Husband, Father, Brother, Coach, Rock and Roll Legend Jeffrey Edward Pharion, age 73, passed away Sunday, January 6th in Port Charlotte, Florida, where he had recently moved. He was a life-long parishioner of St. James the Less in Columbus, Ohio, where he was one of the first students. Jeff was a 20-year City of Columbus code enforcement officer, but he was best known for his “other” two positions and passions – coaching and singing.
Jeff started his coaching career with Bishop Ready and went on to coach for St. Charles for 20 + years (Football and Basketball) in three different stints, St. James the Less, and DeSales for 7 years. Jeff mostly coached football and hit high points by helping St. Charles defeat DeSales in back to back years (‘75–’76), and by helping DeSales to a state runner-up in 1990. The victories were nice, but Jeff relished the relationships with his fellow coaches and especially the hundreds of players whose lives he touched over his coaching career.
Jeff LOVED entertaining people – His singing career spanned 5 decades and included fronting the Bluenotes, the Shilos, the Four Winds, Jeff Pharion and the Finishing Touch, and Wolfie and the Wolfpack. Mention Jeff’s name to someone and you have a good chance that they either saw him at the Blarney Stone, the Lincoln Lanes, or he played at their wedding or prom. Jeff’s enthusiasm as an entertainer infected his crowds and infused the atmosphere with joy and revelry.
Everyone loved to see him sing. Jeff was preceded in death by his father Eddie (‘59), mother Jeanine(’15), step-father Robert (89’), Uncle Doc (’03) and Aunt Dolly (’13), and his sweet daughter Tina (07’). He is survived by his wife Patty, brother Scott (Priscilla), step-brother John Emrich (Lou), daughter Cindi Bauer (Doug), and sons Jeffrey (Angela), and Michael (Lisa); grandchildren Justin (Lydia), Andrea, Delana, Austin, Riley and great grandchildren Brandon, and Charlotte, nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews and cousins.
Jeff also has several life-long friends with whom he shared many of his grandest times and fondest memories, most of whom were fellow proud alumni of Aquinas College High School, class of 1963. Friends may call Sunday, January 13 from 3pm to 8pm at Egan-Ryan Funeral Home, 403 East Broad Street. Mass of Christian Burial is Monday at 10:30 a.m. at St. James the Less Church, 1652 Oakland Park Ave.
Burial to follow at St. Joseph Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Aquinas Scholarship Fund, 1824 Collingswood Road, Columbus, Ohio 43221, which Jeff helped to found.
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