Dan Finora, 90, credits his time in the military with giving him the discipline to wake up at 5:30 every morning over the past sixty-five years to get ready for work at Coral Gables High School.
After a decades-long career, Finora, the beloved school counselor and former business manager of Coral Gables High School, will be packing up his beloved office.
Finora has been mentoring students behind the red door of his office for years, providing them with resources, encouragement, and more often than not, tough love.
But on Tuesday it was his turn to be encouraged at a surprise retirement party. Former colleagues, alumni and administrators gathered during the celebration to exchange memories and praise.
There were balloon decorations, cakes, hugs and smiles.
“You are an institution, you are Gables,” a teacher said on a video presented during the celebration.
Finora sat in the front row as the video played, and even in the darkness of the library you could see he was beaming with contentment. “You are a legend and you will be missed,” said another colleague.
Finora had no idea the party was planned.
“Well, it was, you know, something I didn’t expect. It was great,” Finora said.
‘The Real Mr. Coral Gables’
Finora has been at Coral Gables High “since they laid the foundation stone,” he said.
He was known for arriving early and staying late to keep his colleagues company when they finished work, or to cheer on the school’s football team. He often came to the high school on Saturdays to give tours to Coral Gables High School alumni so they could see how the campus has changed over time.
Ada Trujillo, a former transcription coordinator at the school, said, “He is the heart and soul of Coral Gables.”
He also lives in Coral Gables – and jokes that he doesn’t leave his zip code.
During Tuesday’s celebration, Finora received gifts, including a letterman jacket featuring “The Real Mr. Coral Gables’ embroidered on the front.
Finora earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Miami and served two years in the Army stationed in Alabama and Georgia before dedicating his life to working in schools. He began his career at Coral Gables High School in 1958. Over the years, he held many positions, including typing teacher, athletic department business manager, school business manager and school counselor.
He says one of the highlights of his career was when Coral Gables High School won the 1963 state football championship.
Feared, but respected
The celebration was not only a time to honor Dan Finora’s years at Coral Gables High School, but also a time to poke fun at his strict behavior. Although some say he mellowed over the years, he was known as a rule follower who taught his students how to be disciplined.
“He was mean,” joked his former student Patricia Alvear, who was in his typing class in 1963, where she says he had a leather whip that he hit against the desk.
“Kids were afraid of him, but they also respected him,” said Fran Cosgrove, graduation coach and member of the coaching staff.
Tony Ullivarri, principal of Coral Gables High School, attended today’s surprise celebration and said one of Finora’s greatest values was its institutional knowledge and cross-generational awareness.
“It will be a great loss for our school,” Ullivarri said. Finora has lived through many events, including the 1968 teachers’ strike in Miami, where teachers walked out and demanded higher wages.
He kind of looked like an old record book,” said Silvia Yanes, a special education teacher, Coral Gables High School graduate and daughter of the former Coral Gables High School official.
“He was always there and always helped with everything,” Yanes said.
The party ended with a group photo and more gifts. But one gift he won’t be taking home is a plaque that will be mounted on the wall outside his office to commemorate his legacy.
