Dolphins fans mourn Don Shula, who ‘represented everything that was good about Miami’
Don Shula’s death on Monday at age 90 hit hard for Miami Dolphins fans from South Florida and beyond.
He was the winningest coach in NFL history and the most important figure in the history of South Florida sports. He spent 26 years with the Dolphins and 33 years overall as an NFL coach, finishing his career with 347 wins, the most in league history.
He won back-to-back Super Bowls and orchestrated the perfect season in 1972.
Shula’s memory still lives on with Dolphins fans.
Here are some of their stories, in their own words with minor editing for clarity.
Don Shula’s neighbor for 30 years
I moved to Miami Lakes 50 years ago because I was a good friend of Bob Graham (later Florida Governor and Senator), whose family developed Miami Lakes.
Don Shula and his family moved to Miami Lakes in March of 1970 next door to my home.
Our families grew up together. My three girls, Karen, Laura, and Julie were close friends and playmates with Don’s children, David, Donna, Sharon, Michael and Annie.
My wife Dorothy was a close friend of Don’s first wife, also named Dorothy.
I know Don as a friend and a neighbor. There are many others who could talk about his brilliance as the winningest coach ever although I was as mesmerized as everyone else.
I would like to tell you what he was really like as a friend and neighbor.
There were three main interests in Don’s life.
1) In no particular order he was a devoted family man to his first wife Dorothy and after her death to his widow, Mary Anne. He had two wonderful love affairs to two beautiful women. He was a devoted father who took his boys to Dolphin practices and always available to his girls.
2) Don breathed football from the moment he woke up to the end of the day. He absolutely loved what he did. It’s no secret he was so successful. He worked harder then anyone.
3) He was a deeply religious Catholic who went to Mass every morning at 7 a.m. and this strong belief made him one of the most honest and confident men I ever met. He believed in the teachings of the church.
I can tell many Don Shula stories having lived next to Don for 30 years.
Two come to mind.
One evening my wife, Dorothy, Don’s wife, Dorothy and I had an errand. The world’s greatest coach was the babysitter.
The kids were playing basketball in our driveway where we had a basket used by both families.
My daughter, Karen, who was about 9 at the time fell on the cement hurting her wrist and started crying. Don looked at the wrist and probably thinking he was dealing with Bob Griese or Dick Anderson sent her back in to play.
When we got back from the errand with Karen in pain we took Karen to the emergency room for X-rays. Of course, she had a broken wrist. I told Don he was marginal as a babysitter.
The second story is one my family will always cherish.
The neighborhood celebration right after the perfect season of 1972 was held in our driveway between the Podhurst and Shula homes. The entire neighborhood was invited. Everyone came. We celebrated with speeches, cheering and extolling our friend Don. He stayed for a long time greeting everyone personally. He told me many times afterwards that the neighborhood celebration was as meaningful to him as any honors or awards he ever received.
Such was the priorities of this man.
In conclusion, Don was even greater then his legend. Our country and South Florida is a much better place because Don Shula worked and walked in our world. He touched so many lives and made them better.
I will miss you my friend.
—Aaron Podhurst, 84, Coral Gables
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‘An iconic part of my youth’
Growing up in Miami as a kid in the ‘70s and a teen in the ‘80s, Don Shula represented everything that was good about Miami. Yes, he was a winner on the football field and made the Miami Dolphins a powerhouse in the NFL. More importantly, he was a winner off the field as demonstrated by his commitment to faith and family.
From his attendance at daily mass at Our Lady of the Lakes, to watching him and the Dolphins practice at Biscayne College (through the fence from Pace High), to attending some of the great games at the Orange Bowl, Shula was an iconic part of my youth.
So honored to have met him in 2017 during a ceremony where the Village of Pinecrest declared Don Shula Day. That day, my son Ben (9 years old at the time) and I had a few minutes alone with Don Shula before the start of ceremony. Ben asked the coach who was the best player on the ‘72 team. I didn’t think he would answer but the coach paused for a moment, in dramatic fashion, thought about the question, looked straight at Ben, and said, “Csooooonka!” I’ll never forget that moment.
I’m heartbroken about this morning’s news. Praying for the repose of his soul.
—Guido Inguanzo, Miami
‘My family is touched by his greatness’
Coach Shula set the stage for my entire childhood. He was responsible for me falling in love with sports, especially the game of football. He galvanized the Miami community and turned us into one fan base while the city became a melting pot of so many different nationalities. Miami was one! He was the ultimate leader well before anyone was talking about leadership.
I was an 11-year old when “we” won our first Super Bowl. And the “Perfect Season” was an experience I will never forget. He built a team that took over a community and gave everyone so much pride. Going to the Orange Bowl and watching those great teams he assembled will always be cherished memories.
To this day my family is touched by his greatness. Our family text group has been sharing stories and photos all day. And our adult children know about the greatness of Don Shula. We have remained Dolphin fans throughout the years even though we don’t live in South Florida anymore because of him. Thank you Coach Shula for giving me the greatest gift a kid could ask for.
—Alisa Ensley, a South Miami native now living in Lawrenceville, Georgia
A Shula fan in New York
He is very specifically the reason I ever became a Dolphins fan way back in ’72 or ’73. My more or less immigrant Queens, New York, family followed baseball, not American football. My dad and we kids were New York Mets fans, and I have stayed true to them to this day. To the extent I followed the sports at all, I was a Knicks basketball and Islanders hockey fan early on.
But after my mom saw a Don Shula interview — on whose show or channel nobody can possibly know — and the coach mentioned his churchgoing habits, she declared herself a Dolphins fan. (She also liked their colorful uniforms!) How could I, her 5- or 6-year old son, feel otherwise?! I have never lived in Miami. Never lived in Florida. I have answered literally hundreds of times why I, a guy from New York, a fan otherwise supporting New York teams, was a Dolphins fan. Often the question is accompanied by a guess that I must have been won over by Dan Marino’s amazing accomplishments and that wonderful team from the ‘80s and ‘90s.
Nope — it all goes back to Coach Don Shula and my mom. She turned 89 years old a month ago today and I am sure she hasn’t watched a football game in decades. But I know when I call her to share the news with her she will be saddened. And she’ll say a prayer for the GOAT!
—Vincent Buquicchio, 54, Queens, New York
‘Like a second father to me’
He was a special man and he was like a second father to me although I never met him. I grew up in the 1970s and he was always on Monday night after the Sunday game explaining what usually went right. He was so genuine and a special human being. I am so glad he was a part of my life.
—Oscar Palacio, Fort Lauderdale
Meeting my childhood hero
My brief encounter with Don Shula:
I was working in the film business in Miami when my boss, Fred Singer, was hired to shoot a video birthday greeting for the CEO of Burger King, based in Miami.
Our crew went to the Dolphins training camp at St. Thomas University to shoot.
It was a gray, drizzly morning, but we went ahead with plans to film anyway.
After setting up on the field, I was asked to go get the coach. I recall feeling both honored and a bit terrified to finally meet my childhood hero. His office door was open and before I could introduce myself, he looked up and asked “Are we ready?” I responded “Yes, coach”.
Suddenly, as we walked out, the skies cleared and the sun came shining onto the field.
I was boom operator that day; super careful not to hit him with the pole. We filmed about two takes of Coach Shula wishing his buddy a happy birthday, and called it a wrap. We all shook hands but there was little small talk. He had to go back to work.
All I can say is that the man had a stern and dignified aura abut him that I’ll never forget.
Rest in peace and always undefeated Coach Shula - you remain the GOAT.
-Sid Hopkins
Do you have a Don Shula story you want to share? Reach out to Jordan McPherson at jmcpherson@miamiherald.com
This story was originally published May 4, 2020 at 2:55 PM.
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