Paul Frederick Monteil Jr.

Paul Frederick Monteil, Jr., age 87, of Lee’s Summit, MO died peacefully in his sleep on June 29, 2016. Paul was born in Kansas City, MO on October 28, 1928 to Paul F. Monteil, Sr. and Alice Burke Monteil. Paul was preceded in death by his parents, his daughter Rita Monteil and son Joe Monteil. He is survived by his wife of 64 years Eileen Halpin Monteil of the home, children and spouses Marilyn Bernard (Marc) of Mitchell, SD, Patty Monteil-Mendicino (John) of Warson Woods, MO, Paul Monteil III (Chris Hernandez) of Kansas City, Katie Carroll-Monteil (John) of Hong Kong, and Jim Monteil (Shelley) of Lee’s Summit. He is also survived by his grandchildren Brianna and Paul Bernard, Abby and Riley Monteil, and Emma Carroll-Monteil, and his in-laws, nieces and nephew.

Coach Monteil was best known for pacing the sidelines of football fields, mostly at O’Hara High School where he won the 1980 Missouri 3A state championship. Over 20 seasons he coached the Celtics to a 144-76-1 record. At O’Hara he also coached golf and basketball, and served as a teacher and athletic director. The school honored Paul in 2001 by naming its stadium “Paul Monteil Stadium”. He was selected to Hall of Fames for the Missouri Football Coaches (1997) and the Greater Kansas City Football Coaches Association (2015), and named Western Missouri Coach of the Year (1980).

But it was baseball that blessed Paul’s early life. He was a pro prospect as a second baseman, playing two seasons of minor league professional baseball in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. More importantly, he met his wife Eileen after a baseball game.

Paul was associated with Catholic schools his entire life, as a student and athlete at Blessed Sacrament, Rockhurst High School and College, and as a teacher and coach at De La Salle and O’Hara High School. The Monteil family lived on Booth Avenue, where their backyard overlooked the O’Hara practice field. The family could watch practices from the kitchen window, as well as enjoy beautiful sunsets.

Paul and Eileen married on September 8, 1951. Paul worked at the family store, Monteil’s Market, while starting a family with Eileen. His 50-year coaching career began in 1947 at De La Salle, assisting Godfrey Kobets. In 1960 he became a full time social studies teacher and head baseball coach. He was part of a close-knit group of coaches at De La Salle, friendships he valued his entire life.

In 1967 Paul moved to O’Hara High School, where he taught and coached until his retirement in 1995. Paul had a close relationship with the Christian Brothers at both De La Salle and O’Hara, and was named an affiliate Christian Brother in 1982.

Off the field, Paul enjoyed golfing, chocolate milkshakes, reading Westerns, watching the Chiefs and Royals, and spending weekends at the family cabin at Lake of the Ozarks. We are happy to report that even in his last days Paul retained his customary and beloved “twinkle in his eye” orneriness.

As a coach he was known for motivating his teams with his fiery competiveness. He was a humble leader who gave the credit for the team’s success to his players and assistant coaches while always accepting the blame for losses. As a teacher his students enjoyed getting his class off track by getting him to tell stories about working in the grocery store and driving a Brink’s truck.

As an educator and coach, Paul had a great influence on the lives of his students, players, assistant coaches, and fellow educators. And we know he is reunited in Heaven with his children Rita and Joe.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to St. Regis or O’Hara schools. Visitation will be Tuesday, July 5, 2016 at 9:30a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at Noon at St. Regis Catholic Church, 8941 James A. Reed Road, Kansas City, MO, 64138. Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery.