Prince George, B.C. – The Prince George baseball community, sports community and the community of Prince George as a whole has lost a very valuable member.

John Kazakoff, who founded the Prince George Grays baseball team in 1997,

Photo courtesy Prince George Sports Hall of Fame

managed and coached at the junior, provincial, national, international and U.S. College ball levels and who was a heck of a catcher in his own right during his playing days, has passed away in hospital following a five-year war with cancer.

“Kaz” touched so many lives in Prince George and elsewhere.  There are many young men who played for the Grays who will tell you with a smile that not only their baseball abilities, but also their lives, were enriched by their exposure to and enthusiastic encouragement from John Kazakoff.

John Kazakoff is survived by his wife Ann and their children Dean and Natasha.  And he is fondly remembered by so many people in so very many communities in which he shared his smile and positive outlook on life.