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Jerry Schiffman

San Jose YMCA

Inducted into Hall of Fame in 2017

HANDBALL BIOGRAPHY OF:

Jerry Schiffman
San Jose YMCA
by Mike Linnik

Jerry Schiffman was one of the best conditioned players on the NorCal
handball scene over 40 years. Seeing Jerry's name in the draw gave players
a cold sweat. His battle plan was to run players ragged with fast
"V" serves and sharp passes, until they (silently) begged him to kill
the ball. His "paddle" shot with his left hand to the left corner was
a classic.

Jerry Schiffman's strength and toughness came from being an NCAA wrestler
while at San Francisco State University. In 1975 Jerry became the wrestling
coach at San Francisco State for the "Awalt Wrestling Team".

Jerry has 30+ tournament wins over 40 years starting with an "A" victory in
1974. He was ranked No.1 on Scoop's Top Ten "Golden Masters" (Jan 21st, 1994
 issue). He's won multiple Regional (6), State (5), and National (4)
titles. He's had multiple wins at the NorCal-SoCal "Best of The Best" California
Cup competition. Jerry overcame a bad injury due to a horse stepping on
his leg, and came back to win a National title.

Off the courts, Jerry always had a smile, always thinking of a joke or
clever quip, always remembering players from the past; he truly enjoyed the
camaraderie and fellowship of handball players at tournaments or simple
pickups games.

In addition, Jerry has contributed as a Coach to the students at San Jose
State University for years. As a young teacher, Jerry would go to the
homes of students to pick them up and drive them to handball events.

Welcome to the NorCal Hall-of-Fame Jerry Schiffman!

SUBMITTED BY:
Mike Linnik
[Updated April 10, 2016]

BIBLIOGRAPHY SOURCES:
. 40 years of "Handball News and Scoop newsletters"
. 50 years of "Ace and Handball" magazine
. R2Sports (went online in 2006)
. Jerry Schiffman's sister kept brass plates to trophies
  won throughout his career

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# SUMMARY:
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4 4-Wall Nationals, "1st place" (see below)

6 NCHA Regionals "1st place"

5 California State Champion "1st place"

23 Bay Area, "Age-Bracket" "1st place" (excluding Regionals, Nationals, Worlds)

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# WINS over NorCal Hall-of-Famers and USHA Grand Masters
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(1)
Jerry defeated NCHA Hall-of-Famers in tournament play:
d. Larry Aguiar
d. Mike Treacy
d. Jim Story
d. Morty Goffstein
d. Bob Braine
d. Mike Dunne Sr/Joe McDonald
d. Jim Smith/Mike Hulbert
d. Mike Driscoll/Mike Lundy
d. Jim Triplett/Mike Dunne
=> Note: got to a 11-10 tiebreaker against Alan Sherill & Jim Tamagni

(2)
1984 6th Annual Al Lopes Handball Tournament
Master's "AA" Singles 1st place
Jerry Schiffman d. Morty Goffstein 21-16,21-18.

(3)
Schiffman also defeated USHA Grand Master in National tournament play.
In 1990 at the 62nd YMCA Nationals, Oct 24-28, Golden Masters division
Jerry Schiffman d. Ed Grossenbacher (7-17),17-7,17-4. (Yes they played
3 games to 17pts!).

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# Finalist:
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1984
Hotel El Rancho Handball Tournament
Sacramento, CA
Open Finals against Larry Aguiar narrowly losing 18, (12), 5.

1985
2nd Annual Los Gatos Invtl
Masters Finals against Jeff Capell narrowly losing 21-17,21-18.

1985
Amigo Open
San Jose
Open Singles: beat Larry Aguiar 21-12,(6-21),11-8
in the Semi's, and narrowly lost to Ed August 21-16,21-8
in the Finals.

1986
Watsonville YMCA Singles
Open Singles: Semi-finals:
Jim Tamagni d. Jerry Schiffman (11-21), 21-14, 11-10.

1988
NCHA Regionals
Stockton, CA
Master's Singles: Alan Sherill over Jerry Schiffman 21-19,19-21,11-10.

1988
Memorial Day
SoS Modesto
Master "A" Singles
Rich Ramirez d. Jerry Schiffman (7-21),21-7,11-7.

1989
NCHA Regionals
Stockton, CA
Master's Singles: Fred Bancalari d. Jerry Schiffman 21-7,21-6.

1991 USHA Nationals
Jerry Schiffman 2nd place to Norm Young 1st place.
(18-21), (18-21).

2015
St Patrick's Day Doubles
South End Rowing Club (SERC)
Men's 70's Doubles
Gary Zackovitch/Jay Latona d. Jerry Schiffman/Kevan Del Grande
11-3 Tiebreaker.

2015
33st Annual Hall-of-Fame Tournamnet
San Mateo Elk's Lodge
Men's 70's Doubles
Jim Smith/Mike Kelly d. Jerry Schiffman/John Hinton 21-5,21-11.

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# Winner:
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1974 "YMCA"
"A" Handball Singles 1st place

1976 Valentine's Day Open
Novice Division 1st place

1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985
San Jose YMCA's Master's Singles Tournamnet
Master's Singles
Jerry Schiffman
=> See Scoop '92 Sep p.17

1981 San Jose YMCA "Amigo"
Master's Singles 1st place

1982 Randy Newman Open
Master's Singles 1st place

1984 6th Annual Al Lopes Handball Tournament
Master's "AA" Singles 1st place
Jerry Schiffman d. Morty Goffstein 21-16,21-18.

1984 NorCal Regionals
Master's Singles 1st place
Jerry Schiffman d. Kevin Sheehy

1984 YMCA National Masters
Master's "A" Singles 1st place (01/27/1984)

1985
California State Championships
Fresno Results
Masters Singles 40+
Jerry Schiffman d. Rainier Newman 21-11,21-13.

1985
Hall-of-Fame
The Olympic Club
Master's Singles
Jerry Schiffman over HoFer Mike Treacy 21-15,21-10.

1986 NorCal Regionals
Royal Athletic Club
Master's Singles 1st place

1986 SoS Memorial
Master's "A" Singles 1st place

1986
California State Championships
Fresno Results
Masters "A" Singles 40+
Jerry Schiffman d. Nick La Placa (Sacramento).

1988
Sacramento Open
Carmichael Athletic Club
Master "A" Singles
Jerry Schiffman d. Dave Stringham 21-8,(18-21),11-3.

1988 NCHA Regional Championship
West Lane Racquet Club
Master's Singles

1988 California State Championship
Veteran Singles 1st place
(3rd state win)

1989 California State Championship
Veteran Singles 1st place
(4th state win in a row)

1990
Memorial Day
SoS Modesto
Golden Master Singles
Jerry Schiffman d. Jim Story 21-8,21-14.

1990
California State Championships
Four Walls West, Fresno
Golden Masters
Jerry Schiffman d. Rob Harrell.
(5th state win in a row)

1990 62nd YMCA Nationals
Oct 24-28
Golden Masters
Jerry Schiffman d. Ed Grossenbacher (7-17),17-7,17-4.
(Yes the played 3 games to 17pts!).

1991
NCHA Regionals
Royal Racquet Club
Master's Singles
Jerry Schiffman d. Jim Story 21-8,21-14.

1991
Memorial Day
SoS Modesto
Golden Master Singles
Jerry Schiffman.
=> See Scoop '92 Sep p.17

1991 California State Championship
Golden Masters Singles 1st place
(6th state win in a row)

1993
NCHA Regionals
SoS Modesto
Golden Masters Singles
Jerry Schiffman d. Jim Keeney (19-21),21-11,11-4.

1995
Memorial Day
SoS Modesto
Golden Master Singles
Jerry Schiffman d. Mike McCrystle.

2001
NCHA Regionals
Burlingame, CA
Royal Racquet Club
60+ Doubles:
Jerry Schiffman/Kevan Del Grande.

2002
Sacramento Open
Sacramento Elk's Lodge #6/Riverside Atheletc Club
Mens 60+ Doubles
Jerry Schiffman/Kevan Del Grande d. Joe McDonald/Mike Dunne Sr

2002
Memorial Day
SoS Modesto
Men's 60+ Singles
Jerry Schiffman d. Bob Braine.

2003
NCHA Regionals
Royal Racquet Club
Men's 60's Doubles
Jerry Schiffman/Kevan Del Grande d. Mike Dunne Sr/Travis Poindexter 21-13,21-9.

2004
USHA National Master's Doubles Championships
Chatanooga, Tennessee
Men's 60's Doubles
Jerry Schiffman/John Bailey d. Jim Smith/Mike Hulbert 21-14,21-13.
=> Note: Handball magazine, p.59 Aug 2006
=> Note: Jerry filled in for Ron Cole.
=> Note: Jerry/John beat #1 Seed Jim Smith/Mike Hulbert.

2006
USHA National Master's Doubles Championships
Corvallis, Oregon
Men's 65's Doubles
Jerry Schiffman/Felipe Rosendo d. Mike Driscoll/Mike Lundy 21-8,(20-21),11-4.

2013
31st Annual Hall-of-Fame Tournamnet
South End Rowing Club (SERC)
Men's 70+ Doubles
Jerry Schiffman/Felipe Resendo d. Mike Dunne Sr/Jim Triplett 21-13,21-12.

2014
California Cup
South End Rowing Club (SERC)
Men's 70's Doubles
Jerry Schiffman/Kevan Del Grande d. John Nottingham/Rich Robitaile 21-12,21-8.

2014
California Cup
South End Rowing Club (SERC)
Men's 75's Doubles
Jerry Schiffman/Kevan Del Grande d. Ron Almadova/Rich Robitaile 21-2, 21-13.

2014
Top Gun Doubles
San Mateo Elk's Lodge
Men's 70+ Doubles
Jerry Schiffman/Mark Haskel d. Mike Dunne Sr/Ed Barberini 21-7,21-9.

2015
40th Annual Top Gun Handball Doubles
San Mateo Elks Lodge
Men's 70+ Doubles
Jerry Schiffman/Bob Braine d. Tom Ricci and Tom McGee in a 11-4 tiebreaker.

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Miscellaneous:
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SF State Wrestling "Gators"
Far Western Conference Champs
Wrestled in the 177lb class.

Represented SF State at the NCAA
wrestling tournament at Cornell University,
Ithaca, New York.

1975
Wrestling Coach
"To a Great Coach "Shifty" Schiffman
Thanks, From the Awalt Wrestling Team

US Coast Guard Reserve 1961-1967

Played at San Quentin from 1962-1967 (court was in the gym)

Taught school at SJSU from 1967-1981

Took over from Sol Aber the Handball program for 12 years

Jerry was a snow skiier, traveler, scub qualified, sky diver,
tennis player, played polo on horseback, wrestled, and was
a handball champion.

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