When Steve Pappas, a passionate coach and
dedicated teacher in the Chicago area for nearly
30 years and an Illinois Basketball Coach Hall
of Fame winner, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins
lymphoma, thousands of individuals rallied to
save his life. Funds were raised to support
testing that would yield a bone marrow match for
Steve. The Chicago Greek community, his
dedicated fraternity of coaches, his committed
fellow teachers, his loving students and his
caring friends all focused their united efforts
on helping Coach Pappas. Steve received an
antilogous stem cell transplant one year after
his diagnosis. Coach’s lymphoma, however,
aggressively resurfaced. When faced with his
cancer’s recurrence his entire team of support
was devastated but in true form, it was Coach
Steve Pappas who refocused the team. Coach
Pappas said with a determined and spirited
voice: “This fight is not about me. Rather this
fight has always been about all of us. We can
win this one through our brotherhood and
sisterhood.” It is in this inspiring spirit that
TEAM PAPPAS moves forward remembering beloved
Coach Steve Pappas and striving to bring hope to
others.
“I look around and I see love
…and the love keeps coming.
With a humble heart I want to tell
You that I am eternally grateful.
God Bless You.
Teammates Always!”
-Steve
Pappas 1951-2006
In the long run, it’s not what we have done,
but what we have become through
all of our experiences.
Thank you Team Pappas and to all that have
been a part of Steve’s life journey.
It has been filled with
Amazing Grace!
Continue to Love and Care for each other!
