Family, Friends Pack Private Seau Ceremony

A private celebration for the former NFL star drew hundreds to Calvary Chapel in Oceanside Friday.

See Seau Fans Gather for Memorial Celebration of Life for coverage of the public service for the late San Diego Charger at Qualcomm Stadium. Hundreds of friends and family gathered at Calvary Chapel in Oceanside to remember Junior Seau—the NFL legend who took his life May 2 at his beach-front home. “It was beautiful,” said Lauren Godinet, Junior's niece, of Friday's celebration of life.  The private ceremony was filled with joy, he said, adding that eulogies by friends and family were held together by a common theme — her uncle’s smile. Her father, Wilson, said the service was “positive and uplifting.” “It just made you want to get closer to God,” he said. He saw relatives he hadn't seen for four decades.  “(Junior) brought a lot of us …

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Up to 60,000 Expected at Public Seau Memorial

A private service will be held in Oceanside.

A private church service is planned Thursday for the family of the late former San Diego Chargers linebacker Junior Seau, while a public "Celebration of Life" tribute is set for Friday. Supporters of the family have said the private service would take place at a church in Oceanside, but the location was not being reported because the mourners are seeking privacy. Friday's event for the hometown hero, who graduated from Oceanside High School, is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. at Qualcomm Stadium. Admission and parking will be free and on a first-come, first-served basis. According to U-T San Diego, anywhere from 30,000 to 60,000 people are expected to attend the event, which is being paid for by the Chargers. It should last about 90 …

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VIDEO: Friends and Fans Gather at Seau's Home for Second Evening

An impromptu memorial attracted dozens of fans and friends to his Oceanside home Thursday evening.

Fans and friends joined in an impromptu memorial for Junior Seau at his Oceanside home Thursday evening. The former NFL player was found dead at his Oceanside home Wednesday morning. The coroner's report confirmed the death was a suicide. 

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Vigil Planned Thursday Evening for Seau

Former NFL star Junior Seau died Wednesday in his Oceanside home.

A prayer vigil is planned for fallen NFL star Junior Seau on Thursday evening at his home, the North County Times reports. The house is on The Strand south of the Oceanside Pier. His family is also planning a memorial service.  Seau died Wednesday morning at his home. Police are investigating the shooting death as a suicide.  Read more on the North County Times. 

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Fans Mourn Junior Seau Locally, Throughout the Region

Tears flow throughout San Diego County as the late and popular Charger is remembered.

Fans shed tears and brought flowers to various sites throughout San Diego as they remembered Junior Seau, the Charger great who died of an apparent suicide Wednesday morning in Oceanside. For some in town, the loss was personal, as they had known Seau, 43, for many years. Karen Netting met him right after the Chargers drafted him in 1990. “I did his contract,” said Netting, who now works for the Coronado Chamber of Commerce, but was former General Manager Bobby Beathard’s executive assistant then. “I was with him at training camp and at the Super Bowl. I have so many funny stories.” Her favorite involves cookies and a weight-loss camp for kids at the University of California San Diego campus, near where the Chargers once trained. The kids …

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IN MEMORIAM

Diane E. Hinkle, 56

The retired postal person loved travel and warm weather.

Diane E. Hinkle, a retired postal service employee in Coronado died April 19, according to a U-T San Diego obituary. She was 56. “Diane loved warm weather, bright colors, long walks, watching sports and Cancun,” the obituary said. A memorial is set at 11:45 a.m. Friday at Tunaman's Memorial, Shelter Island Drive., San Diego.

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Donald Richard McCoy, 91

McCoy, a radar specialist, was well traveled and enjoyed painting and sports in his free time.

By Patricia Morris Buckley Donald Richard McCoy devoted his adult life to designing and constructing distant early warning systems, better known as radar, around the world to protect the U.S. Surrounded by loving family members, McCoy passed away in Coronado on March 24 at the age of 91, after a short cancer-related illness. A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Christ Episcopal Church, 1114 9th St.  McCoy began his long and productive life on Aug. 30, 1920 in Burkburnett, Texas, the third of five children born to Francis and Marie McCoy. He grew up in Columbus, Ohio and graduated from East High School in 1938, where he lettered in track and gymnastics. He began working at the Felber Cracker Factory, where he met the …

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James Maurice Cahill Dies at 83

Cahill served as captain for the U.S. Navy.

James Maurice Cahill—a captain in the U.S. Navy Dental Corps—died March 25, according to a U-T San Diego obituary. He was 83. He was born in Bradford, IL. and served five years of active duty and 25 years as a reservist for the U.S. Navy, according to U-T San Diego. A celebration of life will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church at 11 a.m. on April 10, according to the newspaper.

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IN MEMORIAM

Emilio Reyes Dies at 81; Worked Way Up Ranks at North Island in Civil Service

Longtime Chargers fan was a 20 Gallon Club member of the San Diego Blood Bank.

Emilio Reyes—a civil service veteran at North Island who worked his way up through the ranks and retired after 35 years—died March 15 at home, said a U-T San Diego obituary. He was 81. Reyes was a major donor to the San Diego Blood Bank and member of the 20 Gallon Club. “But of all his leisure activity nothing could top going to the Charger games with his children,” said the obituary. “He was a fan through thick and thin, a regular season ticket holder, the original generation of fans who sat on cement bleachers at Balboa Stadium, roared to the boom of the cannon after field goals and touchdowns, [stood] and cheered as a medieval charger mounted on a white horse circled the field after another thrilling score.” A celebration of his life …

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IN MEMORIAM

Donna Ecoffey Dies at 83; Was 1945 Graduate of Coronado High School

She was widow of Navy Lt. Vincent Ecoffey. Her family had moved to the island in 1935.

Donna Ecoffey—a 1945 graduate of Coronado High School whose family settled here in 1935—died March 12, according to a U-T San Diego obituary. She was a week shy of 84. Ecoffey  “met and married Navy Lt. Vincent Ecoffey in 1946. Post retirement brought the Ecoffey family back to Coronado then to Chula Vista. Vince died in 1983 and Donna dedicated the remainder of her life to her family,” said the obituary. Services have been held.

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