Richard

Hartwell

Chamberlin

 

 

 

 

Monterey County Herald, CA Feb 17, 2006

Richard Hartwell Chamberlin. May 5, 1933 ~ February 9, 2006. Richard H. Chamberlin, age 72, died February 9 as the result of an automobile accident. A native of Los Angeles, he was born May 5, 1933. A US Army veteran, Richard received his BA Degree from UC Santa Barbara and, moving to Pacific Grove, began his teaching career, which spanned 48 years at Pacific Grove High School. Richard was a teacher, coach and mentor to his students and fellow staff members. He was the most recognized and honored coach in Pacific Grove High School history and was a leader statewide in Cross Country and Track as well as Wrestling. He coached ten League Championship teams, two Central Coast Section Champions and was named a Central Coast Section Honor Coach for Cross Country. Richard was voted as one of the top twenty-five coaches in Monterey County for the past 100 years. Over the course of his career, Richard touched the lives of thousands of students and his love for athletics and his commitment to his students was unmatched. He is fondly remembered not only for the caliber of his coaching but also for the season-ending parties he hosted at his home. Team members were invited to make a montage of the season pictures and bake chocolate chip cookies. Richard complained of the “mess those kids make of my kitchen”, but he always said this with a smile reflecting his pride in his students. Richard is survived by his brother, Ronald, and his wife, Katy, of Grants Pass, OR, two nephews and one niece. A Celebration of Richard's Life will take place at Breakers Stadium at Pacific Grove High School on Saturday, February 25 at 1:00. A scholarship fund has been established by several of Richard's former student/athletes. This scholarship will be awarded annually to an outstanding Pacific Grove High School senior. Memorials may be sent to: Richard Chamberlin Memorial Scholarship, PG PRIDE, PO Box 419, Pacific Grove, 93950. Following cremation under the direction of The Paul Mortuary, inurnment will be at El Carmelo Cemetery in Pacific Grove. 

Pacific Grove Hometown Bulletin, CA Sep. `19, 2007 p33,39

P.G. High School Hall of Fame Inductees

By Lee Yarborough

As part of the Pacific Grove High School Homecoming festivities a number of individuals were honored by being inducted into PGHS Hall of Fame for having distinguished themselves. Among the honorees were: Charlie Higeura (1953), Sandi Dix Eason (1974), Bill Hyler (1939), Gina Prince-Bythewood (1987), Charlie Howell (Honorary Graduate), Richard Chamberlin (Honorary Graduate), Marty Baskin (Honorary Graduate), and Herb Schmalenberger (Honorary Graduate). Charlie Higeura is the well-respected owner of one of Pacific Grove’s most cherished businesses, the Grove Market. Charlie’s donations to various community organizations, both in time and resources, have earned him the widely recognized reputation for philanthropic work. He has been a familiar figure working behind the barbecue pit during innumerable community events. Charlie also holds the title of tribal chair for the California Native American tribe, the Amah-Mutsuh. Sandi Dix-Eason was inducted into the hall of fame in recognition of her outstanding achievements, both as a student and in her subsequent banking career. Sandi’s experience includes 31 years with Wells Fargo Bank and is now employed as Chief Executive Officer of Coast Commercial Bank in Santa Cruz. Sandi’s philanthropic contributions to the Central Coast are acknowledged as among the most generous. Bill Hyler was remembered as being active in football, track, clubs and band as a student at PGHS. During World War II, Bill served in the United States Navy air service in Guadalcanal, Espirito Santos and New Hebrides, ending the war in the hospital for three years after suffering injury. Bill graduated from Stan Jose State University and San Francisco State, going on to become principal of McCallum School in Salinas. Bill entered the business world with a sea shell business on Cannery Row which employed more than 25, later branching out into a sizeable plastic fabricating company in which some 105 employees worked. Bill has been a member of the Pacific Grove Alumni Association since 1989 serving in various capacities as recording secretary, member of the board of directors and vice President and president. Gina Prince-Bythewood has made her mark in the world of entertainment Working on several TV shows and is one of Hollywood’s most successful writers and directors. She has earned two Emmy nominations and won the NAACP Image Award for What about Your Friends? Gina is currently working on the film The Secret Life of Bees starring Dakota Fanning and Queen Latifa. Richard Chamberlin, the beloved track coach who suffered an untimely death in a traffic accident near the school as he walked home, was honored for his outstanding life as a coach and mentor.

Monterey County Herald, CA Feb 11, 2006

Coach dies after being hit by car

Was on way home from wrestling tourney

By CLARISSA ALJENTERA and JOHN DEVINE / Herald Staff Writers

Richard Chamberlin, a longtime track and field coach at Pacific Grove High School, crossed Sunset Drive thousands of times during the past 48 years. It was a quick walk to his home, across the street from the school where he taught science for nearly 35 years. Chamberlin, 72, was killed late Thursday while taking the familiar path home. Chamberlin was walking home after attending the Mission Trail Athletic League wrestling championships at Pacific Grove, an event he had coordinated, when he was hit by a car. Though he had retired as a teacher 12 years ago, Chamberlin was still wearing a path between his home and the high school, still coaching and directing other athletic events. "He probably made the walk 50 times a week," Pacific Grove Athletic Director Todd Buller said. "We're all in shock. He touched a lot of people." Grief counselors were on hand Friday for students and teachers. "Some kids went home," Buller said. "He had 40 kids on his cross country team this past fall. I think it's taken a while to sink in. But we're starting to feel the impact." Chamberlin was slated to begin his 49th season as a track coach at Pacific Grove on Monday as an assistant to Tom Light. It is uncertain when practice will start. Officers said Roger Holiday, the 74-year-old driver of the car that hit Chamberlin, apparently did not see Chamberlin in the crosswalk. Holiday was headed west on Sunset Drive, which is a part of Holman Highway. A driver behind Holiday said he saw someone in the crosswalk. But it was too late to stop, Pacific Grove Cmdr. Tom Uretsky said. Friday morning, Chamberlin's front porch light was still on and a rolled newspaper was sitting in his driveway. Neighbors on Sunset Drive were shocked when they heard about the accident. Moe Ammar, who has lived next door to Chamberlin for seven years, heard tires screeching from inside his home. When he and his wife, Trina, ran outside, they found Chamberlin unconscious. A neighbor gave Chamberlin a blanket and clutched his hand while he lay in the street. "(Chamberlin) should have died a peaceful death in his bed," Trina Ammar said. She said Chamberlin sent her flowers when she and her husband celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary last year. When asked, Chamberlin told Ammar to "expect to get one bouquet each month for a year because it's quite a task being married for 25 years." Despite retiring as a teacher 12 years ago, Chamberlin remained the head cross country coach and was an assistant in track, where he continued as meet director of the annual Pacific Grove Rotary Invitational. "It broke my heart when I heard about it," Carmel track coach John Ables said. "He was old school and I like old school. He was about sacrifice and giving. I already miss him." Pacific Grove canceled all sporting events and a school play Friday in memory of Chamberlin. "That guy was an institution," said Mike Ramirez, former track and cross country coach at Gonzales High. "When you think of track and field and how to do things right, you think of Richard Chamberlin. It's put a damper on this season. It's puts things in perspective." Chamberlin had the distinction of coaching a Central Coast Section champion boys cross country team in 1974, when there were no divisions. He also coached long jumper Johnny Johnson, who holds the Monterey County record with a leap of 25 feet, 2 inches in 1964. Last year, the Mission Trail Athletic League changed its annual League Relays meet to the Richard Chamberlin Invitational. Chamberlin made up the league schedules for all sports in the Mission Trail, Monterey Bay and Tri-County Athletic leagues. "He's irreplaceable," Ken Kline, King City's athletic director, said. "He's the heart and soul of high school sports. He kept the train running on time. He never said a negative thing about anyone." During school Friday, a student and runner of Chamberlin's brought in a biography that he had written about his coach for people to read and reminisce. "He is the most sufficient person we've had at this school in the last 50 years," Buller said. "I'm trying to remember all the positives. Because there are so many." Services are pending.

Monterey County Herald, CA Feb 26, 2006

FAREWELL, MR. CHAMBERLIN

Pacific Grove: Hundreds turn out to remember fallen teacher

By ANDRE BRISCOE / Herald Staff Writer

Longtime friends, former students and colleagues of Richard Chamberlin packed the bleachers at Pacific Grove High School's Breakers Stadium on Saturday to honor the man who was a fixture in Pacific Grove and Central California high school sports for nearly 50 years. Of the more than 1,000 people attending, at least a dozen waited in line to share personal stories of Chamberlin, 72, who was struck and killed by a car as he crossed a street near the high school earlier this month. Chamberlin's portrait hung on a stand just below a makeshift stage erected on the track field, where Pacific Grove Athletic Director Todd Buller opened the ceremony. On a stand just to Buller's right hung Chamberlin's ever-present green felt fedora hat. Some called him Richard, some referred to him as Mr. Chamberlin, still others Mr. C. But they agreed on Chamberlin's best qualities: he was someone who paid close attention to his students, he had high standards, and expected the best in the classroom and on the playing field. "He was one of the most wonderful human beings I've ever met," said John Ables, Carmel High School's track and field coach and a longtime friend of Chamberlin's. "He exemplified what I teach: sacrifice and giving. "He was always there for everybody... not just kids, but for adults and coaches," Ables said. "You could always count on Richard to help you. Like I've told all the coaches at the MTAL (Mission Trail Athletic League), we have got to stick together and get better because he is going to be watching."Community contribution| The night of the accident, Buller said, he was visiting Chamberlin and five former P.G. wrestlers in the school's gymnasium. Buller told the crowd how Chamberlin enjoyed the relationships he had built with former student athletes. "The look on his face, the joy he had in talking with these men, who were once boys who he taught wrestling, the great laugh he had, and the way about him... it will be the memory about him that I will have always." Pacific Grove Mayor Jim Costello read a proclamation recognizing Chamberlin's lifelong commitment to excellence in education and athletics. Costello presented it to Chamberlin's brother Ronald. A surprise moment during the ceremony came when a $10,000 check was given to the school's athletic program by Hugo Ferlito, board chairman of the Big Sur International Marathon, in part for Chamberlin's volunteer efforts during past marathons. Ferlito said part of the marathon's mission is to contribute to the betterment of the community. Chamberlin, he said, embodied that spirit. "This man really did live up to that (idea) of contributing to the health and welfare (of the community), especially our youth," he said. Respect and admiration| Chamberlin's influence continued years after retiring from teaching at Pacific Grove High, said Tim Minor, who graduated in 1976. "As I grew older he insisted that I call him Richard, but to me he is, and always will be, Mr. Chamberlin. He always commanded that kind of respect," said Minor. "So, out of deep respect and admiration, I'm wearing my tie and letter sweater this afternoon just as I used to when Mr. Chamberlin required it of us on the days of our track meets and cross country meets. But today I'm wearing it to honor a loving and caring man who inspired me and had a huge influence on my life as a coach, a teacher and a friend." Peyton McElyea, who was on the track team and graduated in 2001, talked about how some parents would ride with Chamberlin when attending out-of-town meets, and how he would set the cruise control to exactly 64½ mph, making clear to the parents that he would not drive any faster. "The funny thing was, he never went any slower either," said McElyea, in one of the service's lighter moments. "Down through every curve and every back road he could find, he did the same 64½."McElyea said students always found this funny, but not their parents. "But they always smiled and laughed about it by the end of the day," McElyea said. "The man was simply an institution to P.G. High, and how we are going to replace him, I simply don't know." Chamberlin was born May 5, 1933, in Los Angeles. He was Pacific Grove's track and field coach for 48 years. He was killed Feb. 9 while walking home after attending the league wrestling championships at the high school by a 74-year-old driver who did not see him in a crosswalk. Championship team| Chamberlin was set to begin his 49th season as a track coach at Pacific Grove. He retired from teaching science 12 years ago after nearly 35 years, but remained the school's head cross country coach, and an assistant track coach. He continued as director of the annual Pacific Grove Rotary Invitational track and field event. Chamberlin had the distinction of coaching a Central Coast Section champion boys cross country team in 1974, when there were no divisions. Last year, the Mission Trail League changed its annual League Relays meet to the Richard Chamberlin Invitational. Chamberlin made up the league schedules for all sports in the Mission Trail, Monterey Bay and Tri-County Athletic leagues. Chamberlin has been acknowledged as one of the top 25 coaches in Monterey County for the Past 100 years. "His contributions went beyond the kids and the track. He was a human being," said Moe Ammar, who lived next door to Chamberlin for seven years. Ammar and his wife, Trina, ran outside when they heard tires screeching the night Chamberlin was hit and found him unconscious. "Any time I asked him for anything that Pacific Grove needed, any cause, he always pulled his checkbook and wrote a big check," Ammar said. "Mr. Chamberlin, as your neighbor, as your friend, I will miss you." Chamberlin is survived by his brother Ronald, Ronald's wife, Katy, two nephews and one niece. A scholarship fund has been created by several of Chamberlin's former students and will be awarded annually to a deserving Pacific Grove High School senior.

Carmel Pine Cone, CA, Feb 17, 2006

Beloved Pacific Grove track coach to be memorialized

By KELLY NIX

A MEMORIAL service has been planned to honor Richard Chamberlin, the most celebrated coach in Pacific Grove athletics, who was killed after being struck by a car Feb. 9. Chamberlin, 72, a longtime track and field and cross-country coach at the high school, was fatally injured while walking across Sunset Drive. “For almost half a century, he has been at our school,” Todd Buller, the high school’s athletic director and vice principal, said the morning after Chamberlin was killed. “You hear about people who can’t be replaced; he was the definition of that. He was a great coach and man, and he gave everything to our school.” The service will be Saturday, Feb. 25, at 1 p.m. at the high school’s Breaker Stadium. Hundreds of people are expected to attend. “There will be so many people there,” Buller said. Chamberlin was a fixture at the school for 48 years and was its most successful coach, winning 10 league championships and two Central Coast Section championships in track and field. He was also named a Central Coast Section Honor Coach for cross country. He was voted one of the top 25 coaches in Monterey County for the past century. Chamberlin also coached wrestling for years and was on his way back from a wrestling match at the high school when he was killed. “Last night, there were firemen he had coached and police officers he had coached,” Buller said. “The people in the emergency room, half of them he probably had.” “He was a very significant person in my life,” said Tom Light, a mathematics teacher at the school and its lead track and field coach. “You could talk about anything for hours and he would listen.” Light was a student at Pacific Grove High in the 1960s and Chamberlin was his coach. When Light began working at the school 24 years ago, the two became friends. For years, Light and Chamberlin worked together for the school’s track and field team. “Everybody benefitted from his generosity,” he said. “He just made it so easy to do things.” Chamberlin groomed Light to become the school’s track and field coach. “In just the last couple of years Richard and I switched roles, and I started being coach and he was assistant. He was just a great man.” Although he hadn’t done so in about 10 years, Chamberlin also taught biology and computer science at the high school. The school offered counseling for students upset about Chamberlin’s death. “He affected thousands of kids,” Buller said. “I think everyone is in shock and saddened. But I think he would want us to move on after we grieved a little bit.” Police said Roger Holiday, 74, the driver of the vehicle that struck Chamberlin at about 9:30 p.m., didn’t see him in the crosswalk. Police and the California Highway Patrol are investigating the accident. Although Chamberlin was not married and had no children, Buller said his family was the students, teachers and staff he interacted with. “He was still involved in so many of his ex-players’ and students’ lives.” At the end of a season, Chamberlin would often hold “montage” parties at his house where team members would make a montage of the season’s photographs and Chamberlin would bake cookies for players. “Richard complained of the ‘mess those kids made of my kitchen,’ but it was always said with a wry smile and a touch of pride,” noted a tribute to Chamberlin on the school’s website. “I just keep expecting him to walk through my door,” Buller said.

Pacific Grove High School website, Feb. 10, 2006

http://www.pgusd.org/rc.html

Richard Chamberlain It is with heavy hearts and overwhelming sadness that the Pacific Grove Unified School District and Pacific Grove High School mourn the passing of Richard Chamberlain. Richard passed away after being struck by a car while walking home from a Wrestling Tournament Thursday night, Feb 9th. Some solace can be found in the fact that Richard was on his way home after finishing doing what he loved to do, helping students at Pacific Grove High School. Richard Chamberlain has been an iconic fixture at Pacific Grove High School for the past 48 years. Richard was a teacher, coach and role model for students and staff. He was the most recognized and honored coach in the history of Pacific Grove High School. He coached 10 League Championship Teams, 2 Central Coast Section Champions and was named a Central Coast Section Honor Coach for Cross Country. He was voted as one of the top 25 coaches in Monterey County for the past 100 years. He has coached Track for many years, as well as Wrestling. He has been a leader statewide in Cross Country and Track for the past 40 years. In the nearly half a century Richard has been at Pacific Grove High School he has touched the lives of thousands of students. His love for athletics and commitment to students is unmatched. His student/athletes will not only remember the high quality coaching they received from Richard but will also remember the season ending “montage parties”. When the team members would come to his house to make a montage of the season pictures and bake chocolate chip cookies. Richard complained of the “mess those kids made of my kitchen”, but it was always said with a wry smile and touch of pride. Richard will be deeply missed by Pacific Grove High School, the District and the city of Pacific Grove. Details of memorials or services will be announced at a later date.

Knockout II, March 2006

February 2006 Richard Chamberlain . . . . . . Faculty Pacific Grove CA

Richard Chamberlin, age 72, was born May 5, 1933 in Los Angeles. He died Feb. 9, 2006. as a result of an auto accident. He was struck while crossing Sunset blvd to his home, from PG High after coaching a PGHS wrestling tournament. A US Army veteran, Richard received his BA Degree from UC Santa Barbara and was a science teacher, coach and mentor for 48 years at Pacific Grove High School, from 1958 to 1993. Twelve of those years were after retirement as a volunteer coach. He was the most recognized and honored coach in Pacific Grove High School history and was a leader statewide in cross country and wrestling. Richard was voted as one of the top twenty-five coaches in Monterey County for the past 100 years. Richard is survived by his brother, Ronald of Grants Pass OR, two nephews and one niece.

Knockout II, March 2006

TRIBUTE TO TRACK COACH RICHARD CHAMBERLAIN

(And Junior High Coach “Duke” Thayer too.)

By Bob Crispin Class of 1963

Teachers may never know that they help create pivotal moments in students lives. In some cases they may remember playing a part in a pivotal moment, but not know when or how they helped create it. I have just heard that Richard Chambelain was killed while walking home by a driver that did not see him. The time does fly. I think he began his coaching career (at around age 26) in 1960, my freshman year and the first year I went out for track. I entered high school a devout non-athlete, one who never engaged in sports, instead choosing to spend much of my time indoors fiddling with amateur radio. I had only a brief introduction to the sport in Junior High by Coach “Duke” Thayer, who worked with me after school to teach me the high jump. My ability to skip PE alerted him to the fact that I did not enjoy the pressures of team sports. His effort was the beginning of a pivotal change for me. Through his mentoring I discovered a sport where there was no team pressure. The only person I had to challenge was myself. I finished eighth grade going to my first track meet where I took dead last and loved every minute of it. I was hooked. Hooked, but lazy, I went out for the high jump at PGHS. Coach Chamberlain, noting my ability to do little work told me I needed to run the mile. I missed the first race at Carmel and he told me I would be off the team if I missed another mile run. After drinking a half gallon of A&W root beer at King City, I ran a 5:07, took third, and got quite sick. I had discovered the mile. Luck, his intuition, or just his plain frustration at my lack of motivation, led him to enter me into the longest race of that time. Coach Chamberlain had started me on my way to a life style I still live today. He had connected me to my unknown talent, endurance athletics. Some thought I was a natural runner, as I progressed quickly in the mile for having been a nonathlete. Fact was, my family did not own a car, so I walked and bicycled everywhere. I was not coordinated and I lacked muscle strength (translates to, I was very skinny), but had walked and jogged about town to get places so much that I was in good aerobic condition. I was so very close to losing my eligibility when the spring grades came out that freshman year. Like I say, I was lazy, except for ham radio. If studies didn’t deal with electronics, it was not relevant to me. Now I was facing two possible failing grades just as I was discovering myself in track. We were allowed one non passing grade. As luck would have it we had a substitute teacher in English the last month. I really put out and eked out a passing grade and stayed on the team. So not only was track fun, and good for me, it gave me motivation too, if not excel, at least pass academics. I lettered that year on the varsity team and set the school record in the mile the following year. Once I gave up being lazy, Coach Chamberlain was behind me throughout my high school career, both in track and cross country. To him and others like him, I owe the nurturing of confidence that began with running, and moved on to academics and life in general. I am still an athlete, though not highly competitive, I hike, walk, now enjoy team sports, (basketball the most) and completed a life time goal in 1992, to bicycle across the U.S. and complete the West Coast, Canada to Mexico. Another huge benefit was the friendships developed in those years. My five best friends and I from the PGHS track team still get together to hike and mountain bike. All five live on the I-5 corridor between Seattle and San Diego. All are still physically active in one sport or another. Last, my C average got me into MPC, and I later completed a Masters in Education with a 4.0. I owe all of this to my time as an athlete running cross country and track with Coach Chamberlain. So, I salute Coach Richard Chamberlain for his contribution to my good life. I Thank You – Mr. Bob Crispin ‘63 ###

Editors Note: I received the following Email from Don Ravanelli, who lives in Pollock Pines, CA. I enjoyed getting it but was a bit confused as to who was writing to whom. I Emailed back to Don with some questions and he answers me below.

Knockout II, March 2006

Bill, Chris is Chris Johnson, class of 1965...younger brother of Erik Johnson, class of 1963 . . . he is writing to me, Mike Davis, Randy Schroeder, Erik (his brother), Ann Campbell . . . all of us from the class of 1963. I then took Chris’ email and forwarded it to everyone on my 1963 class email list, which also includes several people, like you, Jayne, Wynette and several from other class years. The "as for myself" is definitely Chris Johnson speaking. He still lives on the Monterey Peninsula. As for me, Bill....I never had Richard as a teacher at PG, simply because I never took Biology, going directly from General Science to Chemistry. I also was not talented enough in speed or anything to do with track, so I never had Richard for a coach. I became acquainted with him, first, at the PG 10 year reunion in 1973, and then again at Mike Davis's wedding in 1982. When I first sent news of his death to Mike Davis in Australia...Mike was shocked, I guess Richard had been there for a visit with Mike fairly recently..All very sad for all of those that were acquainted with Richard closely. Don Ravanelli ‘63

Chris Johnson’s Email follows.

Attached is the handout given at Mr. Chamberlain’s memorial. It was held at Breaker Stadium on the 25th There were over a thousand people in attendance including the mayor of PG. About 30 people got up to share their memories. I had to laugh when it was over as the youngest former student to speak graduated in 1974. Bunch of kids! As for myself: 1961 Chamberlain substituted for Bruce Henderson in General Science 1962 Biology Class 1963 Chamberlain’s lab assistant 1964 Cross-Country Team Richard’s brother Ron accepted a proclamation from the City of Pacific Grove. The guy looked just like Mr. C (as the “kids” called him) – tall, skinny, and all legs. One of my best memories was when he had the cross-country team run 4 miles – around the track! That’s 48 laps… The reception was in the Library. So there I am, making my way up to the High School Library remembering back when it was built. The cement path I’m walking on was our “bun board” run back in the days when a 2 x 4 with your sister’s skates nailed to the bottom was a skate board. If you got the guts try visiting the campus sometime. Strange memories of a life long ago… Chris Johnson, Class 1965