Community pays tribute to resident battling Lou Gehrig’s disease

ADAM DAVIS/The Acorn LOCAL HERO-Ernie Walingren, center, was flanked all day by friends and loved ones recently when the Calabasas resident was honored at Gates Canyon Park. Walingren is battling ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. He's been active in the community.

Ernie Walingren was honored at Gates Canyon Park in Calabasas recently, a tribute given to the local resident because Walingren, who’s battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, has been a pillar in the community throughout his life. Walingren formerly coached the Calabasas High School junior varsity basketball team and currently is one of the coaches for the Blue Eagle Force, a local club team.

The list of those wanting to speak about Walingren’s contributions to their lives was too long. It’s impossible to quote everyone. But the feelings expressed were consistently warm, thankful, admiring and full of respect.

"Ernie was always so much fun to work with," said Dan Filie, who worked with Walingren at NBC. Walingren wrote and produced shows that included "Baywatch," "The Waltons," "Falcon Crest" and "Life Goes On."

"He has such a great sense of humor, very low key, very dry, very funny," added Filie. "It was always such a pleasure to work with him."

Those Walingren worked with and those youths he coached were equally appreciative of his passion.

"I’ve been playing with Ernie’s team for about three years," said Robert Babadjouni, a 16-year-old sophomore at Calabasas High School. "From day one he’s been dedicated and really committed. He would make sure that every one of the players excel and learn something."

A fellow basketball coach, Michael D’Egigio, struck a familiar chord when noting that Walingren was magnanimous in dealing with those he coached.

"Ernie’s involvement in the community has been one of complete generosity," said D’Egigio. "He has provided for kids who couldn’t afford to play on teams, never for a moment’s recognition. He’s just a kind man who gave to the community more than he ever took. He never turned a kid away."

Walingren’s family, his wife, Cheryl, and his five children, Seth, Brian, Daniel, Katie and Allison, were all on hand at Gates Canyon Park, as were Walingren’s brothers, Mark and Rolf, and his mother, Claire Peterson.

"Ernie is a real inspiration," said Mark Walingren, who is a DJ for radio station Coast 103 and is half the partnership of Mark and Kim. "He has always been a great example, a leader and has demonstrated his unselfish style with basketball in the West Valley and with his family."

Mark Walingren said his brother (Ernie is the oldest of six siblings) has met ALS (an incurable disease) head on, with the same fervor he’s displayed his entire life.

"He did his own research and kind of diagnosed himself," Mark Walingren said. "And he’s taken a very proactive stance in his own medical care and treatment and is an inspiration to others who have been afflicted with ALS."

The Muscular Dystrophy Association, which raises more money than any other organization for the research of ALS, is also honoring Ernie Walingren with a gala in Beverly Hills planned for Sat., Aug. 17.

Katie Walingren, a 17-year-old junior at Calabasas High School, is proud of what she sees in both her parents.

"You can look at him and how he lives his life and tell he’s strong," said Katie Walingren. "It’s the same with my mom, too, and I hope that when I’m older and I have kids, I could be like them. That’s my goal right now. They live life to the fullest."

Ed Bates, who was senior director at the Woodland Hills Center at the time he met Ernie Walingren about a dozen years ago, was among many who described Walingren’s positive attributes as going well beyond the Xs and Os of the basketball court.

"I think above basketball knowledge," said Bates, "what has made him the tremendous person that his is—he really cares and loves young people and watching them develop and seeing them reach their full potential not only in the area of sports, but also in the area of character-building."

Rod and Claire Peterson only recently moved from Arizona to Calabasas, thinking it would give Ernie support.

"It’s just the reverse," said Claire, Ernie Walingren’s mom. "He’s supported us. He refuses to feel sorry for himself, he makes us laugh all the time and finds joy in every moment. He’s an amazing man and I’m proud of him."