's Church at 55th and Kedzie. Burial will be private.