From the Orlando Sentinel

Please send condolences and cards to:

Jeanette Meisel
1329 Alfred Dr. 

Orlando, FL 32810

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For five decades Coach Harry Meisel trained Boone High, Bishop Moore High and Rollins College students to swim and to swim fast.

He won 20 state championships and taught thousands of young people to work hard, train hard, play by the rules and win.

Meisel, 87, of Orlando, died Sunday after a long illness.

He was a World War II Army veteran and fought at the Battle of the Bulge.

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He also was president of the committee that erected the Battle of the Bulge monument at Orlando's Lake Eola Park.

He was a life-long physical education teacher and coach. He taught at Orlando Senior High School then Boone then Bishop Moore. In 1962, he joined the faculty at Rollins College, where he retired in 1997 and was named professor emeritus.

He was named to the Central Florida Sports Hall of Fame in 1987 and the W.R. Boone Sports Hall of Fame in 1999.

Meisel is survived by his wife of 60 years, Jeanette; five children and 10 grandchildren.

Public visitation is set for Thursday, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at St. Charles Catholic Church, Orlando. A funeral mass will be at the same church Friday at 10 a.m. with a reception at the Bishop Moore cafeteria from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Burial will be at 2 p.m. at Glen Haven Memorial Park.

Rene Stutzman can be reached at rstutzman@orlandosentinel.com or 407-650-6394.