Wedemeyer ruled like King Kamehameha on Oahu less populated than now and one without an NCAA Division football program until 1974. One of those people I wanted to personally thank for opening doors was Jimmy Raye. The teen said he planned to kill himself. She still remembers the game. Charlie Wedemeyer (February 19, 1946 June 3, 2010) was a high school teacher and football coach. While Wedemeyer was best known for football, Springbett said the coach was instrumental in getting a baseball exchange program going with his high school in Hawaii. Springbett, a 1981 Los Gatos graduate, played for Wedemeyer during his junior and senior years. Charlie Wedemeyer was one of those teachers and coaches who inspired kids to be better because of the work he did with them.. He was teaching in Flint, Mich., when in 1970 he accepted an educational fellowship in San Jose, and a teaching and coaching job at Los Gatos two years later. Unable to speak, he communicated through his wife, Lucy, who read his lips and passed along his thoughts to the players and coaches. Interestingly, the 1964 Punahou-Kamehameha playoff game was also televised live throughout the state. "The day before I got a feeding tube, I was at clinical for eight hours giving vaccines outside in 7-degree weather," she says. At the age of 30, he was appointed head coach of the Los Gatos Wildcats in California in 1976. He was diagnosed as having Lou Gehrig's disease and given one to three years to live. Not because he had the disease, but because he continued to coach after he had the disease. Wedemeyer was a sophomore backup quarterback/holder; Apisa, a junior fullback; and Dick Kenney, a senior kicker/punter. He is the son of the famed Brooklyn Dodger catcher, whose own wonderful life was shattered when he was paralyzed after an automobile accident. Kaulukukui stocked Michigan States 1966 national championship roster with three Hawaiians who faced Notre Dame in the Game of the Century, Nov. 19, 1966 at Spartan Stadium. WebThe Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO Charlie Wedemeyer, a Northern California high school football coach who inspired athletes and others with his long-term battle against But during her hands-on clinical training at a hospital pediatrics department, she tested positive for COVID-19. My mom's siblings were Hanson, Irene, Penny, George, Mike, Jesse Wedemeyer of Honolulu. According to the ALS Association, the disease strikes about 5,600 people each year in the United States. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); Behind the scenes sports news. Lucy researched medical options and discovered that a portable ventilator could aid Charlies breathing. They did. If I can have a piece in helping Samantha achieve that dream," Tejada says, "then I want to do that. When it was over, people approached, many weeping. He was a first-team all-star with teammate Norm Chow when Punahou won the ILH basketball title in 1964, and played second base on the school's 1965 ILH championship baseball team. He lived for 32 years before the disease took his life in the early morning hours of June 3. His presence was there and it was felt by everybody., Rabitz says he still feels Wedemeyers impact today. Charlie Wedemeyer was having difficulty writing on the chalkboard in his classroom. Unable to walk, he coached from a golf cart. "It sometimes added a little pressure, knowing he was there watching, but it was great to be able to ask him questions about each incident in the story. "At the time it was devastating," she says, "because I was so excited, that's what I had really hoped for and where I wanted to be placed. Despite her protestations in the script, Dawber's character comes off as a saint who easily handles a very difficult situation. Keep reading with unlimited digital access. It is the honest moments in the script that put "Quiet Victory" a cut above most inspirational sports movies. He thought that striving for anything less than the very best was unacceptable., Simonson went on to say that Wedemeyers determination could sometimes make him a hard man to live with. "He was a true professional who served his community with pride every day for over 32 years," the Amherst Police Department said in a statement. She would eventually see a specialist at the Cleveland Clinic, who told her it was triggered by the virus causing COVID-19 a very rare condition called Post-COVID Viral Gastroparesis. Every day has been a blessing, according to Lucy Wedemeyer, a real estate agent in Los Gatos, Calif., where the Wedemeyers have lived since 1972. WebT WAS a wonderful life for Charlie Wedemeyer. He continues to astound the medical world with his indomitable will to live despite being stricken by Lou Gehrig's disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) 32 years ago. He's working on another documentary, although the past year has been more difficult for him, according to Lucy. But misery is optional., From the archives: Charlie Wedemeyer showed us, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), From the archives: Charlie Wedemeyer showed us how to live. He can do it all.. April 1986: Fired as Los Gatos coach after nine seasons. "We've had a bit of a bumpy ride since Charlie had kidney failure more than a year ago," she said. Many of his former players consider him their most inspirational coach by far, among them Buffalo Bills quarterback Trent Edwards, who played at Los Gatos High and later Stanford University. His throat cleared and, for the first time in months, he drank bowls of soup without choking. Would dismantling Interstate 980 repair damage to Black neighborhoods? Except for Charlie.. But his life itself is testimony to his really strong commitment to getting the job done. 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"It's something I never thought Charlie would see," said Lucy when Kale graduated from Los Gatos High with a 3.85 GPA, a glittering number which made Wedemeyer prouder than the 33 touchdowns and back-to-back, 1,000-yard rushing seasons his son put up. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. He finally had to give up coaching, but continued to go on speaking engagements at schools, churches, service groups, hospitals and even prisons, the first at O'ahu Community Correctional Center during a visit in 1989. Menu. He had such great respect.. Wedemeyer, who died in 2010, was a former Los Gatos High School teacher football coach who continued to teach and coach after being diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in 1978. When Charlie attended games, he sat in the end zone so he could see blocking schemes. 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More people can know about someone that faced adversity and never gave up. ", At the end of May, Cercena will be undergoing an operation to fully remove her colon, with doctors attaching her small intestines to her rectum. ' she asked, meaning there would be no attempt at resuscitation if Charlie stopped breathing again. No matter how tired we are, theres always someone that needs encouragement. College career: Played wide receiver and blocking back for Duffy Daugherty's Michigan State Spartans. Maybe he doesnt know any other way. Other than a few facial movements, Wedemeyer cant move a muscle. Kaulukukui was a Hawaii legend as a player and coach of the Rainbows. Charlie Wedmeyer is survived by his wife, Lucy; his son, Dr. Kale Wedemeyer; his daughter, Carri Andry; seven grandchildren; and five sisters and one brother. The remarkable run broke a 6-6 tie in the third quarter as Punahou went on to beat Kamehameha 20-6 in the ILH playoff game on Thanksgiving Day. Michael Nouri ("Flashdance") stars as Wedemeyer. Miss Manners: I shouldn't call because the phone scares people? "It's not light.". He was an ILH football all-star for three straight years, 1964 ILH player of the year and Hawai'i's Prep Athlete of the Decade. When that time comes, we must have to make a choice. They remember the guy with the smile on his face.. Still upbeat and full of smiles despite a body betrayed by ALS. Hopefully parents provide influence, but sometimes its a particular coach or two. Indiana high school basketball has its Bobby Plump, the real-life Jimmy Chitwood, in the movie Hoosiers. Hawaii of the 1960s had its Charlie Wedemeyer, The God of Lightning, the Hawaiian translation of Kalekauwila (or Charles in English). He just gave you a look.. Judy Peterson is a reporter for the Bay Area News Group's Silicon Valley Community Newspapers. He attained his dream of teaching math and coaching high school football in California. Scott Adams faces 'consequence culture' as U.S. newspapers drop Dilbert, Tom Cruise's 'ditching' of Suri showcased by Judd Apatow's 'co-parenting' joke, ex-Scientology exec says. Charlie Wedemeyer, Gregg Lewis. Within weeks both nurses were let go because they couldnt master lip-reading, leaving the Wedemeyers to start the process over. More than just another tribute to the resiliency of the human spirit, the inspiring story of football coach Charlie Wedemeyer, diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease over 15 years ago, also offers powerful examples of commitment and love in a time when so many "difficult" marriages Quietly, privately. Even in his last few days, as Wedemeyer entered the final throes of his guerrilla war against ALS, he and his family were confounding the physicians. And he was robbed of that.. Heres a guy who could have been a good high school coach. If theres one thing Wedemeyer loves more than a good joke, its good food. Within moments, he felt a surge of power and peace course through his body. At 5-8, 175 pounds, he would knock those big 6-4, 258-pound ends flat on their backs. Lucy became his voice. Some ALS families dont go anywhere, but lifes too short.. He was drawn into medicine by his fathers affliction, and brings calm to any crisis involving his care. Samantha Cercena in the ICU, Jan. 1, 2022 for treatment of septic shock. He was named head coach in 1977. Theres a place in our hearts for Charlie; hes touched so many lives., Rabitz is a 1991 Los Gatos grad. Everything he did was with great determination, Daugherty says in the 1990 PBS film. Charlie graduated from Michigan State in 1969 and obtained a master's degree from Central Mic Still blessed with a funny wit, Charlie thought God must have a sense of humor as well for making someone who can't speak be His spokesman. Wedemeyer was named to the Class of 2021, but the ceremony was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and later combined with the 2022 class that includes Kaulukukui. In October 2020, 22-year-old Samantha Cercena was looking forward to finishing her senior year at Ohio University and graduating in the spring with a nursing degree, her childhood dream. His legacy has lived on for how he carried himself and for the love he had for his players and other coaches. IRS delays tax deadline for Bay Area, but California hasn't followed: What should you do? The euphoria was short-lived. Son Kale, 37, a former football star at Los Gatos and University of the Pacific, is a doctor at Stanford with a specialty in pain management. He was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. Only while broken did he discover the man he could be and the purpose that it would serve. Wedemeyer was the last of nine children born to Bill and Ruth Wedemeyer. Her husband, Keith, works with Lucy in their real estate business and oversees the hiring of Charlies nurses. The victory served as the climax of a television movie made about Charlies life. Wedemeyer was a successful coach at Los Gatos High School, even after being diagnosed at 30 with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS. I am disappointed, Charlie told me through Lucy when I went to talk with them about the situation. He was a high school athlete and was quarterback of the Punahou School football team. By any logic, he should have died long ago, before coaching Los Gatos High to a football championship, before celebrating his 61st birthday, before meeting his four grandchildren or having an all-star game named in his honor. Somehow, some way, things get done, Lucy said. Instead he became an inspiration to everybody.. There are times when practice gets hard, hot double days, struggles that you face both on and off the football field, Edwards told The Times last fall. Our two children are both happily married and live close to each other, and 4.2 minutes from us, but who's counting?" Charlie, 63, is still making headlines and is continuing to receive gifts, including the most precious gift of all life. But all of them boil down to this: He always made people feel more joyful being around him despite the incurable amyotrophic lateral sclerosis that trapped his fully functioning brain inside a totally limp body. He had undergone five surgeries in the last two weeks because of intestinal blockages. Doctors were surprised how well he has healed, according to Lucy. He has trouble writing the "t" in heart, an early indication of his illness. He continued to coach, though he couldnt walk and could barely talk. At his death, he could only move his eyes, eyebrows and lips. That's been my symptoms for the last year and a half.". She had to drop out before she even started. I called him in the late 80s to tell him wed be interested in naming the all-star football game after him. IRS delays tax deadline for Bay Area, but California hasnt followed: What should you do? A native of Hawaii, where he was known as the "God of Lightning" because of his athletic ability, he went on to play football at Michigan State. When he lost his voice to the insidious disease with no cure, Lucy, his high school sweetheart at Punahou School in Honolulu, read his lips to relay play calls. His body is the equivalent of a 160-pound rag doll, and he must be lifted and maneuvered so that pants and shirts can be put on despite the tracheotomy and feeding tubes sticking out of his body. replies a convincing Charlie. Cercena obtained very little nutrition, losing 40 pounds by March and ultimately requiring feedings through a surgically implanted tube. Charlie is survived by his wife of 44 years, Lucy, daughter Carri (& Keith) Andry of Los Gatos, son Kale (& Sonia) Wedemeyer of Los Gatos, seven grandchildren, Wedemeyers body deteriorated. They did. He was revived twice more by home nurses. Their life story would become the stuff movies are made ofand it was, twice. Maybe this is your opportunity to help him., The more this sort of thing happened, Lucy said, the more we realized its not about us, but the abilities that God gave us., Whether at churches, schools or charity functions, to ALS victims or San Quentin prisoners, the Wedemeyers have become messengers of hope. He was a high school athlete and was quarterback of the Punahou First, he takes a shower while lying in bed. All these people who look perfect and yet are broken inside.. 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It emphasizes the importance of love and family, without ignoring the conflicting feelings and burdens that resulted from Wedemeyer's obsessive struggle to continue his life as normally as possible. After another speech at a youth camp, teens lined up for hours to share their stories. When the mood strikes sometimes in the middle of the night hell order his nurse into the kitchen and direct a recipe of his own. Besides his wife, Wedemeyer is survived by their daughter, Carri, and son, Kale; and seven grandchildren. Three Bay Area men, including justice reform activist, plead guilty in Norteo RICO murder case, Californias hardest to book campground isnt in a famous park. Campanella told a publicist for the film: "I hope this movie has a positive effect not only on those who must deal with disabilities, but also on all those who face any kind of obstacle they feel they cannot beat. While Amherst police were on the scene, a number of fights started among groups within the crowd in the mall lot on Alberta and in the Wegmans, A 37-year-old Buffalo firefighter died while fighting a four-alarm blaze on Main Street downtown that may have been sparked by work being done, The new renderings released by the Bills include an up-close view from the field level, three exterior stadium views with more detail than has. Carri isn't the only less-than-saintly character in the film. Scott Adams faces 'consequence culture' as U.S. newspapers drop Dilbert, Tom Cruise's 'ditching' of Suri showcased by Judd Apatow's 'co-parenting' joke, ex-Scientology exec says. I know how important my high school coaches were to my development and maturity in my upbringing. What better way to honor high school coaches and to honor Charlie for his contributions to the Bay Area, said Mariucci, who is now an NFL Network analyst. Dec. 13, 1985: Los Gatos wins first Central Coast Section football championship, with Charlie calling the plays through Lucy while sitting in a golf cart. Brandon Lowe, left, and Gabriel Reclusado celebrate their touchdown connection during the first half of the Charlie Wedemeyer All-Star Game. "From all of these experiences, she is going to be a great advocate for her patients," he says. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, Buffalo firefighter makes 'ultimate sacrifice' in blaze that may have sparked backdraft, Sabres place Alex Tuch on injured reserve; top-line winger's status is uncertain, Nebraska cheerleader competes by herself at state competition, but crowd doesn't let her feel alone, Paula's Donuts to move Clarence store that faced backlash for tax breaks to Amherst. And every night around 10 p.m., Cercena sets up the TPN to deliver nutrition for the next 12 hours through an IV while she sleeps. If it were a game of touch football, he still would have scored. "And it has never changed. Mike Harrington: His team looks good, even without Alex Tuch. When Daugherty was promoted to head coach in 1954, he told Kaulukukui to inform him of Big Ten talent in Hawaii. "He was determined to win, especially when he had ended up in Kaiser Hospital after the first time they played," Lucy wrote in a recent e-mail. The first was the 1988 CBS-made-for-TV movie, Quiet Victory: The Charlie Wedemeyer Story. Michael Nouri played Charlie and Pam Dawber played Lucy. We were more like a varsity staff than a frosh-soph staff, he added. He makes an annual appearance at the Charlie Wedemeyer All-Star Football Classic in San Jose, and he continues to help coach the Los Gatos frosh-soph team. After the marrying Lucy, his high school sweetheart, the couple moved to Northern California where Wedemeyer took a job as a teacher and football coach at Los Gatos High School. While working at the school, Wedemeyer was diagnosed at age 30 with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS. Lucy said Daugherty stayed in touch with Wedemeyer throughout his post-Michigan State days. Wedemeyer played in the East-West Shrine Game at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, and then came back home to play in the 1969 Hula Bowl. His inspirational story has been the subject of a PBS documentary and now, at 9 p.m. Monday on Channel 4, is a CBS film, "Quiet Victory: The Charlie Wedemeyer Story.". Wedemeyer, with his loving and dedicated wife Lucy constantly at his side, spit in the eye of his ALS, continuing to coach football for many years following his diagnosis. Or, we can choose to go through the situation knowing we will become better and stronger for it. Besides his wife, Wedemeyer is survived by their daughter, Carri, and son, Kale; and seven grandchildren. . Besides, Kyle and his daughter Sawyer, who is in her early 20s, are also actively involved in the campaign to end the practice of shark finning. Is the vulgar anti-Tesla sign on my neighbors truck illegal? Assuming it was the result of an old football injury, he said nothing. His sheer will and family support helped him beat that ominous diagnosis. A graduate of Occidental College, hes a two-time winner of California Sportswriter of the Year and first place for beat writing by Associated Press Sports Editors. Cercena was diagnosed with gastroparesis, a relatively uncommon disorder that slows or stops the movement of food from the stomach to the small intestine. And what, exactly, did Charlie say this time? The immense payoffs overshadow the games grass roots. ", The offer gave Cercena a much-needed boost. Los Gatos defeated neighboring St. Francis of Mountain View 14-12 on Dec. 1985 in the Central Coastal Section championship game. They bring back to life Charlie Wedemeyers inspirational story of coaching the Los Gatos High football team while fighting Lou Gehrigs disease. Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}330046N 800509W / 33.0126715N 80.0859218W / 33.0126715; -80.0859218. He was just one of the most inspirational people Ive ever met, former quarterback Greg Rabitz said. Anyone else would have just given up long ago., Patti Hughes, an assistant principal on Simonsons staff, added, There are many wonderful, outstanding people in the town of Los Gatos and on the staff of Los Gatos High School, she said. WebAll Pro Dad. Charlie, though, has a bunch of athletic accomplishments to be numbered among the 50 fabulous athletes since statehood. But it took more than 30 seconds, seemingly eons to Kamehameha defenders, because Wedemeyer went back to the 25-yard line for an errant lateral by a teammate who was about to be tackled. Shes looking to get smoked; Messages reveal aggressive threats from suspect on morning of San Carlos beheading, Antioch council ends remote-meeting options for members and the public, Zoom chops about 200 jobs in Bay Area, tech layoffs mount, The 10 most expensive reported home sales in Hayward the week of Feb. 20. 1968: Invited to play in East-West Shrine and Hula Bowl college all-star games. Wedemeyer returned, this time sharing space on the golf cart with a ventilator and portable generator. We can choose to feel sorry for ourselves, be bitter and angry and cause everybody else and us to be miserable. You have this amazing athlete who lived and died by his sports, she said. But each season the San Francisco 49ers remind Bay Area fans the importance of a high school coach. Wedemeyer's story was crying to be made into a TV film. Wedemeyer vowed not to be defeated by ALS, a neuromuscular condition that paralyzes virtually every muscle but doesn't affect the mind. And he ranked No. But were not going to be able to do it without you., Recalling the scene, Scialabba, 40, now a teacher and assistant coach at Los Gatos, said, He looked like a skeleton on the bed there. Brother Herman was an All-America running back at St. Mary's who later played Duke on the TV series "Hawaii Five-O." Charlie Wedemeyer defied the odds and broke all of the records. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. Receiver and defensive back Craig Springbett recalled Wedemeyer as a great coach. It was an absolute miracle, Lucy said. He was able to achieve so much and he did it with such grace.. The film was shot on location in South Carolina, with the Wedemeyer family present. And to witness Charlie's pride when Kale was honored to play in the Hula Bowl 25 years after he did was unbelievable, Lucy added. His athletic feats remain legendary on the islands, and friends discovered that if theyre with Charlie in Hawaii, they wont have to pay for a meal. WEDEMEYER'S INSPIRATIONAL STORY DEMONSTRATES POWER OF LOVE, GRIT HONEST MOMENTS IN THE SCRIPT GIVE MOVIE A SINGULAR STRENGTH. Two new nurses stand just past the sheet-covered contour of Wedemeyers bowed legs, listening closely as Palelei-Bustos begins another lesson on reading the silent coachs lips. June 29, 1995: Inducted into first class of the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame along with Lucy. The good fight part lasted about 30 years longer than anyone thought. Lasted about 30 years longer than anyone thought disease strikes about 5,600 people year!, or ALS going to be defeated by ALS, a junior ;. Families dont go anywhere, but because he had for his players and other coaches back. 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