Stavros Paul Canakes

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Canakes, Stavros Paul Born September 19, 1930, in Minneapolis, died October 25, 2008, at his home in Shakopee, MN. A graduate from Southwest High School in 1948, he was a South- west Indian football star. He served in the Army during the Korean Conflict and graduated from the U of MN in 1954, a 3 year letterman in football, a player in the Blue/Grey cup his senior year and all Big Ten in 1953 & 1954. Stav then played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Regina in the Canadian Football League for 5 seasons. Stav came to Edina as an assistant football coach under Billy Bye in 1959. He assumed the head coaching position in 1961 and remained head coach of Edina Football until his retirement in 1990. He amassed a record of 203-69-1 with conference championships in 1962, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1988, and 1989. His teams won Assoc. Press State Championships in 1965, 1966, 1969, and 1971. They also won the State Title in 1978 after a playoff bowl was instituted. He was inducted into the Edina High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999, The Football Coaches Hall of Fame in 1992, and the Minnesota State High School Coaches Association. He also was honored by his peers as Conference Coach of the Year in 1967, 1978, and 1989, and State Coach of the Year in 1966. In 2005, the Classic Lake Conference honored him with the Distinguished Service Award in recognition of outstanding accomplishments as a teacher, coach, and mentor to athletes, coaches, and colleagues. After his retirement from teaching at Edina in 1990, Stav served as an assistant coach in programs at Normandale Junior College, Hopkins and Minnetonka. Stav also had a passion for refereeing basketball for 38 years, raising spruce trees, playing bridge, watching his grandchildren participate in sports, and hunting and fishing. Stav was preceded in death by his parents, Stavros and Marie Canakes; and by his first wife, Alice Marie Carlson Canakes. He is survived by his wife, Mary; his children: Steven, wife Eileen and Annie & J.T.; Scott, wife Barb and Christa and Corey; Jeff, wife Beret and Rachel, Joey and Karin; Christine, husband Ron Erickson and Matthew and Alice; Cathy, husband Tim Franklin and Jessica, Joshua, and Allissa. He is also survived by his stepchildren: Lincoln Wallace, wife Kelli and Max, Claire, and Ellie; Lindsay Wallace, wife Laura and Redmon, B.J., Valerie, and Jensen; Jennings Wallace, wife Stacie and Livia, Nora, Hope, and Naomi. He leaves behind many other relatives and friends. Memorials preferred to The Stav Canakes Memorial Scholarship Fund that will be awarded to a student athlete who embodies the character & leadership of Stavros Canakes. Interment at Dawn Valley Cemetery, Bloomington, MN. Service of Celebration Friday, October 31, 2008, at 11 AM with visitation 1 hour prior to the service at Normandale Lutheran Church, 6100 Normandale Rd., Edina. Visitation Thursday, October 30, from 4 until 8 PM at: Washburn-McReavy Edina Chapel 952-920-3996 West 50th St. & Hwy 100

Published on October 28, 2008