Teacher and Coach Mike Mendias Dies at Track Meet
Posted by webmasterMar 13
A popular teacher and assistant coach at Arleta High School collapsed and died during an afternoon track meet Friday.
Its always a tragedy when a good teacher that is involved with education goes down in the line of duty. I feel sorry for his family and the students that looked up to Mr. Mendias.
Mike Mendias was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at Kaiser Permanente Panorama City, said his wife, Dolores Mendias.
Mendias, 60, was sitting at a tent during a track meet between Arleta and San Fernando high schools when he turned to a colleague and said he felt like he was going to faint, witnesses said.
Mendias collapsed and was unresponsive. Paramedics attempted to revive him while transporting him to the hospital.
Mendias was a history teacher at Arleta since the school opened in 2006. He was an assistant junior varsity football coach for the past three years.
Before turning to teaching, he worked at Lockheed in Palmdale. “Teaching was his love,” Dolores Mendias said. “He always talked about the love he had for his students. I want him to be remembered as someone who was about his students first.”
Mendias is survived by his wife, Dolores; his mother, Tilli Dominguez; a nephew, Tony; and great-nephew, Riley.
R.I.P<l3
Mr.Mendias
My Prayers Go Out To You And Your Familyy
R.I.P Mr. Mendias
You Will Always Be Remembered <3
this happened so suddent :[
Coach Mike You Were and Are Still A Great Part Of Arleta High School. You Helped So Many Of Us Out And We Will Truly Miss You. Our Prayers Go Out For Your Family And We Know You Are In A Better Place.
R.I.P We Will Truly Miss You.
You will be missed old friend. You were a great teacher and a good friend. Rest in Peace
It will be hard for many of your students to get use to your absence, but that will remind us of what an awesome teacher you were. Mr. Mendias, you are always going to stay in my heart and I will never forget your great sense of humor. I'm sorry that you won’t be there to see us walking across stage this year nor the rest of the students you’ve have left behind, but you will be present in every heart and mind.
R.I.P and may God receive you before his presence…
It will be hard for many of your students to get use to your absence, but that will remind us of what an awesome teacher you were. Mr. Mendias, you are always going to stay in my heart and I will never forget your great sense of humor. I'm sorry that you won’t be there to see us walking across stage this year nor the rest of the students you’ve have left behind, but you will be present in every heart and mind.
R.I.P and may God receive you before his presence…
It will be hard for many of your students to get use to your absence, but that will remind us of what an awesome teacher you were. Mr. Mendias, you are always going to stay in my heart and I will never forget your great sense of humor. I'm sorry that you won’t be there to see us walking across stage this year nor the rest of the students you’ve have left behind, but you will be present in every heart and mind.__R.I.P and may God receive you before his presence…
Mike,
Old friend you are missed. You are with god now and watching us! RIP
hey everybody who is reading this…mr.mendias was my history teacher…he was so joyful and he loved his students sooo dearly…even though he is gone he will always be remembered at arleta high…..once a mustang always a mustang…..he was the best history teacher in the world and he will be truly missed….staff and students prayers go out to his wife and family…. R.I.P. Mr.Mendias 3.12.10 <3
Mike,we are so proud of you.You were always such a gentle man even as a little boy.we will always love and remember you.Mike's Dad was a War hero,and his grama Tia Carmen was the sweetest person I ever knew.with love your cousin Manuel.
Mike-you were the family rock. My heart is broken-I will miss you terribly. RIP Michael/God Bless you Dolores and Aunt Tillie.
Hey Mike,
Rest in Peace!!! God Bless you and your family! The work we did in the masters cohort was made more bearable by your sense of humor and easy spirit.
Mike
You have been a good friend and a blessing in my life for over 40 years. You were always such a gentile kind soul and someone I highly respected. I am heartbroken about your death but find comfort that you died doing what you loved. There will always be a special place in my heart for you. Cathy
Hey coach mike its kevyn u know u will be truly missed you were a great coach i still remember the undefeated season we had with u, R.I.P.
R.I.P,
Coach Mendias Yu Will Always Be Missed!