More than a Number

Jim Skerl says farewell to the student body on his last day at Saint Ignatius High School in Cleveland.

When a jersey number is retired, it signifies greatness, and so often that number is hoisted to the rafters, never to be worn again. They do things differently at Saint Ignatius High School (SIHS) in Cleveland, at least for Jim Skerl’s legendary #34.

To commemorate the extraordinary life of the late Jim Skerl, a 1974 alumnus who led the school to the city basketball championship and returned to teach theology for 37 years, SIHS now awards exceptional individuals with the number 34, one of the school’s highest honors.

Students participating in any of the school’s 16 varsity sports can be honored with a #34. So can members of the choir, band and Harlequin theater group (and the band and Harlequins are open to girls from other schools, one of whom is a #34 recipient). An SIHS student also received the #34 honor for his role as a volunteer coach at The Welsh Academy.

Making the award even more special, teams and clubs can skip years when they don’t have someone who embodies #34. Since 2015, the program’s first year, the number 34 has been awarded fewer than 140 times, sometimes to the same student more than once.

All honorees receive a plaque, and in recent years they have also received a pin and a book titled #34: The Stories Behind the Number, which is filled with personal reflections from Skerl’s friends, students and #34 recipients. Only four things are required of #34 recipients: to wear the number with pride, to try to live like Christ, to use the role to inspire others, and to write an essay for the next iteration of the #34 book.

According to all who knew Skerl, he lived like Jesus. In 2001, he co-founded the Saint Benedict Joseph Labre Ministry to show love and compassion to the homeless population of Cleveland. Every Sunday night for more than a decade, Skerl led kids into the community to interact with people on the streets.

“One of Jim’s Labre friends, Rick, who had experienced homelessness and was particularly close with Jim, went to Jim’s funeral,” says SIHS Arrupe Neighborhood Partnership Director John Gill (’97) in the book. “I asked Rick what it was about Jim that made their relationship special. Mr. Skerl was the only person—including social workers, family, friends, etc.—who never judged him.”

Another entry in the book comes from SIHS Principal Anthony Fior (’02): “Now as principal, I often pray to Jim for guidance and wonder when making an important decision— What would Skerl do or say?”

Skerl also founded the Saint Joseph of Arimathea Pallbearer Ministry, the school’s largest extracurricular activity. More than 300 students participate, serving as pallbearers for grieving individuals and families who don’t have people to fill those roles for their loved ones.

“He was friends with everyone: students, teachers, people on the streets, the deceased, people with disabilities,” the book says. “He was a teacher, and he always had a creative way to get his students to understand his subject matter. In pretty much everything he did, he tried to lead with love.”

Skerl graduated from Gesu School, SIHS and John Carroll University, where he also starred in basketball. His most important legacy, however, was teaching more than 11,000 SIHS students—and countless other colleagues and friends—how to live with integrity. He had a love for the Eucharist and an unceasing practice of treating everyone he encountered with dignity and respect. In other words, he taught people how to live like Christ.

“Walk with God,” Skerl told the SIHS student body gathered outside on his final day of teaching. “Love one another.”

Skerl died of pancreatic cancer at age 58 on St. Ignatius of Loyola’s birthday, Oct. 23, 2014. He was laid to rest on All Saints’ Day. In the spring of 2025, a 10-year banquet will be held for all #34 recipients, past and present, and one of them will offer a keynote speech on how he has lived a faithful, service-oriented, Eucharist-focused life since leaving SIHS. All recipients will receive a pin and an updated version of the #34 book, now in the works.

had experienced homelessness and was particularly close with Jim, went to Jim’s funeral,” says SIHS Arrupe Neighborhood Partnership Director John Gill (’97) in the book. “I asked Rick what it was about Jim that made their relationship special. Mr. Skerl was the only person—including social workers, family, friends, etc.—who never judged him.”

Another entry in the book comes from SIHS Principal Anthony Fior (’02): “Now as principal, I often pray to Jim for guidance and wonder when making an important decision— What would Skerl do or say?”

Skerl also founded the Saint Joseph of Arimathea Pallbearer Ministry, the school’s largest extracurricular activity. More than 300 students participate, serving as pallbearers for grieving individuals and families who don’t have people to fill those roles for their loved ones.

“He was friends with everyone: students, teachers, people on the streets, the deceased, people with disabilities,” the book says. “He was a teacher, and he always had a creative way to get his students to understand his subject matter. In pretty much everything he did, he tried to lead with love.”

Skerl graduated from Gesu School, SIHS and John Carroll University, where he also starred in basketball. His most important legacy, however, was teaching more than 11,000 SIHS students—and countless other colleagues and friends—how to live with integrity. He had a love for the Eucharist and an unceasing practice of treating everyone he encountered with dignity and respect. In other words, he taught people how to live like Christ. “Walk with God,” Skerl told the SIHS student body gathered outside on his final day of teaching. “Love one another.”

Skerl died of pancreatic cancer at age 58 on St. Ignatius of Loyola’s birthday, Oct. 23, 2014. He was laid to rest on All Saints’ Day. In the spring of 2025, a 10-year banquet will be held for all #34 recipients, past and present, and one of them will offer a keynote speech on how he has lived a faithful, service-oriented, Eucharist-focused life since leaving SIHS. All recipients will receive a pin and an updated version of the #34 book, now in the works.

For more information, contact Drew Vilinsky (’97), director of the SIHS sports and arts chaplaincy program, at dvilinsky@ignatius.edu.

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