Obviously this past month has been saddened by the all too early deaths of two figures well-known around the local sports scene – Jack Hale and Michelle Fast.
Besides being a well-known athlete while at Lakewood High and Long Beach City College, Jack Hale was also a local coach to many kids and after he quit coaching Big Jack was a visible presence on the Los Al sidelines and grandstands. He and his wife Kristine were also presidents of the Griffin football booster club, while young John was setting tackling records as a Los Al linebacker, and then later when he played at UCLA. As witnessed by the many testimonials since his unfortunate passing, Jack left a positive mark as a friend, and coach on many of the people whose path crossed his in life. His sense of humor and spirit will be greatly missed around here.
Even more upsetting was the sudden death of Michelle Fast, one of the victims of the Seal Beach Salon Meritage tragedy. I had the privilege of coaching her son Pat in NJB, and our youngest daughters played AYSO and club soccer together for a few years. We also came from the same town in Northern California and although she was younger and attended the local Catholic school, it turns out we had some common acquaintances. We usually talked when I would wander down to the far end of a soccer field or gym, where she liked to watch events — away from the hubbub of gossiping parents. In her quiet, wry way, she was opinionated, but she had a sense of humor about it. She was very proud of her children’s accomplishments – band, sports and academic. And she was very protective of them as well, but in a way that allowed them to sometimes fail, but always to grow on their own.
Our thoughts and prayers go to the families of both these individuals who will be sorely missed.
Below are the obituaries which were distributed to local media.
John Frederic Hale, “Jack,” to his beloved friends and family, passed away on October 31, 2011. Jack is survived by his loving wife, Kristine; and son and daughter, John and Piper Hale. Born in Long Beach on December 11, 1944, Jack attended Lakewood High School, Long Beach City College, UCLA and Pepperdine. Dear husband, father, athlete, teacher, coach, business man, and friend, many came to Jack for wisdom and guidance, knowing they were seeking the opinion of an honest and noble man. Big Jack’s heart was as big as he was tall. Jack will be sorely missed by his family and so many friends. A memorial service will be held on November 5, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at the Long Beach Museum of Art, 2300 East Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90803. Reception to follow. Attire: Beachy and casual, like Jack. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in the name of Jack Hale to: The Republican National Committee, 310 First St. SE, Washington D.C., 20003 or the YMCA.
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Michele Daschbach Fast, the youngest daughter of the well-known Daschbach family of Atherton, died Oct. 12. She died in a shooting rampage that took eight lives in a beauty salon in Seal Beach, a community in Orange County. She was 47.
Services were held Oct. 22 at the Church of the Nativity in Menlo Park.
Ms. Fast attended St. Raymond School in Menlo Park and graduated from Sacred Heart Preparatory in Atherton. In her youth and throughout high school she played tennis competitively for the Menlo Circus Club and Sacred Heart. She graduated from UC Santa Barbara, where she met her future husband, Patrick Fast.
Mr. Fast’s career in the aviation industry ultimately led them to Seal Beach, where they lived and raised their three children for the past 16 years.
As an adult, Ms. Fast played tennis recreationally and was an enthusiastic swimmer. She was a life-long San Francisco Giants fan and a dedicated supporter of all the teams on which her children competed, say family members. She also took pride in the scholastic and athletic success of her many nieces and nephews, they say.
Ms. Fast is survived by her husband of 24 years, Patrick Fast of Seal Beach; children, Patrick, 20, a senior at UC Berkeley, Laura, 18, a freshman at UCLA, and Lisa, l6, a junior at Los Alamitos High School in Los Alamitos; her parents, Howard and Lenore Daschbach of Atherton; sisters LeeLee Cusenza of Pleasanton, and Lisa Fuerst and Laura Pitchford, both of Atherton; and brothers Rooney of Sunset Beach and Mark of Atherton.
Donations may be made to Ms. Fast’s favorite charity, smiletrain.org which helps children born with cleft palate.
Click here to see the Michele Daschbach Fast Memorial Charity Fund page.
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