Menu
Search by Name
Search by Name
Add a Memory
Make a Donation
Cyril Baptiste Obituary
Cyril Baptiste, at age 56, had succumbed to prostate cancer and a life that was all too tough.
The funeral was for an innocent child, a high school basketball star, a college standout, a U.S. Olympic team member, a sometime drug addict, a sometime street person. It was a remarkable life, if not the one Cyril Baptiste willingly chose.
"He could never conquer the demons,"says Leroy Floyd, a coach, mentor and friend to Baptiste. "He always gave people good advice, but he didn't always take it himself."
Memories and Condolences
for Cyril Baptiste
29 Entries
Thomas Doddy
March 16, 2021
Miss you
Thomas Doddy
October 27, 2020
Still miss you today
Alvin Lederer
March 31, 2019
My Parents put me in "The Seed" Drug Rehabilitation Center ran by Art Barker when I was 14 and it was here that I met
Cyril Baptiste. He was fighting his Heroin addiction and I had my own drug problems. He played for Curly High Schol and later signed up as a free agent with the Golden State Warriors. we would sit next to each other and I admired his giant hands and kind voice. he spoke to me of his problems and I told him of mine. my Parents died and never lived to see me straight, I have been clean & sober for 25+ years now and this breaks my heart to see the loss of the gentle giant who befriended me at the time we both needed someone in our lives who you could share your intimate feelings about the struggles you were dealing with to overcome your addiction. God Bless My Friend
kimball hendrix
May 3, 2017
Continue to Rest in Peace, Cyril Baptiste. Prayers to the Baptiste family. kimball hendrix
Jim Short
January 10, 2014
With a watchful eye we follow through life those who had been given such talent from God. Cyril was one such person. How fun it was to go to the Curley games and watch this masterful mound of a man-child do his thing. I watched for articles of his play at Creighton University and was saddened by news of his death as it is our loss, not his! "God be with you Cyril".
Jerry Izzo
April 26, 2011
I followed his early career on the court with great interest and hope. God will not forget one of this life's lost and troubled souls...may Cyril now rest easy.
George Kitsos
March 10, 2011
Cyril
I remember that day at spring football practice, when the coached were making us do fumble drills and I was up against you.
You will be missed.
George Kitsos Class of 70
Robert M Jackson Jr
January 1, 2011
Today i goggled your name remembering the time i played a ball game at motana and you killed us you were so good and i knew i was good but not that night iam sorry to hear you have left us .REST IN PEACE YOU WONDERFUL GIANT . ROBERT [BIG JACK ] JACKSON.
December 23, 2006
Cyril,
Your smile, your warmth and your love always. Good night sweet prince.
Ken Pyle
September 5, 2006
"Something special that is remembered will never die."
Cyril will always be remembered and talked about in interesting and heart felt conversations. I never had the pleasure of meeting him in person because he graduated years before me. My brother and I both went to Curley and I heard his name and stories about his "greatness" from my older brother, other alumni and from coach Phil Petta all the time. My condolences to the family and God has a "Suite" reserved for him and his big smile.
Ken Pyle
Vince [email protected]
September 3, 2006
Thanks for this page !
Kent Golding
August 30, 2006
My condolences to the Baptiste family.
Cyril was such a talented athlete – there were games where we all watched in awe. He took us to the state championship. Bap was also a great guy, friendly and kind…always smiling. Everyone at Curley loved him.
Brian Lynch
August 29, 2006
Good memories of attending the games as my older brother Barry played with Cyril and watching the man-child at his happiest. He and that team set the stage for many years to come. I had the pleasure of meeting and playing with one of his brothers and my thoughts are with his family. God Bless, R.I.P.
Rose Marie Secada
August 28, 2006
I was one of several Secada kids who watched in awe as Cyril led the Curley basketball team. It was amazing to see his talent and energy on the court. Even more amazing was to experience his kindness toward us as small children. Apparently, this kindness continued throughout his life - a life that touched and inspired many. He will be missed but not forgotten.
CAROL SMALECK MCBRIDE
August 28, 2006
AAAAAAAA BAPTISTE!!!! WHAT A MEMORY! I WENT TO NOTRE DAME IS THE LATE SIXTIES. THE GREATEST BASKETBALL TEAM OF ALL TIME HAD TO BE THE 68 TEAM. I BELIEVE IT WAS JOHNNY GAY, JOHN TAYLOR, HOMER AND DAVID LAWYER AND OF COURSE THE MAIN ATTRACTION WAS CYRIL. THERE WERE MANY GAMES WHERE WE WOULD STAY AFTER THE GAME AND TALK WITH HIS MOTHER. SHE WAS SO SO PROUD OF HIM AND EVEN PROUDER WHEN SHE GOT TO SPEAK ABOUT HIM TO HIS FANS. OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS GO TO HIS ENTIRE FAMILY.
Jim Harley
August 28, 2006
I am saddened to learn of the death of Cyril Baptiste. It reminds us that it is the game that connects us.My deepest sympathy to the family and Coach Petta.
George Lorido
August 27, 2006
I feel very privileged to say that I had the opportunity to watch Cyril Baptiste in the late 60’s and the awesome talent that he displayed on the court. When he entered the court
you could feel his persona resonate throughout the stands, especially in a packed Miami- Dade North gym against the Conchs. He was truly a gifted athlete and left a lasting impression on me. I believe he played some pretty good football as well.
Personally, I did not know him but just from reading the article, Coach Phil Petta could not have put it any better.
My deepest sympathies go out to the Baptiste family and May God Bless him and keep him.
Joseph Rutte
August 27, 2006
I was fortunate to play for Curley High's basketball team and Phil Petta in the early 70's - a few years after the glory road days that we knew as the "Baptiste Years." Playing basketball for Curley then felt a little like you'd been handed a piece of a valuable legacy that was our responsibility to care for by how we played the game. It was never stated as such because to us it didn't have to be-but it was Cyril Baptiste who was the foundation of that legacy. Thank you big man, for giving those of us that followed you something bigger than ourselves to be proud of and to be made better for having been a part of it.
Bob Rohan
August 27, 2006
Whenever I talk of my high school years, I always recount Curley basketball with Coach Petta, Cyril Baptiste, Johnny Gay and the Lawyer brothers. There were many others of course, but I'll never forget Cyril. My sincerest condolences to the Baptiste family. We've lost a giant of a man with a gigantic heart.
KATHY WITHERSPOON
August 27, 2006
I MISS YOU COMING BY TO GIVE SOME POSITIVE ADVICE TO MY SONS AND TO SHARE YOUR PASS LIFE EXPERIENCES WITH THEM.YOU WILL BE SADLY MISS WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.KNOWING YOU AT PEACE NOW IS SOME COMFORT.
Hegel Class of 2003
August 27, 2006
Thank you for the Pride that you have instilled in Curley Athletics. We still have pictures of you in our Athletic Director's Office. It gave many of us encouragement and pride to see an alumnus of ACND be touted so highly.It gave me a lot of pride, as a matter of fact, I still talk about the greatest athlete in Curley history when I get in those Miami-Dade circles. Thank you for helping to instill KNIGHT PRIDE.
Raúl Quesada
August 26, 2006
I had the priviledge of knowing Cyril Baptiste the wonderful young man and the best basketball player I ever played with or against. As a Miami High Stimgaree I played against him througout high school and was his team mate at the All Star Game in Gainesville, Fl. the summer after our Sr. Year.
We worked together at the Coca Cola Bottler in Miami during the summer of 1969, right after our Freshman Year in college and that was the very last time I saw him or talked to him. He was a very happy, wonderful young man full of promise and aspirations at that time.
Sorry to hear about your passing my dear friend, my son Tommy call me from Miami this morning to let me know.
Maybe we shall meet again one day in the big hard court in the sky, then as always I will be proud to lace them up with you, shake your hand and call you my friend.
I agree with coach Petta's comments, "Cyril did not fail in life"
Rest in Peace the Great Cyril Baptiste and may God Bless You always!
Jerome and Tonya Smith
August 26, 2006
With Our sincere sympathy. Tree you were a incredible man. Absent in the body is to be present with the Lord.
Richard Kain
August 26, 2006
My father use to tell me about Crispes Attics (Oscar Roberston) highschool basketball and the high level performance of the black athlete. I realized what my father said back then when I got to watch Cyril and the games against Key West as well as the season. I saw a player with dignity, size and grace on the court. Thanks Cyril for helping me understand a part of Black America in a time of racism and segregation and the quality you put into the sport!
Dan Basha
August 26, 2006
Cyril is now with the Lord Jesus Christ. I can remember those great Curley teams which Cyril played on. He was the best. The Knights came so close in the finals only losing to St. Pete Gibbs. My brother and I can still remember the game at Miami Dade North Junior College in which the Knights had the game won against the dreaded Key West Conchs, only to lose on a disputed call. Cyril and the rest of the team were very special. May Cyril rest in peace in the kingdom of heaven.
Walter Secada
August 26, 2006
Cyril made it all look so easy. But, that hid his immense talent and his huge heart...I will never forget the Key West of our senior year. Nor, will I forget the great joy he took in the game...Regardless what happened later in life, he was gracious and, by all accounts, a fundamentally decent and kind human being. My condolences to his family.
Carolyn Murray
August 26, 2006
Thanks for the memories. I attended a rival school, Booker T. Washington, here in Miami, and I always remembered how Cyril use to beat us. RIP!!!! GOD BLESS!!!
Jeff Zarch
August 25, 2006
Cyril, you gave us many memorable moments on the basketball court . Go rest high upon the mountain
Showing 1 - 29 of 29 results
Make a Donation
in Cyril Baptiste's name
How to support Cyril's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.
Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?
What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?
We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read moreResources to help you cope with loss
Estate Settlement Guide
If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast
Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read more
The Five Stages of Grief
They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.
Read moreWays to honor Cyril Baptiste's life and legacy
Obituary Examples
You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.
Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples
These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.
Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?
Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.
Read more