More sad news from the SGV: Longtime Wilson girls basketball and softball coach Ed Bruyninckx passed away Sunday night

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It is with deep sadness we report that longtime Wilson girls basketball and softball coach Ed Bruyninckx passed away on Sunday of an apparent heart attack. “The girls and the school is pretty devasted,” Wilson football coach Brian Zavala said. “Grief counselors have been called in and everyone is doing their best to cope with it.” Bruyninckx, this newspapers girls basketball coach of the year in 2008 when he led the Wildcats to a 23-5 record and their first league title since 1994, was as good as it gets and as well liked and respected as any coach I’ve dealt with. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers. “He was a wonderful guy, one of the nicest guys you ever dealt with,” Rowland coach Gordon Hamlow said. “I got to know him for a number of years, he’s one of those good guys who got it done, and an excellent coach as well.”

Funeral Services: On Thursday, 10 a.m., at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 16750 Colima Rd, on corner of Colima and Dawn Haven in Hacienda Heights. The burial will follow shortly after at Forest Lawn in Covina.

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  • http://www.insidesocal.com/sgvfootball Aram

    This is absolutely unbelievable. Coach Bruyninckx was a class act all the way. A truly kind and humble guy. I’m just stunned. May he rest in peace.

  • Bob Wingett

    What devastating news! Ed was a great friend, husband, father, grandpa(which was his greatest joy) and coach. He worked as JV coach for my father and I in the early 90′s before he took over the head coaching position. One of my best memories of Ed was when he offered to come and give pitching lessons to my 8U softball team in the La Verne Softball League. He never even hesitated when he gave up his Saturday mornings to come and help. We had great battles when I was coaching at LA for years. It was great fun coming up with schemes against each other and then going out to dinner afterwards to laugh at each other. The SGV has lost another quality coach, man and friend. My prayers are with Joyce and Lydnsey as the deal with this difficult situation.

  • Mike James

    Wow!! I’m in complete shock to hear the news about Ed. I have known Ed for almost 20 years. He is truely one of the good guys. He always did what was best for kids. He carried himself with a humble dignity that others of us can only hope to measure up to. I always looked forward to talking to Ed at league meetings, while we were both scouting, or playing against Wilson. I’ve never met anyone who had anything bad to say about Ed. This is a sad, sad day for Girls Basketball and Softball in the San Gabriel Valley, and at Wilson Hish School, and for all of us. This terrible news has me truely shaken. My prayers go out to Lindsey, Joyce, and the rest of the Wilson High School family.

    Sincerely,
    Mike James
    Diamond Ranch
    Girls Basketball

  • Brian Tabatabai

    This is truly a sad day. When I first was hired as head girls coach at El Monte I had very little connections to any programs or coaches in the valley. Even though our program at the time was very down, Ed gave our team an opportunity to compete in his summer league. Every Monday and Wednesday night, unknowing to Ed, he was serving as a mentor to a young coach. He always gave words of encouragement to my ladies and In-n-Out to their head coach. This summer we were very young, and had difficulty competing with the teams in his summer league, but he never made us feel like we didn’t belong. He took time to make us feel respected. Our prayers, thoughts, and love go out to his family, and to the WIlson High School community. This Friday Night, I’ll be coaching a football game on the sideline of Wilson High School, the place where I met a great human being.

    Sincerely,
    Brian Tabatabai
    El Monte High School
    Girls Basketball/Varsity Football

  • Cheryl Bruyninckx

    Uncle Ed was an amazing person! He brightened the room and made us laugh with his amazing sense of humor every Christmas Eve. He was a very generous uncle and helped me in time of need with a very big favor. Even though I repaid him with a gardening book (from his Amazon list, but meant for Aunt Joyce), I was always grateful for his generosity and kindness. Rest in peace Uncle Ed and please give my love to grandma. I miss her every single day and you are lucky to be with her again. I miss you dearly.

  • Coach Joe Scherf

    Thoughts and prayers go out to the Wilson High community and Ed’s family. May he rest in peace. I had the great opportunity to coach against Ed for many years when I coached girls basketball. He was a great competitor and a great coach. The San Gabriel Valley has lost one of it’s finest.

    God Bless,

    Coach Joe Scherf
    Azusa Football

  • Travis Schatzman

    What more can one say about this great man. I met Ed and his family in 2002 and they welcomed me with open arms. His kindness and care for me every time we spoke was a joy that cannot be described. He is the father I needed to get through the trials of my parents passing in 2005 and 2006. His love for all of the girls that he coached in both softball and basketball is shown by his hard work and dedication at home. I miss you so much DAD as do his grand kids Brody and Brooklyn. We love you.

  • Larry Franklin

    Ed and I graduated together from Temple City High in November of 1971. We had met as juniors and instantly became good friends and were never out of contact for more than a few days for the last 40 years. We played JV basketball together and shared a number of the same classes.
    My parents loved Ed and never had to worry when we were together. Ed always showed the greatest respect for my parents and that was matched by my love of his family (3 brothers plus Joe and Agnes).
    We shared a great many of the same loves; UCLA’s domination of NCAA basketball in the 70′s led by one of Ed’s biggest idols, John Wooden ; The Dodgers and their wonderful success under Tommy Lasorda; The Lakers “Show Time” of the 80′s; Sports card collecting and even the NBC sitcom Seinfeld.
    Ed was the perfect best friend. No favor was refused no matter how big or small and he rarely asked anything of you.
    Ed loved coaching the girls. It didn’t matter whether it was basketball or softball, each season brought that happy, optimistic smile to his face. One of his happiest and proudest moments was the Wilson High Softball CIF III Title when he was just an assistant coach.
    Ed was a very humble person. He could not believe that was was picked SVA Coach of the Year for Girl’s Basketball in 2008. It almost embarrassed him to accept the award.
    I don’t think Ed had many regrets in life. I’m sure the tragic death of his mother was hard on him but he never looked back or let it hurt his life. I’m sure one regret Ed would have now that he has passed is that he can no longer play and see his 2 beloved grandchildren-easliy the apple of his eye. His many hours with grandson Brody brought endless joy to his life.
    Ed is the type of person that should be missed. He was one of those rare individuals that NEVER had a negative thing said about him. Nothing but good things were said about Ed Bruyninckx.
    As his best friend I’m a deeply saddened by his early departure from this world. There is now a hole in my life that can never be filled. Despite my loss, I can not imagine the deep and agonizing sorrow felt by his entire family. God Bless Ed.