ELIE CHARLES POPA

POPA, ELIE CHARLES Nov. 4, 1930 to Oct. 14, 2011 LONGTIME MESA COLLEGE COACH "Coach" was always interested and involved with his students, football players, and colleagues. He came to Mesa College from San Diego High School where he was a teacher and assistant football coach from 1957 to 1960, and head football coach in 1961. He moved to San Diego Mesa College in 1962 where he taught physical education and coached football until his retirement in 1996. He was a popular coach who tried to make football fun in addition to hard work. Upon retiring he kept himself busy as a substitute high school teacher in the Grossmont High School District for two years. He graduated from the University of Illinois in 1952 and was a jolting varsity linebacker and defensive captain in the first nationally televised Rose Bowl Football Game of 1952 and was selected as an Honorable Mention All-American Linebacker in 1952. He then became a linebacker on the 1952 Chicago Cardinals Professional Football Team. After graduating, he served two years in the U.S. Air Force, Strategic Air Command (SAC) bomber base in Limestone, Maine as a first lieutenant. He came to San Diego with a new baby and wife to join his in-laws and start a teaching and coaching career in 1954. Charlie was an Ohio native, growing up in Canton, Ohio, home of the National Football League Hall of Fame. He graduated from Canton McKinley High School in 1948, was a member of the McKinley Bulldogs football team, and was inducted into the McKinley High School Football Hall of Fame. He also was senior class president and his future wife was vice president. He suffered from diabetes since 1978 and passed away of heart failure on October 14, 2011. Coach Popa is survived by his wife of 61 years (the former Marie Joan Stevens) and his loving daughter, Cynthia June Popa, both of San Diego, his sister, Helen Szabo, and niece, Diane Szabo, both of Bokeelia, Florida, and sister-in-law, Barbara Popa of San Diego, and niece, Elaine Rodman of Breaux Bridge, Louisiana. Services will be held at El Camino Memorial Park, 5600 Carroll Canyon Road, San Diego, on Saturday, October 22, 2011; Visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. with Service at 12 Noon, followed by a reception. For detailed information please go to: www.elcaminomemorial.com