Dobies Funeral Home
"Coach" Mike Karaphillis, beloved coach and mentor to young men on and off the football field, died on Thursday, June 16, 2022, surrounded by his family. He was born on November 10, 1930, in Youngstown, Ohio to John Michael Karaphillis and Kaliope Hazidrosos Karaphillis, both from Kalymnos, Greece. When Mike was six, he and his parents moved to Tarpon Springs, Florida, where his father began sponge-diving. Mike attended school in Tarpon and played on the TSHS Sponger football team from 8th grade through his senior year. For his outstanding athletic abilities, coach was awarded a football scholarship to the University of Florida to play football for the Gators. Not only did he make lifelong friends there, but he always said he was lucky to have been able to play with his childhood friend, Jack Pappas. In 1952, Coach married Norma Nicolaides from Miami, whom he had met five years earlier at the annual Epiphany Day celebration in Tarpon. They had three children, Mary Frances, John, and Nick. After college, Coach began a teaching and coaching career, first at Jefferson High School in Tampa, and then home to Tarpon Springs as a physical education teacher, and football coach. He has always said that the years he coached at Jefferson High, Tarpon Junior High, and then, coaching high school football for the Spongers were among the best years of his life because of his love for all of the students he taught. After coaching the JV Spongers to two undefeated seasons, and assisting the varsity team to their 1970-1971 undefeated season, Coach Karaphillis switched gears and became a property manager before owning his own painting business. Coach was also a Mason and an avid hunter. He is predeceased by his son Nick, and his two grandsons Nicholas and Michael Constantine Karaphillis. He is survived by his wife Norma, his daughter Mary Frances Gillespie and her husband Michael, his son John Karaphillis and his wife Cindy, and his grandchildren Rhett Cowart, Michael John Karaphillis, and Alexandra Jones. He is also the great-grandfather of Nicholas Pappas, Brooke Karaphiilis, Jude Jones, and Anna Karaphillis.
Visitation to be held on Wednesday, June 22 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Tarpon Springs followed by services at church at 1:00 PM. Burial to follow at Cycadia Cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to Dobies Funeral Home Tarpon Springs Florida.
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