Chuck Ballingall Obituary

Charles Philip Ballingall, age 56, entered into eternal rest in LaVerne, CA on August, 9, 2017.

 

Born in Los Angeles, CA, to Philip and Josephine (DiSalvo) Ballingall, Chuck attended Meadows and Nieblas Elementary Schools, Fountain Valley High School, Rutgers University and graduated from the University of Redlands in 1978 with a B.A. in Political Science and a Minor in Communications.

 

Chuck lived in Pomona, CA and worked as the Director of Institutional Research, Social Science Department Chair and Debate Coach. He taught AP Micro and Macroeconomics, as well as AP Human Geography at Damien High School in LaVerne, CA since the fall of 1982.

 

Chuck was an avid reader, a lifelong Dodgers and Lakers fan and a pillar in the high school and college debate community.  Throughout his high school and college days he was a successful competitive speaker; earning awards at many prestigious tournaments.  In high school, he qualified for State three times in policy debate, placing 5th in 1978.  He also qualified for National Forensic League (NFL) Nationals in 1978 and in 1981 he qualified for the NDT (College Nationals) where he received the 10th speaker award.

 

During this Damien tenure, he has qualified over eighty teams to state, and over fifty-five to nationals.  In addition, while under his directorship Damien High School students earned a State Championship in policy debate in1993; a second place finish in 1983 and 1992 and quarterfinalist finished in 2002, 2004 and 2007. At the National Tournament his record includes a 1st place finish (2009), 2nd place (2015), 3rd (1990), 5th (2011), and 6th (2008).

 

Affectionately referred to as “Mr. Debate”, Chuck can be found running debate tabrooms at many major invitationals throughout the state. When asked what he would most like to be remembered for he says, “Whether I want to be or not, I’ll probably be remembered for running just about every debate tournament I attended from 1990 to 2000.…I guess I’d like to be remembered for running them fairly and efficiently.”

 

A five diamond NFL coach, Chuck was elected to the CHSSA Hall of Fame in 1998.  While he is justly proud of his many accomplishments, he notes that “I am most proud of the graduates I’ve had who have returned to the coaching community.”

 

As the announcer for many Damien High School sporting events, during 2007, “The Voice of Damien” earned the exciting opportunity to do some stadium P.A. work announcing games for both the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Los Angeles Clippers where he met legends Tommy Lasorda and Vin Scully.

 

 

Survivors include his brother William, Sister-in-law Tricia (Wentzel) and nephews Connor and Tyler Ballingall from Westfield, NJ.  Along with aunt, uncles and cousins on the east coast as well as friends from the Damien High School and High School debating community too numerous to list. Chuck was preceded in death by his parents Philip and Josephine Ballingall.

 

Services will be held at the Damien High School Chapel at 2280 Damien Avenue, La Verne, CA 91750 at 12:30 PM on Tuesday, August 15, 2017.  A repass that is open to all family and friends will be conducted on the lawn at Damien immediately after the Mass.

 

In lieu of flowers, Memorial contributions can be made to Damien High School.