Jim Anderson, the longtime prep athletic director at Griffith and Bishop Noll, died Monday night after a long battle with leukemia, according to family members.

"It is with broken hearts that we share the news of my father's passing tonight," his daughter, Dana, posted on a website Anderson established for family and friends to share his cancer journey. "We are comforted that Dad is at peace now ... All of the support from each of you has meant so much to Dad and to our family throughout these past few years. Truly, your words helped give him strength in his battle."

His daughter said his wife, Karen, was at his side when he passed away.

Anderson was diagnosed with leukemia in March 2008 and chronicled his battle with the illness on a password-accessed website through CaringBridge.com.

Anderson served as captain of the baseball team at Augustana College in Rock Island, Ill., in 1966 and 1967. In 1968, he was an assistant coach under Bob Bradtke as Bishop Noll became the first school in Lake County to win a state baseball championship. He later served as Noll's head coach for seven years, winning five sectional titles and, in 1975, leading Noll to the single-class Final Four once again. Under his direction as AD, Bishop Noll joined the Lake Shore Athletic Conference.

Jerry Vlasic succeeded Anderson as athletic director and remembered him Tuesday as "a pure perfectionist."

"He was probably one of the nicest and most honest persons I've ever dealt with," Vlasic said from his home in Avon, Ind. "Every one of his kids was professional and his teams were fundamentally sound."

Vlasic served as football coach at Bishop Noll under the direction of Anderson as AD.

"As athletic director, he was just someone that you could look up to as a person," Vlasic said. "He was very religious and very health-conscious. It was just such a shock when he became ill, but there are some things that you just can't do anything about."

Anderson was hired in 1977 by Griffith High School, where he coached baseball until 1994, the year he won his 400th game. He was instrumental in founding the Indiana Baseball Coaches Association.

"A compliment to Jim would be he was old-school and we lack that mentality today," said Griffith baseball coach Brian Jennings, who was hired by Anderson. "He gave me a chance and took a chance on a young guy at a school with a lot of tradition."

Anderson retired from Griffith in 2004 at the age of 58, after 10 years as athletic director.

"He did so much stuff at school," said Griffith football coach Russ Radtke, who had Anderson as an assistant one season and a boss for many more. "One of the last things he did was get all the banners and pictures of athletes up to date. He even helped get the wood and paint. He was proud of Griffith and really made sure those were done right."

When the Panthers won the state football title in 1997, Anderson went down a day early and set up a hospitality room that made the IHSAA's spread of food and drinks obsolete.

"At the end of his career I think he relaxed a little more," Jennings said. "He knew the sports and teams were strong and he was around for some great years. Football (state title in 1997), baseball went to state (2001), girls basketball (Final Four in 2000) and the wrestling team (state runner-up) and all the state champs in wrestling."

In addition to his wife and daughter, Anderson is survived by his two sons, Chris and Curt, as well as numerous grandchildren.

His daughter said on the website that visitation and funeral plans are pending in the West Dundee/Algonquin area for Thursday and Friday.

Times sports correspondent Brian Waddle contributed to this report.