John Ghindia, Class of 1950

By Dennis Hinzmann

John Verle Ghindia of Trenton, a former University of Michigan football player and highly successful Downriver high school coach, died of congestive heart failure Friday, March 16, 2012. He was 86.

Mr. Ghindia was born on Oct. 12, 1925, in Niles, Ohio. His parents, John and Mary, were Romanian immigrants and steelworkers.

The family moved to Ecorse, where Mr. Ghindia starred in football, basketball, baseball, and rowing at Ecorse Community High School. He had the distinction of being a player-coach of the basketball team, leading the Red Raiders to the 1942 Class B state final.

He was a B-24 bombardier in the Army Air Corps in World War II. Mr. Ghindia played linebacker and quarterback at the University of Michigan, where he was a member of the Wolverines’ national championship football teams in 1947 and ’48 under legendary Coaches Fritz Crisler and Bennie Oosterbaan. Nicknamed “The Fox,” he also was part of three Big Nine/Big Ten championship teams (1947, ’48, and ’49).

He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the school and was a longtime supporter of its athletic department.

“John V. Ghindia serves as a great role model for all ‘M Men,'” said Rick Leach, Michigan’s starting quarterback from 1975 to ’78. “Everyone who knew him was honored to be in his company.

“He set a very high standard for the rest of us who consider ourselves to be ‘good M Men.’ When someone asks you what’s the definition of a ‘Michigan Man,’ think of John V. Ghindia.”

Mr. Ghindia’s son, John R. Ghindia, followed in his father’s footsteps and was an offensive guard at Michigan from 1981 to ’84 after prepping at Trenton High School. Two other children, George (football) and Suzanne (tennis), competed at Western Michigan University.

Mr. Ghindia taught math for 33 years at Lincoln Park High School, Ecorse Community High School, and Henry Ford Community College. He coached football, basketball, and baseball at the old St. Patrick High School in Wyandotte, and hockey and tennis at Ecorse. He won more than 600 games and matches in his career and guided numerous championship teams. “My dad’s character, integrity, devotion to family, faith in God, patriotism, love, work ethic, and servant leadership provided me with the only role model I’ve ever needed,” said his son, John.

Mr. Ghindia is a member of four sports halls of fame: the Michigan High School Coaches Hall of Fame, Michigan Catholic High School Hall of Fame, the Michigan Tennis Hall of Fame, and the Michigan Officials Hall of Fame.

He was the city of Ecorse’s recreation director for 16 years and was a key figure in the establishment of youth hockey Downriver in the early 1960s. Ghindia had the option to move from high school to college coaching early in his career. Some of his Michigan teammates — Bump Elliott (head football coach, University of Michigan), Bob Hollway (defensive coordinator, Minnesota Vikings; head coach, St. Louis football Cardinals), and Tubby Raymond (head football coach and athletic director, University of Delaware) — invited him to coach with them. But Mr. Ghindia’s calling kept him working with high-schoolers.

He was a parishioner and usher at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Trenton and was a Kiwanis member, serving as a chapter president.

In addition to his son, John, Mr. Ghindia is survived by his wife of 56 years, Katherine Sue; children Mary Beth Cirocco, George, Suzanne Robertson, and Janet; a sister, Olympia Sutherland; and seven grandchildren. A funeral is scheduled for 10 a.m. today at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 2675 Third St., Trenton. The family asks that memorial tributes be made to the John V. Ghindia Scholarship Fund in care of George Ghindia, 600 Anton Blvd., Suite 1100, Irvine, Calif.; or to St. Joseph Catholic Church.

Arrangements were handled by Girrbach-Krasun Funeral Home in Southgate. Burial will be at Woodmere Cemetery in Detroit.