Renton Coach Irv Leifer, St. John grad, dies at 93.

Irv Leifer, who played basketball at Pine City and St. John High schools and wound up coaching teams at Renton High School for 30 years, died Friday, Feb. 26, 2016, at the age of 93. He was residing at an assisted living facility in Issaquah.

Leifer, who was the first coach to win four big school state titles, retired at Renton in 1977.

A 1942 graduate of St. John High School, he played on St. John teams for two years and Pine City teams for two years.

He was born Feb. 2, 1923, to Irvin T. and Anna Mills Leifer who resided in the Pine City area.

According to an account by Craig Smith in a special article in the Seattle Times, Leifer was part of a St. John team which almost pulled off one of the largest upsets in state basketball history in 1941 when the state finals were played out without any divisions for size differences.

St. John advanced to the title game against Bremerton and came within a point, 29-30 of knocking off the larger school. Irv's little brother, Bob, earned all-tournament honors that year.

After graduation, Mr. Leifer served in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II and was a veteran of the Pacific Campaign including the battle at Iwo Jima.

After the war he played for Eastern Washington at Cheney. He was a member of four Eastern Washington teams that competed in NAIA tournaments and scored 1,560 points during his college career.

During his years at Renton, he compiled a 481-202 career with a 72-41 post season record. Coach Leifer was named to WIAA, Eastern Washington, NAIA and Inland Empire Halls of Fame.

During the summers he worked at the Longacres Racing track and he and his wife Dorothy, who died in 2008, owned thoroughbred horses.

Surviving are three sons, Irvin (Butch) Leifer, Palm Desert, Calif.; Mike Leifer, and Randy (Rosemary) Leifer of Renton; six grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.