The things we leave behind

2/5/2024

Jim Olson

I received a call today, the kind of call that initially sucks all the air out of the room.  A High School swim coach, then friend, then business community associate had suddenly, tragically, passed away. 

My immediate reaction was not that of mosaic memories of him, but of what he left behind.  It was a razor-sharp inventory of those things he intrinsically contributed to in areas of my life, and my mind raced ahead with the thought that people rarely, if ever, reflect on what life lessons we will leave behind.

Pete Weidman was a recent college All- American swimmer and graduate when he took the assistant coaching position at Denfeld High School, arriving in my sophomore year.   Young for a coach as I had come to see coaches, he had passion, a technician’s approach, and a wildly affable relationship building style that as a mix was truly magnetic.  He remained the assistant coach for all three years of my high school swimming efforts under two impactful head coaches.  He was always constant, consistent, and underneath, he was exceptionally caring while affably respectful. 

I was fortunate to share my time on the team with my two closest friends from as far back as elementary school.  Referred to by Pete as the “Three Amigos”, I possessed neither the raw talent nor the mental mindset toughness of my two best friends.   It did not matter to Pete.  He treated me equal in attention, equal in support, equal in direction, and equal in caring when I did not develop at the higher capacity levels achieved by my best friends.  As tri-captains in our senior year, he leveraged our strengths and drove us, along with one other team member to an unlikely State qualifying relay team, and subsequently, a school-record effort.  He did this through keen observations of, and ultimately defeating, all the bundled youthful immaturity we threw at him.  Constant, consistent, and caring in a package tied off with that affable respect.

He would stay in touch over the many years.   Arranging social beverage get-togethers with us “Three Amigos”.  As I moved into business community activities through the Chamber of Commerce, he sought me out and intentionally placed himself to introduce me to others and engaged me at every turn when I saw him at such events.  Constant, consistent, caring, affably respectful. 

After some large gaps in our social beverage get-togethers, he would typically be the one to draw us back to the table. Our last get-together just before this past Christmas.   He was his usual engaging and energetic self.   Constant, consistent, caring, affably respectful.

Other teachers, coaches, business mentors, family and friends have demonstrated life impact lessons as well and deserve mention in what they have left behind in shaping my world.  Pete’s passing has driven it all to the surface.  What we leave behind in our wake should be on our mind.  It should make us want to be better so we can help others to be better on the positive side of the human condition.  Leave behind things of impact.  Subtle or bold, leave them behind for others to grow on. Things left behind matter.