By Ed Piper, Jr.
Coach Robert McCarthy influenced a lot of young people's lives for the better.
At the memorial service for the long-time running coach at La Jolla High and other high schools January 4, several of McCarthy's former athletes turned out to honor him.
Andrew Farkas, a standout runner for the Vikings during his prep days, spoke with feeling when he said, "Many coaches and athletes are too focused on winning. He (Coach McCarthy) said, 'I'd rather have you five percent over-trained than 10 percent under-trained.' He helped me survive a college sports career."
In an emotional service held in the sanctuary of La Jolla United Methodist Church, attended by hundreds of friends and former neighbors, as well as McCarthy's former runners, several people also shared humorous quotes about the unique, often-frank individual, who fought a battle with cancer.
His athletes fondly remembered his offering them room-temperature YooHoo chocolate milk or soft drinks out of his car after hard runs.
Tom Atwell, long-time water polo and swim coach at La Jolla High, told a hilarious story of taking McCarthy to a Starbuck's for the first time on a sports team road trip. "He wasn't for frills. He had never been to Starbuck's," Atwell said. "'I just want a coffee,' he said. I said, 'You can get coffee here.' There was a tall (size). He said, 'I don't need that much.' There was grande. He said, 'From my Spanish, I know that's a lot. I don't need that much.' And venti--I didn't even want to go there."
Atwell, along with his humorous portrait of his fellow coach, emphasized his humanity and authenticity. "Coach McCarthy had a great impact on me. On the pool deck, just the way he was when he talked to you, you knew he was talking to you. His interest was sincere."
Mark Albers, a former neighbor, said, "A whole row of us are here who were Robert's neighbors." Albers said that when his wife Cindy bore their first son, McCarthy honored them by bringing over cigars.
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