From the Heart for Chuck
COLLEGE POLICY DEBATE FORUM
From Marie A Dzuris
In times of loss, I both hate and love Facebook. I am still trying to process that the debate community at large and me personally have lost a great friend/coach in Chuck Ballingall. I love reading all the tributes from so many. I hate that it just highlights the magnitude of the loss. RIP my friend - you made a difference and will be missed.
From Jeffrey Wortman
I was scheduled to have dinner with my long time debate friends Byron Arthur and Chuck Ballingall just a few weeks ago, but Chuck cancelled because he was under the weather. At the time I remember thinking that it was no big deal that Chuck cancelled because we will have more opportunities down the road. Cherish every opportunity you have with your friends folks. In an instant, things can change. Chuck was one of the finest debate coaches I have known, but he was much more than that. He will be missed. Rest In Peace my friend.
From David Glass
Terribly sorry to hear about Chuck Ballingall dying, a good friend since his early days coaching at Marlboro High School in New Jersey, and through all his decades at Damien. Condolences to his family, former students, and of course the whole debate community.
From Andrea Alterman
Still finding it hard to believe. Was just trying to explain to my husband what kind of person Chuck was and I couldn't do him justice. I ended up with he was a guy that everyone wanted to know and be around. What a loss.
From Andres Gannon
I regretfully pass along the sad news that Chuck Ballingall, the Director of Debate at Damien High School for the past 25+ years, passed away earlier today. Chuck coached many nationally competitive debate teams during his time at Damien and was a member of the CHSSA Hall of Fame as well as a 3 star National Forensic League coach. He will always be remembered for his outstanding sense of humor, sharp mind in and out of the classroom, and most impressively, managing a debate team full of adolescent boys. Our condolences go out to his family and the many friends whose lives he changed.
From Toni Nielson
Sad to hear of Chuck's passing - he was a force for debate in Southern California and enriched the lives of many young people. RIP Chuck.
From John Q. Barrett
What a good guy, debater, teacher, coach, and person. What a terrible loss.
From Bryon Gill
My first lab instructor, sorry to hear.
From Lindsay Harrison
He was such a lovely person
From McClure Cronin
I don't know how to explain how I felt hearing this news... I never was a Damien debater, but the Love and support that Chuck gave me throughout my debate career is truly something I want to emulate. I hope he knows how great of an impact he had on our community and the hundreds of student (thousands? that he worked with.
From Teja Vepa
Ballingall was a keystone of our community. I'm still in shock after hearing the news today. Chuck taught so much about debate, about coaching, and about life. He will be missed by so many.
From Mike Shackelford
He was a mentor, a colleague, a rival coach, and a friend. If you've been involved in debate in any meaningful way, you know how devastating this loss is to the community. Chuck was the best. RIP.
From Matthew Gomez
Mr B. was one of the nicest people I ever met and always seemed to love his job, his school and team, and enjoy his time at tournaments. I'll miss seeing him around the west coast.
From Marissa Grayson
I'm so sorry to hear this. I saw Chuck for the first time in ages at NSDA in Birmingham a few weeks ago. It was as if time hadn't passed. While we only spoke for a few minutes, I was touched that he had kept up with what was going on in my life and was as friendly as ever.
From Neil W. Blackmon
Lovely man. Terribly sad to hear this. Thinking of his loved ones and grateful for a life well lived
From John M. Bredehoft
I remember when he was a high school debater rather than coach. In all those years he never lost his sense of joy. I am so sad that I neglected to visit him. I simply am at a loss for words.
WORDPRESS
Pat Palmer says:
August 10, 2017 at 4:19 pm
For years I had the great honor of knowing Chuck through basketball officiating. One of the things I looked forward to most in every single game was walking out on to the floor and seeing Chuck sitting at the scorers table. He always,and I mean always had a warm smile and greeting.
Chuck was everything right about youth sports,and setting examples.
Arthur Broadwater, Class of 98 says:
August 10, 2017 at 5:19 pm
Coach, I speak for many when I say you believed in me and gave me a chance in life when no one else would. Growing up as a minority, raised by a single mother in a low income family, I was supposed to be a statistic. You opened the world to me, gave me the tools, opened the doors, and taught me the power of my voice and gave me confidence in my ability to change the world. Now, as a successful adult with a great career, I owe so much of who I am to you, your passion, your dedication, your love. I can only hope your family knows it’s an understatement to say you changed the world. Changed. The. World. You touch the lives of so so so many, and left the world a better place than you found it, a magnanimous inspiration to all those you touched. You will always be honored as one of the greats. Until we meet again old friend, all my love, all my respect, all my gratitude. Ya dun good kid. Godspeed.
Liana and Barry Gannon says:
August 10, 2017 at 5:37 pm
Mr. Ballingall was a great teacher, a great debate coach, and a great mentor. Because of Mr. Ballingall’s influence, our two sons went on to major in Social Studies at college, to debate at College, and then to teach debate after they graduated. Teaching was his true vocation and his true passion. We will be eternally grateful to Damien High School in general and to Mr. Ballingall in particular. Requiescat in pace.
Teri Patterson says:
August 10, 2017 at 6:10 pm
Mr. B
As all the students called you. Thank you!
Brian Cash says:
August 10, 2017 at 6:15 pm
Gone too soon. Rest In Peace, sir.
Keith Cavanaugh says:
August 10, 2017 at 10:18 pm
I will never forget the amazing times inside and out of class I had with you. You made learning so much fun and you were my biggest fan. You announced every home basketball game that I played in and always lifted me up each time I would sub into the game. Going out to dinner and always taking time out of your day to talk and catch up were times I truly cherished. Thank you for being my friend Mr. B. Rest In Peace.
Bryan St. Amant, Class of 79 says:
August 11, 2017 at 12:38 am
As a Damien debater many years ago I had the pleasure of debating Chuck when he was a student at Fountain Grove High. Because debate made such a difference in my life, I volunteered to start a team in Northern California nearly 30 years later and quickly learned that Chuck not only represented my alma mater but had also become a debate coaching legend. The leadership he brought to the California High School Speech Association and the National Speech and Debate Association influenced a generation of coaches and helped pass along the gift of debate to thousands of students. As an active member of the coaching community, I can tell you the shock of this loss is felt well beyond the Damien family. My social media feeds are packed with heartfelt tributes from coaches & students he mentored across the country. His shoes can never be filled, but the legacy of his work will live on & the memory of a kind man who devoted his adult life to a noble cause will not be forgotten. It’s so hard to make sense of a loss like this. All I can figure is that God needed a great coach and inspiring leader in Heaven. RIP Coach Ballingall.
Jim Gillen says:
August 11, 2017 at 8:00 am
I knew Chuck in my capacity as coordinator of Damien’s online program. We interacted frequently and exchanged many inside stories of dealing with the UC system and its vagaries! At all times he was unfailingly gracious and welcoming. In these past 4 years we forged a bond between two people with over 90 years in education between us. I believe that for Chuck the great promise of scripture is fulfilled “Those who instruct others unto justice shall shine like stars for all eternity”! In the words of my native Gaelic tongue: “Ar dheis De go raibh a anam” (May his soul be at the right hand of God).
Michael Knish, Faculty 1985-1992 says:
August 11, 2017 at 9:16 am
I am still in shock at the loss of my lifelong friend Chuck Ballingall. I had known Chuck in the early 80s when we debated against each other in college. He got me hired in 1985 as a teacher at Damien when I was in need of a job and what followed were 7 often tough but magical years as part of the Damien community. Chuck was in the center of my experience as we were neighbors in the 100 building basement and shared countless dinners [often with Jeff Coray and Sam Pearsall], trips, and debate tournaments. When I left in 1992, he continued on for another 25 years, immersing himself with joy into all aspects of his life at Damien–teaching, debate coaching, mock trial, basketball, administration, announcing. I was able to keep up with it all because our friendship endured up to the present. And what a great friend he has been. Always there when needed with advice or help. While he was hesitant to promote his own accomplishments, he always let it be known to the world whenever good things happened to me or any of his friends.
There was never any burnout with Chuck–he just kept going in his devotion to and love for the school. Equally strong were his efforts to maintain contact with so many friends through the years. When he travelled he would make it a point to visit all that he knew wherever he was going. His influence has been vast and lasting.
By any measure, Chuck was a great man. His legacy will endure. My life will not be the same without him.
Nathan Staples says:
August 11, 2017 at 8:54 pm
Amen.
Bill Crawford, Class of '89 says:
August 11, 2017 at 10:29 am
Being a member of Damien debate for four years provide me with many of my fondest and longest lasting memories and life lessons. Whether it was countless hours of preparation, the memorable trips, or just hanging out in the “dungeon” discussing the pertinent topics of the day, the lessons learned still shape my life today. My relationship with Mr. Balling all might not have always been the smoothest( being the recipient of many well deserved raised eyebrows), but I will always remember the conversation before my senior year when I told him I would not be returning to the team. I had a myriad of reasons and excuses which I laid out in a concise and well reasoned argument. He listened patiently and responded that the choice was mine but that I was a valuable member of the team and regardless of how much time I had to devote to it they really needed me. Looking back I was probably the weaker member of the 8th team that year, but what Coach knew that day and I only realized years later, was not that the team needed me but how much I needed them. Thanks, Coach.
Gary Eastlack says:
August 11, 2017 at 9:39 pm
I can remember basketball season in class of 87 season, Mr B or Coach B to some calling the game…He called my name a lot that year “Eastlack” for 2, we used to talk about the 3 pt line which came in the yr after I graduated, what a season we could’ve or might’ve had…Coach B as I knew him will always be remembered, always encouraging Spartans to be good sportsman….hard day for the Damien family RIP Coach B
Brad Gunning, class of '98 says:
August 11, 2017 at 11:48 pm
Chuck, I’m struggling to accept that you’re gone. While you were an amazing teacher and I thoroughly enjoyed being your student, it was our friendship post-graduation that I truly cherish. Lunches at La Paloma, the times we saw The Big Lebowski and Rebel Without a Cause in Hollywood, meeting up at USC after debate tournaments, and drinks at Heros with Jeff Coray and Sam Pearsall (actually, I think only Sam and I drank!). You were a true friend; someone I knew still cared about me 20 years after I left Damien. You’ll be missed, my friend, but always remembered.
Myles Watling, class of '90 says:
August 14, 2017 at 6:19 pm
I had years of swim, debate and AP U.S. History with you Chuck. I spent more hours with you then any other teacher or coach at Damien. Thanks for everything you did all all you taught me. I won’t forget you. RIP Coach B.
