OBIT: John Michael Caramihalis, Sr

Birth:	1930 Sanford York County Maine, USA
Death:	Apr.23, 1991 Springvale York County Maine, USA
SANFORD NEWS Tuesday, April 23, 1991 Caramihalis Leaves Behind A Legacy, Many Friends by Paul M. Dest SPRINGVALE – John M. Caramihalis Sr. was known statewide as the ‘Father of Maine School Boy Wrestling', a designation well earned. In Sanford and Springvale, he was also known as a good husband and father who was dedicated to his community. Last week, Caramihalis died unexpectedly at age 61, leaving behind many friends and a wrestling legacy that will live on for years. "He's not somebody you leave very easily behind", said Dr., Paul Derboven of Dover, NH, a long time friend of John Caramihalis. "He's not someone you forget". "When you needed a friend he was always there," said Ralph H. Ross of Sanford, who has known Caramihalis for 30 years. "He was a good husband, a good father, a good citizen". A man with multiple talents and interests, Caramihalis was best known in Sanford and throughout northern New England for his love of wrestling. He coached, taught, refereed, and promoted the sport with a passion. "It was his hobby more than his job," said Richard Faulkner of Sanford, who has Sanford High's wrestling team for a combined seven years. "He was always interested in the sport. He was always there to help with the program and was the stabilizing influence. He will be sorely missed". "He was a great promoter of wrestling," said Keith Kalman of Sanford, a former Sanford High wrestling coach who was on Caramihalis' team that won the New England championships in 1964. "He put wrestling on the map". From 1958 to 1985, Caramihalis coached wrestling teams in Maine, and during that time won eight state championships. Caramihalis was also a wrestling coach at the former Nasson College and was an official at the U. S. Olympic trials in New York in 1964. In recognition of his dedication to the sport, the Maine State Legislature in 1985 recognized him as the ‘Father of School Boy Wrestling in Maine'. Further honors came when he was the first person inducted into the Maine Wrestling Hall of Fame. Caramihalis' road to wrestling fame and his other accomplishments began in Sanford. Born the son of Michael J. and Anne Seferlis Caramihalis, John M. Caramihalis graduated from Sanford High School in 1949. He went on to get a bachelor's degree from Springfield College in Springfield, MA in 1953 and a master's from Boston University in 1958. From 1953 to 1955 he served in the Army during the Korean War. After a brief teaching post at Edward Little High School in Auburn, he returned to Springvale to teach physical education at Sanford High. He also started the first high school wrestling program in Maine. Ralph Ross of Sanford, a retired district court judge, met Caramihalis after Ross' wife Irene took a driver's education course from him in the early 1960s. John and his wife Kay Pappamihiel Caramihalis established a friendship with the Rosses, and the two couples would do many things together. Among his many other interests, Ross and Caramihalis enjoyed traveling. The couples took trips to Rome, Greece, Canada and Florida together. Ross said they spent many Friday evenings at each other's homes. "John enjoyed life to the nth degree," said Ross. "He enjoyed life tremendously," added Derboven, noting that Caramihalis particularly loved the outdoors. Caramihalis hunted, fished and gardened, hiked and was a member of the venerable Springvale Fish and Game Club. This weekend, "we were supposed to spend a couple hours walking in the woods in Shapleigh," said Derboven. Caramihalis was not afraid to pursue new interest. In his mid-30s he went back to school in 1965 to get an advanced degree from Duke University in North Carolina I physical therapy. He subsequently helped establish the first physical therapy department at H. D. Goodall Hospital and Hillcrest Manor. In 1973, he began a new venture when he and his wife established Park View Homes for the Elderly in Sanford. He served as president and was active in the business until his unexpected death last week. Over the years, Caramihalis served on the school board, was active in community events such as fishing derbies and taught and coached football, baseball and basketball. Despite all his interest, Caramihalis was first a family man. "He was a great father," said his son John M. Jr. of Shapleigh, "and he loved to spend time with his grandchildren". Ross, who saw Caramihalis the evening before he died, was ‘shocked' when he heard the news. "I couldn't believe it. He was in very good spirits". Although he is gone, town sports will continue to benefit from Caramihalis' efforts. Kalman said the work of Caramihalis helped Sanford teams even after he left coaching. "The tradition that he built will continue," said Kalman. Once again this year, Sanford High School, which has won more wrestling championships than any other school in Maine, took the state title at a tournament held in Sanford. John M. Caramihalis Sr. was in the stand that day watching. ****** John M. Caramihalis is survived by his mother and his wife of 40 years; a son, John M. Jr. of Shapleigh; four daughters, Mrs. Gordon (Ann) Cutten of Shapleigh, Mrs. John (Jae) Simonds of Springvale, Mrs. T. J. (Joanne) Metz of Alfred and Mrs. John (Marcia) Pitcher of Newfield; and nine grandchildren, Catherine Caramihalis, Selena Caramihalis, Alexis Cutten, Richard Cutten, Deirdre Cutten, Christina Simonds, Jessica Metz, Thomas Metz and Sally Pitcher.

HIGH SCHOOL: STATE MEET 1991 CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS

Weight	Cls	Champion	2nd	3rd	4th
103	A	Chris Zaharas Bonny Eagle (10-0)	San Bo Sanford	Royce Wilcox Mt Blue (5-2)	Dave Richard Westbrook
	B	Jeremy Desjardins Fort Kent (1:32)	Jason Brickett Wells	Justin Hopkins Camden(2:28)	Tony Daigle Mt. View
	C	Corey Harper Pen. Valley (?)	Matt Wetland M.C.I.	Chris Dyke Dirigo (?)	Steve Jasper Wiscasset
112	A	Josh Woodward Sanford (5-0)	Alex Boisvert Noble	Keith Laney Cony (2-0)	James Hamilton Massabesic
	B	Riley Maguire Bucksport (9-3)	Jason Overlock Winslow	Eric Austin Mtn Valley (13-2)	Duane Frellino Bucksport
	C	Keith St. Laurent Dirigo	Eric Martin Madawaska	Tim O'Neil Mattanawcook (?)	Ken Cookson Penobscot Valley
119	A	Brian Corey Portland (7-6)	Nat Bo Sanford	Kurt McCollett Gardiner (4-3)	Mike Bernard Nokomis
	B	Keith Sirois Fryeburg  (3-2)	Ian Putansu Camden	Ryan Hicks Gorham (9-4)	Brian Jacques Marshwood
	C	Gunnar Bradbury Dirigo	Scott Tolman Mattanawcook	Adam Tash Pen. Valley (?)	Andy Coorey Limestone
125	A	Tony Stevens Oxford Hills (2:53)	Brett Merrick Noble	Rob Pinkham Westbrook (4-3)	Ben Seekins Kennebunk
	B	Chris Wellman Camden(5-3)	Corey Bennett Bucksport	Don Demers Winslow (4-3)	Matt Curtis Belfast
	C	Shane Child Dirigo	Chad Ballard Limestone	Matt Landry M.C.I.	Tom Abello Wiscasset
130	A	Chris Kleeman Kennebunk (10-2)	Keith Dudley Portland	Ryan Kalman Sanford (4-2)	John St. Peter Caribou
	B	Shawn Gross Bucksport (7-1)	Matt Stelzer Lincoln	Dave Callahan Belfast (7-2)	Justin Ray Camden
	C	Kenny Duncan Wiscasset (?)	Paul Evans Limestone	Nate Gaudin Dirigo (?)	Matt Langley Penobscot
135	A	Keith Nile Mt Blue (8-5)	Randy Yoho Biddeford	Ken Winegardner Bonny Eagle (12-8)	Joel Risbara Deering
	B	Dan Fox Fryeburg  (4:22)	Arthur Maguire Bucksport	Mike Daigneault Winslow (6-2)	Kevin Pelletier Medomak
	C	Jon Stevens Wiscasset	Jeff Graves Traip	Tyler Waring Hyde	Brian Lufkin Dirigo
140	A	Mike Allen Massabesic (18-1)	Shelby Luggi Kennebunk	Mike Connor Morse (15-2)	Joel Anderson Bonny Eagle
	B	Aaron Fox Belfast (5-3)	Stan Rintz Medomak	Tim Pratt Foxcroft  (9-1)	Kevin Moriarty Marshwood
	C	Scott Tash Mattanawcook	Dale Edgecomb Limestone	T.J. Langerak Pen. Valley	Walter Plugge M.C.I.
145	A	Andy Reynolds Biddeford (4-1)	Jeff Worster Oxford Hills	Aaron Moore Skowhegan (5-0)	Matt Shield Cony
	B	Andy Hill Bucksport (4-2)	Jason Hussey Winslow	Dwayne Bryant Belfast	Corey Grogan Marshwood
	C	Jeff Dumas Traip	Matt Carter Boothbay	Tom Murdock Dexter	Mike McMahon Penobscot
152	A	Brian Walsh Westbrook (15-0)	Larry Matthews Kennebunk	Nate Platt Mt Blue (5-0)	Terry Eaton Massabesic
	B	Ken Booth Wells (6-1)	Bill Dann Ellsworth	Bruce WinchenbachMedomak  (4:34)	Robbie Earl Lisbon
	C	Chris Martin Madawaska	Jeff Hayward Wiscasset	Jason Varney Traip	Sean Wilber Dexter
160	A	Jeff Seguin Kennebunk (9-5 OT)	Jason Beaupre Caribou	Nick Napolitano Portland (5-0)	Steve McGonagle Deering
	B	Andy Jankovitch Med. Valley (6-4)	Eric Powers Camden-Rockport	Stan Farrell Winslow (3:12)	Todd Donhauser Marshwood
	C	Brien Corriveau Pen. Valley (?)	Dave Tamburello Limestone	Larry Dennis Traip	Kevin Webber Desxter
171	A	Jayson Stewart Bonny Eagle (2:28)	Angus McDuffie Deering	Ralph Nappo Caribou (9-7)	Steve Perkins Sanford
	B	Roger Ewer Foxcroft  (15-2)	Patrick Vigue Winslow	Pierre Plourde Fort Kent (2:10)	Ben Farrington Marshwood
	C	Eric Kennedy M.C.I.	Will Brown John Bapst	Tom Van Buren Mattanawcook (?)	Chris Gudroe Dexter
189	A	Don Billings Oxford Hills (3-3 OT)	Ian Bresnahan Morse	Doug Crouse Presque Isle  (11-10)	Larry Mancini Deering
	B	Kyle Dinsmore Mtn Valley (0:51)	Ben Farrington Gorham	Nathan MillerMedomak  (3:48)	Steve Rich Bucksport
	C	Andy Harding Pen. Valley (?)	Jeff Beal Wiscasset	Jason Beers Traip  (?)	Gabe Cologne Hyde
275	A	Mike DeMarsh Mt Blue (5-1)	Neal Jacunski Morse	Rick Stack Westbrook (2:10)	Craig Durocher Sanford
	B	Ashley Sawyer Camden-Rockport (8-7)	Chris Bragdon Foxcroft	Robert Souza Medomak	Reg Leonard Fryeburg
	C	Andy Boucher Dirigo	Heath Kinney Mattanawcook	Blake Langley Pen. Valley (?)	Corey Tibbetts Boothbay

Team Results
Class	A	B	C
Champion	Kennebunk/ Sanford	Camden-Rockport/ Medomak	Penobscot Valley
2nd			Dirigo
3rd	Bonny Eagle	Bucksport