Gerold Nave, Sr. was born May 2, 1946 to the union of Frank Nave, Sr. and Velma Louise
(Pruitt) Nave in St. Louis, Missouri. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother,
Frank Nave, Jr.

Gerold confessed a hope in Christ at the age of 12 at Friendship M.B. Church under Pastor
Lester Thomas Phinnessee. He graduated from East Louis Senior High in 1964 with the intent
of finding a way to give back to his community. Mr. Nave attended Southern Illinois University
at Edwardsville and earned a Bachelors Degree in Sociology in 1969. That same year he
began his illustrious and enduring career of serving the students and athletes of the East St.
Louis community in District 189, where he would do so for over four decades until his
retirement in 2007. Mr. Nave went on to obtain a Masters Degree in Social Studies in 1971
from Webster University, an Educational Specialist Degree in Counseling also from Southern
Illinois University at Edwardsville and a second Masters Degree in Education Administration
from the University of Illinois at Springfield. Education was important to Mr. Nave and he
stressed that importance to his children and students throughout the East St. Louis
community.

As a student athlete, Mr. Nave was as an all-state running back for the "63"/"64" East St.
Louis Football Flyers. As a coach and educator, he contributed to the success of Rock Jr. High
and Clark Jr. High/Middle School of East St. Louis girls' track program and created one of the
most beneficial athletic feeder systems to East St. Louis Lincoln and East St. Louis Sr. High. On
the Jr. High and Middle School levels he coached girls' track for 33 years winning with 9 city
championships, he coached cross country for 18 years winning 16 city championships and
was an Assistant Coach for football in 1969 where that team advanced to third in the area.
Mr. Nave also served as a Varsity Girls' Track Coach for his alma mater, East St. Louis Senior
High School, where he competitively reached third in the Southwestern Conference.
Mr. Gerold Nave, Sr. provided decades of commitment to service throughout the Community
of East St. Louis. He was initiated into the Beta Eta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity,
Incorporated in 1966 on the campus of Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville and
remained an active life member in the Delta Epsilon Lambda chapter in East. St. Louis, IL. Mr.
Nave was also a Free and Accepted Mason, Southern Cross Lodge #112 and a member of
Aahmes Temple #132 Prince Hall Shriners of East St. Louis, IL. He was a member of Mt. Paran
Missionary Baptist Church under Pastor Zachary Lee until his health failed.

Mr. Gerold Nave, Sr. is survived by his son, Gerold, Jr. (Traci), daughter Candace, sister,
Geraldine (Geri) Coates, grandchildren, Nia and Gerold III and a host of family and friends.