Beloved coach to retire from Pilgrim after 40-year run
COACH Mike Sarafian will be honored at the school’s Alumni Reunion Aug. 20.
A much-loved sports coach at Pilgrim School, Mike Sarafian, is retiring after 46 years at the kindergarten-through-12th-grade school. He will be celebrated at the Alumni Reunion Celebration Aug. 20 at 4 p.m. on the campus.
Alumni, students, faculty, parents, friends and family are invited. Tickets will go on sale on the school website in July: pilgrim-school.org.
In the school’s 64-year history, Mike Sarafian “is one of our most beloved faculty members,” Head of School Patricia Kong said in the announcement of his retirement.
“His warmth, passion for all things sports, and dedication to Pilgrim has enriched each and every community member’s experience for decades, whether it be in our hallways, on the field, or traveling to away games with his teams. It is with mixed emotions that I share with you that Coach Sarafian will retire at the end of this school year,” Kong said.
Coach Sarafian’s mark on Pilgrim went beyond sports to every corner of the school. “Whether it’s at morning drop-off or at an after-school practice, Coach’s booming voice and positive energy puts a smile on everyone’s face and inspires excitement in our students. He is one of the first people our visiting alumni seek out, and someone they mention time and time again while reflecting on their time here. It always amazes me how, despite teaching hundreds of students since 1982, Coach Sarafian never fails to remember a former student, their accomplishments, and even the accomplishments of their family members.”
Upon reflection on his “second home, Pilgrim School,” Coach Sarafian said he’s been asked many times why he’s stayed all these years. “My answer has always been because Pilgrim keeps asking me back.
“I have so many people for whom I am eternally thankful… How great is it to come to school with your family every day! All of these people, and countless others, made coming back to Pilgrim year after year an easy choice,” said the “Pilgrim Patriot for Life,” who is also a husband, father and grandfather.
Category: People
