In Memory of Coach Ed Luksik

I just wanted to share some thoughts on Coach Luksik.

Coach inspired all around him to be the most they can be, on the mats and off.
I knew him as a coach, friend, mentor, and family man.
One of the most nerve-racking moments in my life was when I was honored to be one of the speakers the night of his induction into the hall of fame; I was so afraid I wouldn't find the appropriate words to express how much he meant to so many.

His legacy, I believe, are his wrestlers that went on to coach high school and college. The one's that come to mind are Nick Gallo (Hofstra), Joe Goonan (HHHW), Bob Schwarz (DP and HHHE), Howie Greenblatt (MacArthur), Ray Downey (East Meadow), Angelo Zegerelli (HHHE), Ted DePasquale (Razor Wrestling Club), Jack Magnani (Kings Park), Paul Klyap (NYC), and the two current DP assistants, Mike McLaughlin and Eddie Goldrick.  I even assisted in Bayport-Blue Point when my son was an eighth and ninth grader.

He, along with Tony Melosci, taught us to love the sport and give back to what we love.

My fondest memories will be of how he followed his DPHS "kids" while they were wrestling and, especially, after they finished and moved on with their lives. He took pride in following his "grandkids", as well . Ed constantly emailed my son, Glenn, throughout his high school career, with advice and encouragement, and went to watch him whenever he could, both locally and nationally. We actually stayed at Coach Luksik's house in the first of Glenn's national competitions. I know he has done this with many of my teammates kids, as well.

It was important to Ed to keep the Deer Park family together.  I was priveleged to help him with several reunion committees over the years and will cherish those memories forever.  Even though I now live in Bayport, he was particularly pleased, and proud, when he heard Angelo Zegerelli and Ray Downey were working with my son, and that Teddy DePasqualle was helping coach his club team (Razor). 

There is a void in the Deer Park wrestling program that can never be filled. The extended Deer Park wrestling community , and the wrestling community as a whole, will miss this larger-than life icon. The man that he was dwarfed the stature he possessed.

Tony Donatelli, MD 
 
Its been a while since I have been back to DP, but I have manage to stay in touch with Coach since I graduated back in 1997.  I'm sure most of you feel the same way about Coach , he was a great man.  Every time I think about wrestling and how it made me the person I am today, I think of Coach.  Without his mentoring, teaching and training, I would not be where I am today.  His influence on me changed my life.  The dedication and work ethic he instilled in me through wrestling took me to college and now into the Marine Corps.  When I made the Marine Corps wrestling team, he was one of the first one I called.  I owe him so much. 
I did have a chance to meet up with him back in june for brunch, it was the first time I saw him in several years.  We've always e-mailed back and forth and he always sent me care packages while I was deployed.  I am so proud to have had him as my coach and friend.  I know he is watching us from a far greater place.  May we all have a life that was as fulfilling as his.
 
  Kam Chang
  Class of 97
  Captain USMC
 
Thank You for letting me know of the passing of this great man who made such an impact on my life as a young man.  I was fortunate to spend some time with Coach recently in September at my son's football game at Heinz Field.  It was raining, but Coach never complained.  He even took me and my wife (and his) out to dinner later.  It was I who took pictures and sent them on the Internet to let others know just how ill he was, because he wouldn't tell you just how sick the side effects of chemotherapy made him (it was really the cancer).
 
I am so glad that there are so many good people that are honoring him as he deserves to be honored.  I presently live in San Antonio, Texas and will have my Mom stand in for me at the ceremony (my son's championship game is the next day).  She will also be standing in for my brother Pat, who died of this same disease in 1995.
 
May GOD comfort those family members and friends who didn't get a chance to tell Coach Ed just how much he meant to them.  I know I did!  Let this be a reminder to daily tell those in your life-space you love them.  I know Coach is in a better place now!  He lived his life to the fullest.
 
Sincerely,
 
Tony Logan (Class of '66)
 
Having known Coach Luksik since I started Kid Wrestling at about 7-8 years old, I always knew what a good person he was and as the years went on, I began to realize the influence he had not only on me, but on everyone he came across. Coach had a huge affect on me and is a big part of why I went into teaching and coaching. I remember he always had a smile for every kid in the hallway, whether they wrestled for him or not. He treated everyone with the same kindness and respect, you never heard a bad word about him and everyone liked him. He set a perfect example.
 
  Coach also never gave up on you once you left High School.  He always cared and had an eye out for you.  Through his daughters he kept tabs on my life and through conversations we had when we did run into each other. Eventually when I became an adult, I could never bring myself to call or refer to him as anything but Coach Luksik or Mr. Luksik, I still can't, and won't. In some ways he didn't only coach me on the mat, but in life. He taught me that effort and determination lead to success, that it was more about the process; doing the right thing time and again that would insure that success would take care of itself.
 
  I never met my potential academically or athletically in High School and often felt looking back as I let him down in some way. When I was putting myself through college I ran into him and he smiled and said "Hey, so I hear you're playing baseball and getting close to graduating, good for you Gavin!!". After I graduated I made sure his daughter told him I did. I wanted to let him know his belief in me was not wasted.
 
  A few years ago, I ran into him again at Bally's gym in Bay Shore. I had torn my rotator cuff a week earlier and was working out in the weight room, grunting away, not noticing coach was in the gym watching me.  When I got to the cardio machines Coach was there smiling at me and mentioned he overheard me telling a friend that I could still work out, but couldn't do shoulders or chest til it healed. He said "Oh, guttin' it out are ya?" and laughed. I said "Sure coach, injuries don't stop me anymore". I rode the bikes with him for awhile and we left, talking in the parking lot for half an hour. I was perversely glad he got to see me do that. I wasn't letting him down anymore.
 
  Coach made it to the Wrestling Hall of Fame, and I don't mind bragging about it. I feel especially proud and fortunate to have had him as my coach, mentor, and friend. I'm also glad I got to tell him thank you for everything recently.  With this event coming up on the 14th, and hearing all the other stories from fellow Deer Park Wrestlers of how much of an impact Coach had on everyone it makes sense this was his plan too. To make sure all his boys stuck together and kept in touch. Through Wrestling, Coach coached life.
 
                                                                                                                Gavin L. Mead