Woody’s highly anticipated new book “STRAWBERRIES IN WINTERTIME: Essays on Life, Love, and Laughter” is NOW available! Order your signed copy HERE!
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Decking the Halls with Balls of Jolly
Basketballs are bouncing in, footballs are spiraling in, and soccer balls are bending in like Beckham kicked them for my annual Woody’s Holiday Ball Drive.
This year’s running tally has already topped 250 balls, yet that is one less than it should be. In years past, I could always count on Jerry Nelson to donate a top-of-the-line basketball. Always a basketball, which made sense because Jerry was a longtime local referee.
Some of the gift balls for kids this year!
Sadly, I received an email earlier this week with these words from Jerry’s eldest son, Erik: “Dad has blown his last whistle.” Gerald passed away at age 84 on Dec. 6.
Jerry was much more than a referee. He was a dedicated educator, youth coach, Scout leader; avid tennis player with an email address gntennishack; and was involved with numerous service clubs.
After my memoir “Wooden & Me” came out, Jerry sent me a note incorporating one of my favorite Wooden-isms: “I read your book quickly, but not in a hurry.” He signed off, “Your favorite Westpark referee.”
That he was. Jerry will be missed, but his basketball donation this year won’t – I am giving an extra Spalding in his honor.
Another Jerry (Mendelsohn) and his wife, Linda, donated a dozen basketballs and a dozen soccer balls. Importantly, three of the couple’s four grandchildren – Garrick, 6; Dannika, 3; and Parker, 2 – helped with picking out the balls and delivering them.
“The older two remember why we do this every year and Parker got his first taste of what ‘giving’ is all about,” Jerry shared. “Linda and I were beaming with pride at these three and their desire to be of help in making this holiday season brighter for those children in need.”
Tom and Christina McEachern similarly had their grandchildren – Helios, 12; Preston, 5; and Sadie Grace, 2 – in mind while donating two soccer balls and one basketball.
Sandy Aberle started a new tradition by asking the seven children attending her family’s Thanksgiving dinner to each bring a ball to donate.
In memory of her mother Janice Manjoras, Sherrie Basham donated three footballs and four basketballs, noting: “My mom loved Christmas and always donated to a cause for kids.”
Pamela Carter similarly donated a basketball in memoriam: “This is my first Christmas without my Mom. We were blessed to have our parents until they were 97 (Dad) and 96 (Mom). No matter what age they are when they leave, it is not easy.”
Nancy Rickman donated a mix of 25 basketballs, volleyballs and footballs “in memory of my friends Dorothy Jue Lee and Allen W. Jue.”
Donna and Loren Jonkey dedicated a basketball “in honor of our son Jeff (a LBPD officer), who suffered a heart attack in June and was given a second chance at life.”
Andrew Sherman gave “a basketball in memory of Mike Sandoval, who left us way too soon, and a baseball in honor of Richie Rubenstein, who is battling multiple myeloma.”
From Jim Cowan, a veteran: “This year I would like to dedicate the ten basketballs to members of the Armed Forces, both past and present, for their service and sacrifice in preserving our freedoms that are too often taken for granted.”
Kate Larsen donated three soccer balls, sharing: “Thank you for making it easy to pick out just the right thing to get kids off their sofa, turning off their phones, and going outdoors to enjoy running around.”
No, the thanks belong to everyone – too many to mention all in this limited space – who has generously contributed.
There is still time to drop off a new sports ball at any local Boys and Girls Club, YMCA or at Jensen Design & Survey at 1672 Donlon St. (near Target on Telephone Road in Ventura) weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Dec. 21. And please email me at woodywriter@gmail.com so your donation can be added to the final tally.
Let me close with this wisdom from John Greenleaf Whittier: “The joy that you give to others is the joy that comes back to you.”
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