The football community has lost one of its greats with the sudden passing of Tim Petros on Mar. 30 from a heart attack.

Tim, 58, was well known in the Cochrane community and a celebrated football athlete from high school until retiring from the sport as a Calgary Stampeder in 1990.

Among those mourning his sudden death are members of the Cochrane High Cobras football program.

"Our thoughts and prayers from all of us go out to the Petros family," the Cobras tweeted. “Once a Cobra always a Cobra."

It was only two weeks ago that Cobras co-head coach Rob McNab saw Tim at a Dinos' alumni function attended by about 100 people.

"We chatted a bit, we had a few laughs and drinks, and he seemed to be doing well," says a shocked McNab.

McNab became a Dino the season after Tim had completed his university career. He did play with his brother Mark, though. Over the years, McNab came to know him well.

Tim was running back coach for the Cobras when his son Nik played for the team. 

"He was a great guy to be around. As a coach, he was always positive. Really, really good with the kids."

"Nothing negative ever came out of his mouth that I ever heard."

Paying tribute to Tim is going to be difficult with the COVID-19 pandemic, but people have been reaching out.

"The Dinos' alumni are fantastic, let alone the Cobra alumni. I've got numerous texts from teammates and alumni. It's just a really sad thing we're going through right now."

The tailback played for the Stamps from 1984 to 1990. In 100 career games, he accumulated 2,228 career rushing yards and 18 touchdowns while adding 141 catches for 1,007 yards.

He joined the U of C Dinos in 1979. In high school, he played for John Diefenbaker High School. In his final season there, he was the co-winner of the Henry Philip Taylor Award as the top player in Division II high school football in Calgary.

With the Dinos, he ran for a Vanier Cup-record 260 yards and was named the championship game’s MVP when the Dinos won the 1983 national university championship over Queen’s.

He is a member of the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame as a member of that Dinos team and is the University of Calgary Athletic Hall of Fame. 

In addition to his football career, Petros followed the family tradition of working in the food-service industry.

He worked at his father's restaurant, Nick’s Steakhouse & Pizza, located across the street from McMahon Stadium. It is the destination for many after games at McMahon or for social gatherings year-round.

Afterward, Tim started a business that saw him prepare frozen pizzas for sale in the Calgary area. In 2013, he opened Tim’s Gourmet Pizza here in Cochrane.

Tim is survived by his wife Laura and two children – son Nik and daughter Jordan.