The man who discovered some of the world’s best volleyball of all time has passed away.

Here’s a pic during his funeral with some of his best students Regla Torres, Raisa O’Farrill and Marlenis Costa pay their final respects to the legendary coach.

Per cubanews.ain.cu:

Eugenio George Lafita, main architect of Cuban Volleyball School and coach of the the best women’s teams of the twentieth century, died on Saturday in Havana at the age of 81 after a long and painful illness.

George coached the teams that conquered the gold medals consecutively in the Olympic Games of Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000 and bronze in Athens 2004, as well as the titles in the World Championships of Leningrad 1978 and Sao Paulo 1994 and silver in Czechoslovakia 1986, Jit digital site told.

He also treasured consecutive wins at the World Cup in 1989, 1991, 1995 and 1999, and silver medals in the events of 1977 and 1985; the title in the Grand Champions Cup in 1993 and silver in 1997, and two gold and four silver medals at Grand Prixes. He also coached the Cuban squad in the World Galas of 1985, 1989 and 1991.
The outstanding coach also reached triumphs in several Pan and Central American Games and many other top quality tournaments.

In 2005 he was inducted to the Volleyball Hall of Fame, and among his many distinctions for his devotion as a coach and educator he received the one of National Labor Hero and the Order of FIVB Golden Collar, granted by NORCECA Confederation, of which he was until the time of his death president of the technical and coaches committee.

Eugenio George began playing volleyball since adolescence and in 1953 he started competing internationally and attended the Pan American Games Mexico 1955 and Chicago 1959, the world championship of Paris 1956 and the Central American and Caribbean Games in Jamaica 1962.

He debuted as coach with the men’s team that won the Central American and Caribbean Games in Puerto Rico 1966, the first gold medal after the triumph of the Revolution, feat also achieved by the women’s squad, which he began coaching in 1969.

Thereafter, Eugenio George burst onto the universal elite to become volleyball a flagship discipline of Cuban and universal sports movement.

Videos Of Coach Eugenio

In case you didn’t know, the legendary coach was awarded with the NORCECA Golden Collar Order in January of this year.

Per FIVB:

The decoration was presented by Cristobal Marte Hoffiz, NORCECA President and FIVB First Executive Vice President, accompanied by several members of the Executive Committee and Board of Administration who also took part in the meetings.

“Eugenio George Laffita has been a friend, advisor, and a benchmark for the volleyball world and especially for our America,” Marte Hoffiz said.

“I have been asked by the president of the FIVB, Ary Da Silva Graca, to present with Dr. Rafael Lloreda Currea, president of the South American Confederation, this award to a person who has given everything and still is giving everything to volleyball in Cuba and the region,” Marte Hoffiz added.

A visibly emotional George Laffita expressed his gratitude on receiving the order.

“I receive this honor with humble and I am glad it has been presented by someone like Cristobal has done so much to raise the NORCECA,” said George Laffita. “Also for my friend Lloreda who have shared so many good times.”

The Ambassador of Cuba to the Dominican Republic, Alexis Bandrich Vega, attended the ceremony as well as former star player of Cuba Mireya Luis, who played under the tutelage of George Laffita, during his peak years.

Several presidents of National Federations attended the ceremony, including Jesus Perales (Mexico), Nelson Perez (Puerto Rico) , Margaret Graham (Haiti), Ariel Sainz (Cuba), Brian Louisy (Santa Lucia), and Jose Luis Jimenez (Costa Rica).
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Also, Marta Centeno (Guatemala), FIVB Vice President and president of AFECAVOL , Musthaque Mohammed, president of CAZOVA and FIVB Board of Administration , Hugh Wong, executive member of FIVB and Tom Pingel, USA.

At the award presentation ceremony also were Dr. Jose Joaquin Puello, president of the Ethics Committee of FIVB and a recognized sport leader in the Americas, as well as former Dominican player Milagros Cabral, who represented the Ministry of Sport of the Dominican Republic.

Biography

Eugenio George Laffita was born in Baracoa, Cuba on March 29, 1933 and began his volleyball career in 1947 at Pepe Barrientos Gymnasium in the Luyano neighborhood in Havana.

As a player he was member of the Cuban Men’s National Team that took part in the Pan American Games of 1955 in Mexico City (1955) and Chicago, USA (1959), the Central American and Caribbean Games in Kingston, Jamaica (1962) and the FIVB World Championship in Paris, France (1956).

His coaching career began in 1963 with the Cuban Men’s Junior Team, building up the foundation of the Men’s Senior Team that won the gold medal at the Central American and Caribbean Games in San Juan, Puerto Rico (1966).

George Laffita took charge of the Women’s National Team in 1968 leading the team to an impressive list of honors.

Eugenio’s teams won the volleyball tournament in eight consecutive editions of the Central American and Caribbean Games (1970-1998) and claimed seven Pan American Games titles (1971-1995).

He led the nicknamed “Spectacular Caribbean Browns” to three consecutive Olympic Games gold medals in Barcelona, Spain (1992), Atlanta, USA (1996) and Sydney, Australia (2000).

Under the leadership of George Laffita, the Cubans also clinched titles at the FIVB Women’s World Championship in Soviet Union (1978), Brazil (1994) and Japan (1998), the FIVB World Cup in Japan (1989, 1991, 1995 and 1999) and the FIVB World Grand Prix in Quezon City, Philippines (1993) and Hong Kong, China (2000).

George Laffita is the president of the NORCECA Technical and Coaches Commission and he is a member of the FIVB Coaches Commission.

In 2009, the NORCECA Congress in Antigua, Guatemala voted unanimously to establish the “Eugenio George Laffita Trophy” to the Most Outstanding Coach of the biennial Women’s Continental Championship.

RIP