John O. Kaufman, 88, of Clarion, formerly of Oil City, died at 3:45 p.m. Sunday, March 4, 2007, in UPMC Northwest, Seneca. Born May 24, 1918, on a farm near Callery, Butler County, he was the son of William L. and Laura Malinda Cashdollar Kaufman. Mr. Kaufman graduated in 1936 from Evans City High School and in 1940 from Slippery Rock State Teachers College with a bachelor of science degree in health and physical education. While at Slippery Rock, he was an all-state halfback and tri-state 440-yard dash champion. He went on to earn his master's degree in education in 1951 from Penn State and completed graduate work at the University of Pittsburgh. He received a secondary principal certificate from Westminster College. Mr. Kaufman started working in 1940 as a teacher and coach at Berlin Brothersvalley High School where he started track and football programs. After World War II, he was a teacher and coach at Evans City High School before moving to Oil City in 1948. He was a teacher, coach, director of health and physical education, athletics director, transportation coordinator, secondary curriculum director while serving the Oil City Area School District for 31 years before retiring in 1979. He was the Oilers' football coach from 1948-57. He served the last 16 years as high school principal and was very instrumental in planning and organizing the building of the new Oil City High School in the late 1960s. He also served 16 years on the PIAA District 10 Board, including four years as district chairman at which time he organized and conducted the district track meets for 13 years in Oil City. Mr. Kaufman was a member of Grace United Methodist Church in Oil City, serving on numerous committees, including the Memorial Renovation and the 125th Anniversary Committee, just to name a few. He was past chairman of the trustees, served on the Administrative Board for several years and taught Sunday school for 18 years. He also was a member of the Oil City Library Commission and Civil Service Commission, director of the city playgrounds for 10 years, the YMCA Board and served briefly as acting director of the YMCA, VNA Home Care Board, Oil City Lions Club, Petrolia Lodge No. 363, F.& A.M. in Oil City and the James M. Henderson Post No. 32 of the American Legion in Oil City. He enjoyed spending time with family, friends and neighbors. After he retired he was a member of the Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees, serving as president of the Venango County Chapter, Region 9 director and member of the state PASR Board. In 1983 he was inducted into the initial Sports Hall of Fame at Slippery Rock University where was captain of the 1939 undefeated, untied football team. Mr. Kaufman served in the U.S. Army Air Corps and Infantry during World War II from Oct. 13, 1942, to May 28, 1946. He was stationed in Miami Beach where he taught physical training to enlisted men. Following the war, he served with the Occupation Army in Japan until his discharge as a second lieutenant. He was married in Miami Beach, Fla., June 24, 1943, to Mary E. Eby who survives. Also surviving are three sons, Jay Kaufman and wife, Deborah, of Encinitas, Calif., William Kaufman and wife, Patricia, of Clarion and Ted Kaufman and wife, Lee Ann, of Miami, Okla.; eight grandchildren, David Kaufman, Joseph Kaufman and Steven Kaufman, all of Encinitas, Calif., Benjamin Kaufman of Phoenix, Ariz., and Daniel Kaufman of Collingswood, N.J.; and Jennie Grisgby and husband, Joel, of Wichita, Kan., John Kaufman and Katie Kaufman, both of Miami, Okla., and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Mr. Kaufman was preceded in death by an infant brother and a sister, Margaret Zinkham. The family received friends from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday in the Osenider Funeral Home and from 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday in Grace United Methodist Church. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Thursday in the church with the Rev. Pete Knight, assistant pastor, officiating, assisted by the Rev. Jack Friggle, associate pastor emeritus, and the Rev. Jack Stevenson. Internment took place in Grove Hill Cemetery, Oil City. The family suggests memorial donations be sent to Grace United Methodist Church Continual Memorial Fund, Venango VNA Foundation or to the Slippery Rock University Foundation for Rock Athletics.