John Albeck

John Albeck is an assistant professor in the Molecular and Cellular Biology department at the University of California, Davis. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from Cornell University before completing his doctoral work on Computational and Systems Biology under Peter Sorger at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Albeck also served as NBA head coach for the Denver Rockets, Cleveland Cavaliers, San Antonio Spurs and New Jersey Nets before his passing Thursday from hospice care.

Early Life and Education

John Albeck was born on April 15, 1895 in Swoyersville, Pennsylvania as one of five children and raised in a modest family environment.

In 1866, his family immigrated to Salt Lake City. He attended the Salt Lake Valley Academy and earned an associate degree.

He also completed an apprenticeship at a local tailor shop.

John was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during his early adulthood. He served a mission in Sweden and later served as a traveling elder for the organization.

He accepted a mission call in 1881 and was sent to Scandinavia, serving the Skane Conference. On August 28, 1884 he embarked on the steamer Panther for America where upon landing he became a member of Moroni, Utah’s city council.

Professional Career

Albeck spent 46 years coaching in the NBA and ABA, serving as head coach of the Denver Rockets, Cleveland Cavaliers, San Antonio Spurs, New Jersey Nets and Chicago Bulls. Additionally he had assistant coaching positions with the Denver Rockets, San Diego Conquistadors, Kentucky Colonels and Los Angeles Lakers.

He was born in Chenoa, Illinois and played college basketball for Bradley University before earning his degree in 1956. Following college basketball, he took a head coaching job at Adrian College in Michigan where he spent 14 seasons before joining the Denver Rockets staff as assistant coach in 1970.

On March 14th, Albeck, whose father was a well-known businessman and banker in Chenoa, passed away peacefully at his son’s home following a stroke. His son reported that Albeck suffered from diabetes throughout his life.

Achievements and Honors

John Albeck has achieved many remarkable accomplishments during his lifetime. He was named Valedictorian of his high school class and earned an honorary doctorate degree from the University of California, Davis.

He earned awards and scholarships during college for his exceptional academic accomplishment, leadership qualities, and service to the university and community. Additionally, he was a member of the National Honor Society.

He was the recipient of the Purple Feather Award, honoring character, scholarship, leadership and service. Additionally, he was named USF Vucurevich School of Business’s “Accounting Student of the Year.”

Personal Life

John Albeck was an exemplary father and husband, always prioritizing his family. He traveled extensively to provide them with care throughout their lives.

He was deeply fond of Laura’s Dutch heritage and took every chance to visit her in Holland, taking her for a stroll along the canals. Additionally, he enjoyed taking Laura skiing at Zermatt or Grindelwald – something he did frequently.

He was an active member of the Wharton Club in New York, where his leadership and service earned him a seat on its executive board. Furthermore, his involvement with Phi Delta Theta fraternity saw him serve as chapter president until his passing in October 2017. Sadly, Alison and Josh Lindland, his daughter, will carry on his legacy through these words:

Net Worth

Net worth is the value of household assets less the value of liabilities, including any outstanding debts. The Surveys of Consumer Finances (SCF) measure total household net worth in various forms by asking questions about asset and liability holdings. Table 2-1 breaks down net worth into financial and nonfinancial categories, showing that the largest portion of it has come from owner-occupied homes – even after taking into account home mortgages and equity lines of credit – even after accounting for home equity lines of credit. Stock ownership has long been a significant component of net worth, though its share has been declining over time. Furthermore, households have increasingly used their equity to fund retirement accounts such as IRAs and Keoghs – accounting for an increasing portion of overall net worth but also contributing to the decrease in average home equity levels across all wealth deciles.