Mary Jannides

Mary Jannides, 87, of Sidney, passed away of natural causes on Saturday, June 28, 2025. She was born on August 3, 1937, in Sidney, OH to the late John and Penelope Kookootsedes. She married Spiros Jannides on June 14, 1964. She was preceded in death by her parents John and Penelope, Husband - Spiros, Son - John Andrew, Brother and Sister in laws - Gust and Mary Kookootsedes, and Chris and Nancy Christy. Survivors include her Brother and Sister in-law - George and Marina Kookootsdes of Laguna Beach, California, along with two daughters, Christa and husband Eric Bishop of Mason, Ohio, Stephanie Jannides of Mason, Ohio and a son, Michael Jannides of Sidney, Ohio; four grandchildren, Zoe, Eleni, and Lucas Bishop and Sophia Jannides, along with many Nieces and Nephews and extended family.

Mary was an institution in the Sidney community. She was a proud member of the class of 1955 at Sidney High School. She attended Ohio Wesleyan University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Education. Following college, she returned to Sidney and began a professional relationship with Sidney City Schools that would span eight decades. She began her teaching career at the Old Sidney High School (Bridgeview) in the fall of 1959, transferring to the new Sidney High School in 1961. She taught World Affairs, Sociology and Civics. She married Spiros in 1964, and the following year decided to stay home and raise her children. In 1982, she accepted a position as a substitute teacher and continued in that capacity until 2000 when she resumed a full-time teaching role. For the next 12 years, Jannides taught History and US Government at Sidney High School. One of Jannides’s most notable contributions to the Sidney community was her involvement in starting and maintaining the Sidney High School swim team. In 1982, Jannides approached the school superintendent with an idea of starting a high school swim program. Her proposal was approved, and Sidney High School became the first swim program in the upper Miami Valley. Mary continued to lead a successful co-ed team for the next 40 years that produced 2 Ohio state champions. Jannides was also a volunteer coach of the Sidney Shelby County YMCA swim team for over 40 years, which produced numerous national qualifiers. Although best known as a swim coach, Jannides held roles as the Sidney High School cheerleading and girl’s and boy’s tennis coach. Mary also was responsible for the creation in 1961 when she was the cheerleading adviser, of instituting the girls’ “Block S” cheer club that regularly had over 100 members during its decade-plus duration. She was an avid Sidney High School Yellow Jacket supporter and missed few, if any, home or away football or basketball games since her return to Sidney in 1970. She also served on many crucial school levy campaigns during the late 1970’s and early 80’s that were successfully passed.

Mary has been a long-time supporter of Sidney City Parks and Recreation programs and served as a contributing member of the City’s Recreation Board since her initial appointment on Nov. 20, 1972 until January 2024. The city recognized her 50 years of service proclaiming Nov. 20, 2022, as Mary Jannides Day as well as renaming Plum Ridge Park to Jannides Park. Mary was a lifelong member of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Dayton, OH. In May of 2024 she was recognized for her innovative teaching of the Young Adult Catechism Class for 50 years.

Funeral services will be held at Salm-McGill & Tangeman Funeral Home - Sidney, on Thursday, July 3rd, 2025, at 11:00 AM with Father Mark Emerol. Burial will follow at Graceland Cemetery - Sidney. Friends may call at Salm-McGill & Tangeman Funeral Home - 502 S. Ohio Ave, Sidney Ohio, on Wednesday, July 2nd, 2025, from 2 PM -7 PM, and on Thursday from 10 AM until the hour of service at 11 AM. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Greek Orthodox Church, 500 Belmonte Park N, Dayton, Ohio 45405 or theSidney Shelby County YMCA 300 E Parkwood, Sidney, OH Envelopes will also be available at the funeral home. Salm - McGill & Tangeman Funeral Home is honored to serve the Jannides family.