Garo Yepremian Memorial Thread (1944-2015) | Page 6 | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

Garo Yepremian Memorial Thread (1944-2015)

Your dad was one of the greatest kickers in this proud franchise's history, not to mention the NFL. I lost my sister to brain cancer several years ago and I know how hard your father's cancer was not only on him, but you and your other family members. God bless you and your family, and may your dad keep nailing 50 yarders through the golden goalposts of heaven.

Thank you sir, I'm so sorry to hear about your sister. The sad irony is that my dad started a foundation for brain tumor research 15 years before he was diagnosed... my sister-in-law had an inoperable brain tumor before graduating high school and was given six months to live. She passed away six years later, and the charity was my dad's way of fighting back. When he was diagnosed, it was already stage 4 cancer. It started in his abdomen as Neuroendocrine Cancer and spread to his brain. We lived through one year of hell on earth as he went from treatment to treatment, but 4 years ago today, his battle came to an end. He was 70 years old- we're thankful for the time we had with him and for people like you and the others on this forum who keep his memory alive!
 
I’ll also always remember your Dad when he appeared on my favorite sitcom The Odd Couple. A player from my favorite team appearing in my favorite sitcom. My worlds have collided!!
 
I’ll also always remember your Dad when he appeared on my favorite sitcom The Odd Couple. A player from my favorite team appearing in my favorite sitcom. My worlds have collided!!

Thank you. I had forgotten about that episode. Things like that were huge in that era. Heavily anticipated.

Likewise when a player from someone's favorite college team would appear on the Bob Hope All-America Team special. Everyone wondered what type of quip Hope would save for that player, and how the player would handle it. I'm not sure if any future Dolphins appeared on those specials. Seemingly it had to happen but I can't remember a specific example.
 
Hello everyone,

I stumbled across this old post a short time ago, and I quickly signed up to become a member of this forum so I could thank each and every one of you for your heartfelt reactions to my father’s death. I'm sorry that I did not discover it sooner! Tomorrow will mark 4 years since he has been gone. Anyone who has lost a parent can relate to what I have been going through and reading your entries made me feel great knowing that there are still many fans out there who remember him warmly. Those of you who had met him can attest to the fact that he had an extremely magnetic personality– the void he left behind is hard to explain. It has truly been a healing experience to hear from all of you and Dolphin fans nationwide.

Thank you again for your support, and please reply or send me a PM anytime.

Garo Yepremian Jr.

PS: I run a Facebook page in my dad’s memory- (moderators, feel free to remove if this if not allowed), but here is a link to more information. Thanks!

https://www.facebook.com/Garo-Yepremian-181982624649/
I just saw this thread had been bumped and came in to check it out. I’m so glad I did. Your dad was a hero to us older dolphins fans and is symbol of the great teams that were filled with classy, unselfish players. Your dad being one of them.
 
I just saw this thread had been bumped and came in to check it out. I’m so glad I did. Your dad was a hero to us older dolphins fans and is symbol of the great teams that were filled with classy, unselfish players. Your dad being one of them.
I wish I was around for those days.... I was born in ‘79, so I missed out on the glory days of the early-mid 70’s when Garo was kicking for us. Being part Armenian (my grandfather came to the U.S. from Armenia when he was very young), I always felt a bit of a connection to Garo, even though I never met him. Nice to have you here GJR.
 
My deepest sympathies for his family. He was a good guy and a good player, and he will be missed. It is unfortunate that he is most known for giving his best effort in a bad and un-practiced position responding to a blocked kick. He will be missed.
 
My deepest sympathies for his family. He was a good guy and a good player, and he will be missed. It is unfortunate that he is most known for giving his best effort in a bad and un-practiced position responding to a blocked kick. He will be missed.

That's weird to read it that way. I suppose Garo is remembered most for that play beyond any other play. But it's hardly the first thing I think of when his name appears. I'm always a bit surprised that play yanks so much attention.

Garo was the wise-cracking eye-blinking smile-producing joy of the franchise for nearly a decade. Everyone loved Garo. If you asked Dolphins fans during that era to rattle off names of players I guarantee Garo's name would show up within the top 5 or 6 more often than not. It many not seem that way this far removed but that was the reality of the era. You always think of the players who stand out from the norm, especially in a popular fashion.

And when those names were said, the two linked to bringing out a smile would be Csonka and Garo. No question about it.

I have to say I wasn't overly thrilled when we signed Garo initially. The Dolphins had gone through many kickers during the expansion '60s. I remember Booth Lusteg the most. He was a straight-on kicker who would mostly punch at the ball more than actually following through.

Then in 1969 the Dolphins drafted Karl Kremser. Now that was a big name. I'm not sure Slimm goes back that far. But he's probably heard the story of when Kremser stunned Alabama with a 54 yard field goal to pull out the game for Tennessee, 10-9. I was watching live as a young kid and loving every second of it.

My dad was a college professor and came home one day to announce he had a Dolphins player in his class. When he rattled off the name I said of course I know who that is. I was shocked did didn't remember the name, not until I mentioned the kick against Alabama, which both of us had watched. I guess Kremser was taking extra classes because he wanted to become a teacher. In looking at his bio he had a long successful career, including soccer coach at FIU. Dad told me the next week that Kremser smiled broadly when he mentioned that kick and that I had remembered it.

Kremser had a fairly successful rookie season by standards of that era. I assumed he would be the Dolphins kicker for many years. Then Shula brought in Garo to challenge. Throughout camp it was hardly clear which way Shula would go. Kremser was a much bigger guy with a stronger leg.

Shula eventually went with Garo and like so many early decisions of that era it was a wise one.
 
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