WALTHAM, Mass. – Jim Stehlin, Brandeis University Class of 1957, the school’s top career quarterback and an inaugural member of the Brandeis Athletics Hall of Fame, passed away in his hometown of Newburyport, Massachusetts, on Tuesday.

A native of Allentown, Pennsylvania, Stehlin was a quarterback who was named the team’s MVP all three seasons that he played at Brandeis. Stehlin led the team to winning records in two of his three seasons, going 5-3 in 1954 and 1955 and 3-4-2 in 1956. In those latter two seasons, he was a Little All-American honorable mention as a junior and a first-team AP Little All-American as a senior. Stehlin amassed 3,525 yards passing in his three seasons, producing 4,156 yards of total offense, all remarkable numbers for just a 24-game career. Stehlin also served as captain of the baseball team while with the Judges.

Upon graduation, Stehlin was drafted by the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League, where he played for one season. He then returned to Massachusetts and eventually became a teacher, football coach, and director of athletics at Newburyport High School, where he served for 30 years from 1964 to 1993. He earned numerous Coach of the Year awards and conference championships while at Newburyport, leading them to three state titles and undefeated seasons. In 1995, Newburyport’s football field was renamed the James T. Stehlin War Memorial Stadium in his honor.

Stehlin remained active with Brandeis Athletics over the years, serving as president of the Friends of Brandeis Athletics and as emcee of the first several Brandeis Hall of Fame induction ceremonies.

Stehlin is survived by his wife Beverly, three children, eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.