HIALEAH HIGH SCHOOL COACH, TEACHER

PAUL TRIPP, 57:

Newspaper Obituary and Death Notice

Miami Herald, The (FL) - Thursday, June 17, 1993

Deceased Name: HIALEAH HIGH SCHOOL COACH, TEACHER PAUL TRIPP, 57

If Hialeah High School coach and teacher Paul Tripp saw a student needed sneakers, he would go out and buy a pair. Teachers at the school admired Tripp so much that they recently named him Teacher of the Year.

Tripp died Tuesday of heart failure at age 57.

On Wednesday, Principal Frank Wargo announced the death to graduating seniors at commencement exercises.

"You could hear the moans go up from the students," Wargo said. "He always went the extra mile for the kids."

Tripp was a former All-America collegiate football player who briefly played offensive guard and tackle in the pros with the San Francisco 49ers. He stood an imposing 6-feet-4 and weighed 325 pounds.

"But he was as gentle as a lamb," said his friend, Wayne Story, executive secretary of the Greater Miami Athletic Conference. "I think back on all the kids he has touched. He has made a difference in lives.

"If Paul taught me anything, and he was our leader all the way, it was to love my fellow man. He taught me that when another person succeeds, I should take pride in it."

Tripp grew up in Pocatello, Idaho, and graduated from Idaho State University.

He made Hialeah his home. For 32 years, he taught and coached at the high school. He served as the school's athletic director. Tripp helped form the state's first athletic director's association and served on national athletic director boards.

He was in the forefront of encouraging Dade schools to provide more athletics for girls. "He pushed it real hard," Story said.

In his spare time, Tripp enjoyed growing orchids and other flowers. He was the first president of the Miami Springs Garden Club.

He is survived by his former wife, Carolyn Tripp; daughter, Toni Lyn Tripp; sons, Les and Mason Tripp; mother, June Kington; a brother, sister and four grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at Lowe-Hanks Funeral Home in Hialeah.

There will be no services. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Hialeah High School Landscaping Fund.