Ron Tomczak refused to let retirement slow him down.

The legendary T.F. North football coach and father of former Chicago Bears quarterback Mike Tomczak taught driver's education, worked eight hours a day at the family's fitness center and helped coach with his son, Steve, at Lincoln-Way East.

In 1995, Tomczak started Retired Athletic People South consisting of former athletic directors, coaches and others in the world of sports. They met monthly and their numbers grew to more than 100.

Ron Tomczak passed away Saturday morning after suffering a heart attack while teaching driver's education Friday at Lincoln-Way East. He was 69.

"He was an anchor. He really believed in fundamentals and work ethic as is exemplified throughout the Calumet Region," Mike Tomczak said. "My dad had a special way of getting into your soul; a way of pushing all your right buttons. He was the complete package.

"Whether you were first team or third team, he did whatever he could to make sure you were able to continue your college education. His network was large."

Added long-time friend Jerry Munda: "Just the other day, I talked to his wife, Joann, and she said Ron was out back, fighting the squirrels. He keeps putting birdseed out and the squirrels eat it.

"Busy all the time. He was always working out," Munda said. "Looked like a bull, so it's a big shock."

Tomczak coached T.F. North from 1967 to 1983. A 1980 playoff loss to Mt. Carmel left him one game short of the state finals.

Munda served as Tomczak's assistant for 18 years before taking over in 1983, a post he held for 11 seasons.

"We were very close," Munda said. "Ron was always doing something for somebody. He never stopped. A great family man. One of the reasons he retired from coaching at North was because he wanted to see his kids play ball. Mike was at Ohio State at the time; his younger kids at St. Francis College and Lincoln-Way.

"We'd often golf, go out to breakfast and talk. He was a nine-hole golfer. He didn't like to play 18 because he didn't have the time. He had to go to work."

Charlie Hatfield, a 1971 graduate, was among three brothers (Chris, '74 and Curt, '77) who starred for Tomczak.

"The more success I was having, the harder he made me work," said Charlie, who attended Bishop Noll as a freshman. "He was always for the athlete. Through the years, for a teaching job, I could always use him for a reference. He helped a lot of kids get scholarships. He was an institution.

"Besides my father, he had the biggest impact on me wanting to be a coach. Here I am, 30 years later, and I'm still coaching. So much of what I use in dealing with kids, I learned from Ron."

Hatfield now is defensive coordinator at Hammond High School, having previously coached at Lowell and Clark high schools.

Tomczak is survived by his wife and their six children. Visitation is 2-9 p.m. Tuesday at Sheehy Funeral Home in Orland Park. The burial service is Wednesday at St. Mary Church in Mokena.

"The last 24 hours have been surreal for me and my family," Mike Tomczak said. "But we're all strong because he was our anchor."