Coach Harry John Meisel, 12/06/1922 - 07/25/2010
MEISEL, HARRY JOHN
December 6, 1922 - July 25, 2010 Harry "Coach" Meisel passed away Sunday, July 25. He was born in Stamford, CT to Mae and Harry H. Meisel. On September 3, 1949, he married Jeanette in DeLand, FL. He is survived by Jeanette, his loving wife of 60 years; children, Karen (David) Hales, Steve (Janice) Meisel, Cathy Meisel, Kevin (Bobbi) Meisel and Teresa (Mike) Crant; grandchildren, Rachel, Kevin,
Sarah, Julia, Daniel, Brian, Monica, Meghan, Lauren and Evan; sister-in-law, Elizabeth Pierce; cousins, Jack (MaryAnn) Healy and Marianne Fahey; many nieces and nephews.
Special thanks for the wonderful caregivers at Hospice of the Comforter. Thanks to all of our family and friends for their love and support. "Coach" was loved and respected by many and will be dearly missed by all.
In lieu of flowers, send contributions to St. Charles Catholic Church and School, Bishop Moore Catholic High School, or Hospice of the Comforter (Altamonte Springs, FL).
Public Visitation and Eulogies Thursday, July 29, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Rosary 7:30 to 8 p.m. at Saint Charles Catholic Church, Orlando, FL. Funeral Mass at St. Charles Catholic Church, Friday, July 30, 10 a.m. with Reception at Bishop Moore Cafeteria from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Burial at Glen Haven Memorial Park with Military Honors at 2 p.m.
Published in the Orlando Sentinel on July 27, 2010
An Email sent by Harry's son, Kevin:
Dear Family & Friends,
Like all old soldiers, my dad has faded away...he took his last breath soon after 1:40 this morning. Many thanks to ALL for the prayers, cards, letters, and fond memories of a great American and family man, Coach Harry John Meisel.
I have thought much about the old soldier since Memorial Day and took time last night to read and listen to General Douglas MacArthur's speech. The scope of his speech is much broader than the "old soldiers" ballad he made famous in his closing remarks, but there are a few lines that reminded me of my dad. I can envision him saying much the same words, but with a delivery akin to General George S. Patton!
Like all old soldiers, my dad has faded away...he took his last breath soon after 1:40 this morning. Many thanks to ALL for the prayers, cards, letters, and fond memories of a great American and family man, Coach Harry John Meisel.
I have thought much about the old soldier since Memorial Day and took time last night to read and listen to General Douglas MacArthur's speech. The scope of his speech is much broader than the "old soldiers" ballad he made famous in his closing remarks, but there are a few lines that reminded me of my dad. I can envision him saying much the same words, but with a delivery akin to General George S. Patton!
General MacArthur's Address to Congress
April 19, 1951
Mr. President, Mr. Speaker and Distinguished Members of the Congress:
I stand on this rostrum with a sense of deep humility and pride -- humility in the weight of those great architects of our history who have stood here before me, pride in the reflection that this home of legislative debate represent human liberty in the purest form yet devised.
Here are centered the hopes and aspirations and faith of the entire human race.
I do not stand here as advocate for any partisan cause...
I trust, therefore, that you will do me the justice of receiving that which I have to say as solely expressing the considered viewpoint of a fellow American.
I address you with neither rancor nor bitterness in the fading twilight of life, with but one purpose in mind: to serve my country.
...
I am closing my 52 years of military service. When I joined the Army, even before the turn of the century, it was the fulfillment of all of my boyish hopes and dreams. The world has turned over many times since I took the oath at West Point, and the hopes and dreams have all since vanished, but I still remember the refrain of one of the most popular barracks ballads of that day which proclaimed most proudly that old soldiers never die; they just fade away. And like the old soldier of that ballad, I now close my military career and just fade away, an old soldier who tried to do his duty as God gave him the light to see that duty.
Good Bye.
Thank you for letting me put a few of my thoughts in this message as a way of paying homage to my dad. Two of my young swimmers handed me "Thank You" notes at the conclusion of today's championship swim meet...they ended their well written notes with a wish for my dad to feel better soon! I believe he is now feeling better as he is raised on eagle's wings to be with his heavenly Father and all those old soldiers who have gone before him.
Please look for the wake service and funeral Mass arrangements in Tuesday's Orlando Sentinel: www.orlandosentinel.com
Take Care & God Bless All...
Good Bye, Dad...I Love You,
Kevin, your loving son and assistant coach!
"Old Soldiers":
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/macarthur/filmmore/reference/primary/macspeech05.html
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