Lonny Carr, who was extremely passionate about teaching, coaching and caring for his student-athletes, has died.
The longtime Bonita High School cross country coach, 60, died Friday morning from complications from melanoma at his home, with his family at his side. He coached the Bearcats for 23 years.
“He was cross country’s and track and field’s Mr. Bonita,” assistant principal and former football coach Eric Podley said. “He was a father figure to a lot of these kids. When it was announced, innumerable kids were in tears and meeting with counselors. Even though they knew he was sick for awhile, the reaction was that he had made a big difference in a lot of people’s lives.”
Carr would talk a mile a minute about his athletes for as long as people would listen. He cared for those athletes much like he cared for his wife, Becky, three children and five grandchildren. He coached his grandson, Dillon Beckum, in high school for the first time this past fall. Beckum advanced to the CIF State cross country meet, turning in the second-fastest freshman time at the meet.
Carr spent his entire teaching career in the Bonita Unified School District. He retired as an elementary school teacher a few years ago, but remained as the boys and girls cross country coach and as the girls track and field coach.
@SGVNSports RIP to the greatest coach of all time. Our cc team at Bonita has his family in our prayers and we hope everyone will do the same
— ™ (@T_Mills008) January 24, 2014
@SGVNSports Running for Coach Carr was always a thrill for my daughter. Our family sends their deepest condolences to the Carr family!
— John Prado (@bruinsphan) January 24, 2014