Friends, family pack Cabrillo gym to celebrate…
Friends, family pack Cabrillo gym to celebrate Pat Lovell
Hundreds pack Cabrillo gymnasium to celebrate accomplished athlete, coach and family man Pat Lovell
Former Cabrillo College wrestler Mike Haschak speaks at the Celebration of Life for Pat Lovell, his former coach, at Cabrillo College in Aptos on Saturday, March 16, 2019. (Brandon Vallance – Special to the Sentinel)
By Santa Cruz Sentinel |
PUBLISHED: March 16, 2019 at 4:30 p.m. | UPDATED: February 27, 2020 at 2:02 p.m.
Friends of the late Pat Lovell check out a memorabilia table set up at his Celebration of Life at Cabrillo College in Aptos on Saturday, March 16, 2019. (Brandon Vallance - Special to the Sentinel)
Former Aptos High wrestling coach Reggie Roberts speaks at the Celebration of Life for Pat Lovell at Cabrillo College in Aptos on Saturday, March 16, 2019. (Brandon Vallance - Special to the Sentinel)
Janet Demsher speaks at the Celebration of Life for Pat Lovell at Cabrillo College in Aptos on Saturday, March 16, 2019. (Brandon Vallance - Special to the Sentinel)
Former wrestler and coach Lynn Dyche speaks at the Celebration of Life for Pat Lovell at Cabrillo College in Aptos on Saturday, March 16, 2019. (Brandon Vallance - Special to the Sentinel)
A Celebration of Life was held Saturday for former SCCAL commissioner, teacher and coach Pat Lovell, a former football and wrestling star at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo who qualified for the Olympics in wrestling. (Dan Coyro -- Santa Cruz Sentinel file)
Former Cabrillo College wrestler Mike Haschak speaks at the Celebration of Life for Pat Lovell at Cabrillo College in Aptos on Saturday, March 16, 2019. (Brandon Vallance - Special to the Sentinel)
Former SCCAL commissioner, teacher and coach Pat Lovell, left, was John Madden's teammate and roommate at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. A Celebration of Life was held for Lovell, also a former wrestler who qualified for the Olympics, on Saturday at Cabrillo College. (Contributed photo)
Dr. Redmond Burke, a former wrestler for Pat Lovell at Monta Vista High in Cupertino speaks at Lovell's Celebration of Life at Cabrillo College in Aptos on Saturday, March 16, 2019. (Brandon Vallance - Special to the Sentinel)
There was a large memorabilia table at the Celebration of Life for Pat Lovell at Cabrillo College in Aptos on Saturday, March 16, 2019. (Brandon Vallance - Special to the Sentinel)
Former Cabrillo College wrestler Mike Haschak speaks at the Celebration of Life for Pat Lovell, his former coach, at Cabrillo College in Aptos on Saturday, March 16, 2019. (Brandon Vallance - Special to the Sentinel)
APTOS — Pat Lovell was one of a kind. The former football player and Olympic wrestler, teacher, coach, official, Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League commissioner, friend and family man made an impact. And he is missed.
Lovell, 81, died Nov. 29.
Hundreds of friends and family members came from near and far to share and hear stories about the man they knew and loved at his Celebration of Life, held in Cabrillo College's packed gymnasium Saturday.
They spoke of a man who was talented, positive, caring, genuine, witty and inspirational. As a coach, he had a way of making the impossible seems possible, one speaker said, and lightening the mood in tense situations, said another pupil.
They spoke of a man who almost always found a way to be humorous, even in a serious situations. The crowd smiled and laughed often Saturday. Even in passing, Lovell's legend was still at work.
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