John ‘Feather’ Featherstone, friend, and volleyball player remembered at Hermosa Beach courts.
Beach Volleyball Hall of Famers Christy Hahn and Sandy Malpee. The two won the first Hermosa Beach Open, in 1969.
Hal Ormondroyd and emcee Jim Graham.
Chris Frohoff recalled the married life his mother Diane and Featherstone enjoyed together. Photo by Kim West (@Kim.d.West)
Santa Monica College football coach Owen Hahn call Featherstone “Polllyana.” Photo by Kim West (@Kim.d.West)
Arcadia Berjonneau, Jen Hoft-Henderson, and Chris and Taylor James Brown.
Former El Camino coach Rowen Tupuivao and former El Camino players Latrio Rachal, and Louie Pastor.
Mike Miller, and Richard and Kate Blount.
Dan Inskeep, John Stimpfig, and granddaughters Samantha and Ella Snyder.
Diane Frohoff-Featherstone leads a farewell toast. Photo by Kim West (@Kim.d.West)
by Ralph Doyle
John Featherstone, the friend and football coach, was remembered Friday evening, during a chilly ceremony on John Featherstone Field, at El Camino College. During his 31-years at El Camino, Coach “Feather,” led his teams to a national title, two state titles, and 11 conference championships.
On the following, much warmer, Saturday morning, at the 22nd Street beach volleyball courts, John Featherstone, the friend, and volleyball player was remembered.
“John was just 5-foot-9. But he hit straight down, like he was 6-foot-9. That’s how he lived his life,” recalled Calvin Guillory, whom Featherstone introduced to beach volleyball after the former El Camino College tight end suffered a career-ending vertebrae fracture at Kent State.
Emcee Jim Graham reminded friends of Featherstone’s 8/8/8 credo. Eight hours work, eight hours play, eight hours sleep.
Former Santa Monica College Coach Owen Hahn called Featherstone “Pollyanna,” he said, “because no matter what the weather, Feather wore shorts, and no matter how dire the situation, Feather saw opportunity.”
“Keep plugin’” is what Louie Pastor said Featherstone told him when the two played together at El Camino. Pastor, who was not much bigger than Featherstone, went on to play football at the University of Texas, and professionally in the World Football League.
Therese knew Featherstone from the time she was eight, and tagged along when he hung out with her older brother. She remembered him as “The Singing Box Boy,” at the old Safeway.
One day, as they passed in the street, she said “Hiya,” and kept on walking. “He stopped me and gave me the best advice of my life. He said, ‘Make eye contact and ask, “How are you.” Invest in the moment.’”
Scott Sellars, a member of El Camino’s 1987 national championship team, recalled, “I never played in a game. But John always called me by my name and always made sure I felt part of the team.”
After many more inspirational remembrances, over 100 of Featherstone’s friends and family paddled out past the surf, formed a circle, and as his ashes were scattered, splashed the water upward. ER