Just lost someone to ALS

[Blzer]

I'm going to try and keep this short, but my feelings for him deserve so many more.

Jim Ligget was my 8th grade Geometry teacher (who also taught both of my sisters), and also was my high school's varsity softball coach for 41 years. I was pleased to have coached under him for three years myself. The memories we shared have been invaluable. He had coached many girls who in turn are teachers for that school, etc. I believe he coached football for ten-ish years before that. Anyway, the point is if you asked anybody, I'm sure you would say he was probably as much of a grandfather to them as their own, which is not a knock on our blood-relatives but rather a testament to the man he is.

He was 76 years old, and a couple of years ago he would still be out there hitting with the fungo, coaching bases, etc. Still seemed "youthful-ish" given his age. However, last year he was diagnosed with ALS, and boy did it take him super fast. He went from "youthful-ish" to full-boar wheelchair in a matter of months. He had to retire from coaching this past season, surpassing 1000 career wins.

Just recently, his daughter posted on Facebook that "... His illness has progressed rapidly. If you'd like to visit or speak with him within the next 3-4 months I'll leave contact information below. If you decide to visit, please call beforehand to set it up. The visits should be short due to his condition. Thank you. ..."

Knowing he only had a few short months left was wrecking me. I couldn't imagine what he is going through, given I can barely handle this knowledge of fate. Mark Wahlberg's joke in Ted will still be funny to me, but this disease is so unbearably catastrophic the way it has crippled this person's life so quickly. I meant to post this when I first heard this news to brace you all for impact, because Jim Liggett (most refer to him as "Lig") will forever be remembered, and now will be sorely missed the way we would miss a grandfather.




Here are a couple of news articles relaying some of the same information:

http://www.smdailyjournal.com/articles/lnews/2017-06-07/legendary-coach-dies-jim-liggett-much-loved-at-carlmont-had-impact-on-entire-peninsula/1776425181438.html

http://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Record-setting-Carlmont-softball-coach-dies-11200272.php

At his [coaching] retirement party, I made and framed a poster of him that was a mosaic of photos I was able to obtain throughout maybe the past five years (wish there were more I could get).

[DJ]

Re: Just lost someone to ALS

Sorry for your loss, Blzer. That poster you made is awesome! I'm sure the family really appreciated it.

[Blzer]

Re: Just lost someone to ALS

Thanks so much.

Here is a new article that describes the man and legacy pretty darn well.

http://scotscoop.com/community-mourns-the-loss-of-liggett/

[Caulfield]

Re: Just lost someone to ALS

An incredible man, incredible life. I was looking at his Baseball Reference page as an Orioles farmhand. The man played for Earl Weaver, alongside the likes of Davey Johnson Dave McNally Mark Belanger Pat Gillick Steve Dalkowski Joe Altobelli and Paul Blair

[Trevytrev11]

Re: Just lost someone to ALS

Sorry for your loss. We lost a family friend to ALS last year. It's such an incredibly debilitating disease and in this case progressed faster than I could have ever imagined.

Our friend was diagnosed almost immediately after she gave birth to her second child and never made it to her daughters second birthday. Within weeks of her diagnosis the physical signs had all kicked in and within months she was in a wheelchair. It wasn't long after that that she had lost the ability to control all of her limbs and again not much longer after that that she couldn't breathe or eat on her own.

She was like 41 when diagnosed and had was robbed of so much. The disease was such a burden on her family and friends.