Jerry Carder, Class of 2017
April 10, 1946 - October 3, 2026
The Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame mourns the passing of Jerry Carder, who died peacefully at his home on October 3, 2026, at the age of 80.
Born April 10, 1946, in Delphos, Ohio, Jerry arrived alongside his identical twin brother and lifelong best friend, Jim - and together the Carder twins became one of Ohio basketball's great stories. The 5-foot-10 guards were teammates at Delphos St. John's High School and the University of Findlay, where they proved the Division I coaches wrong who felt they were too small to share the floor. Jerry scored 1,953 points at Findlay and set the Delphos St. John's single-game scoring record with 39 points against Newport Catholic, hitting all 11 of his free throws. His career earned him induction into five Halls of Fame, including the NAIA Hall of Fame in 2007 and, alongside Jim, the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017.
Jerry's life after playing was as full as his life on the court. After earning a master's degree in higher education, he coached and taught in Toledo Public Schools before a distinguished career in higher education administration at Owens Community College and the University of Toledo. For 21 years, he brought his insight and unmistakable personality to the broadcast booth as the voice of high school and University of Toledo basketball.
Those who knew Jerry best will remember the joy he brought into every room. He never met a stranger, and his quick wit, optimism, and gift for conversation made him the center of countless gatherings - a man who left everyone he met feeling better for having known him.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, Orville "Bud" and Clara Carder, his twin brother Jim, and his younger brother Kenny. He is survived by his beloved wife Diana, his daughter Alicia Fritz (Jeremy), his son Ryan Carder (Sarah), and four grandchildren who knew him as their proud "Pappy." In honoring his wishes, services were private.
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