Anthony Mifsud

Anthony Mifsud: A Legacy of Dedication, Inspiration, and Excellence
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing Anthony Mifsud (known as Tony) on November 23, 2024 at the age of 80, just five days before his 81st birthday. As a revered track and cross-country coach whose dedication to athletics and his athletes left an indelible mark, he was affectionately known as "Coach Mif." His ready smile, infectious love for life and always positive disposition will be sorely missed.
Born Anthony Mifsud on November 28, 1943, he was the fourth of six children born to Angelo and Rita Mifsud in Birkirkara, Malta. His family immigrated to America in 1949 and settled in Detroit. He married Jewell Frazier in 1965, and together they raised 3 children, settling in Allen Park.
Tony's passion for running began while attending Cody High School in Detroit, where he quickly distinguished himself as a standout athlete. This early success set the stage for an illustrious running career at Eastern Michigan University, where he became a 6-time All-American distance runner, graduating in 1966. His competitive spirit and athletic prowess laid the foundation for a lifelong commitment to coaching and mentoring young athletes.
Coach Mif's journey into coaching began shortly after his collegiate running career when he accepted a job as science teacher at Southgate Public Schools. He taught there for 32 years and was known as an involved, creative and beloved teacher. Alongside his teaching responsibilities, Tony became the track and cross-country coach at Southgate, a position he held for most of his tenure. During his coaching career, he also coached at Allen Park High School and organized the track and cross-country clubs at Henry Ford Community College and University Michigan-Dearborn. His ability to inspire and guide his athletes helped to develop many great runners who went on to run for some of the top collegiate programs.
What set Tony apart as a coach was his ability to not only nurture athletic skills and cultivate athletic excellence, but to impart and embody lessons for life. For Coach Mif, running and competing was a metaphor for life. He believed that the lessons learned through training and competition - discipline, resilience, and goal-setting - were invaluable life skills. His athletes knew that he genuinely cared about their personal success, not only their athletic success. He always focused on their strengths - strengths and skills that they themselves often didn't always know they had. His athletes speak about how his unwavering belief in them and their abilities boosted their self-confidence and powered their motivation. Coach Mif's compassionate and empathetic nature was a hallmark of his coaching style. He always focused on doing one's personal best rather than "winning." He never pitted his athletes against each other, but fostered camaraderie and teamwork, creating a strong sense of community and support within his teams. His ability to connect with his athletes on a personal level was a cornerstone of his success.
In addition to his coaching duties, Tony was an active member of the greater community. He founded the Allen Park Road Race and established the Downriver Runners Running Club, and volunteered his time for various charitable organizations, community events, and local businesses. He was always eager to give back and make a positive impact, and his generosity and commitment to service was admired by all who knew him.
The last few months of Coach Mif's life were spent fighting MDS (a pre-leukemic condition), a battle he faced with the same determination and resilience that characterized his coaching career. He fought tenaciously, all the way to the finish line, leaving behind a legacy of inspiration and excellence. Even with the difficulty and considerable pain brought by the MDS, somehow, he could always find a big smile and a good word, and express genuine care and concern for other people in his orbit.
Tony cherished his family deeply and recognized that his community involvement and influence was only possible thanks to the continual support of his devoted wife. He was immensely proud of his children and the families they built, taking special pride in his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, finding great joy in time spent together and in their achievements.
Tony was pre-deceased by his parents and his brothers Charles, Joseph, John, and Victor. He is survived by his beloved wife of 59 years, Jewell, their children, Jeff (Lisa), Jason (Paula), and Melanie, and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; sister Mari (Ray) Walicki and her family; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
The family wishes to sincerely thank all those who sent cards of well-wishes, to all who sent messages to the family, and those who posted memories and comforting words on Facebook. A special thank you to the whole "DC" family who arranged a gathering in front of his home to see him one last time just three days before he departed to the Eternal World.