Emilio Sylvester Tesei Jr.

“Coach” Emilio S. Tesei, 81 years old, of Doyline, Louisiana, moved onto his heavenly home on April 30, 2026.

Coach was born in Greenwich, CT on September 29, 1944. He graduated from Greenwich High School and enlisted in the Navy serving as a SeaBee. He was a proud veteran and after the Navy he attended Bridgeport University where he received his Bachelors degree in Health Education. Later he got a Masters Degree in Health Education from Southeastern Louisiana University.

Emilio and Karen married on May 31, 1969 and they were married for almost 57 years.

Emilio worked as a teacher and a coach for thirty-three years. He loved making a difference in kid’s lives whether he was in the classroom or on the field. Students and players were often found soliciting his advice or just “bending his ear” about whatever was happening in their lives. His appreciation for the game of football went well beyond the sport. While football fed his competitive nature and was a tool to teach boys and develop them into men, his most fervent use of the sport was to introduce and bring kids to Jesus Christ.

From his early childhood he had a fascination with the railroad and had an enviable model train collection that he donated to the Red River Valley Historical Railroad Society in Shreveport, Louisiana. Beyond football, he enjoyed and coached several other sports to include baseball, track, power lifting, and basketball. Working with wood was another favorite pastime. He had a passion for home renovation, building furniture, and making birdhouses. Many of his birdhouses can be found throughout the various communities in Louisiana. His creativity did not stop with construction; he was also known for his signature “Free to be Faithful” t-shirt that he gave to many people over the years.

Emilio is survived by his wife, Karen, daughter, Joy and her husband, Pat Mason, grandchildren, Aaron Tesei, Danielle Tesei Polk, her husband Drew, and great-granddaughter, Merritt. He is also survived by his brother, Nate Tesei and his wife, Ann, niece Lisa Tesei Valenti, and nephews Stephen and Peter Tesei and David Bavis as well as many other family members and friends.

Emilio is preceded in death by his father, Emilio S. Tesei, Sr, his mother, Norda M. Tesei, his son, Michael E. Tesei, and his sister, Louise T. Bavis.

The funeral service will be held at 11:00 am, Saturday, May 16, 2026, at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Covington, Louisiana. Visitation with the family and a Celebration of Life will be held from noon to 2:00 pm in the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in Coach’s honor to Tunnel to Towers or Samaritan’s Purse.