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...for Luke Bell, aka "Fungo."

Best poster ever at the hsbaseballweb.  Not even close.  And one of the very kindest people I've known in my lifetime  

Whether you remember him or not...he, his wife Gloria, son Josh and his family could use all of our thoughts and prayers right now.

Last edited by ClevelandDad
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I have not been around here in a long long long time. When I left I felt that it was time for new voices and ideas. I am back today for my close friend Luke Bell aka RU4 Fungo (very first name on here) and then he shortened it to just Fungo. And yes he was the very best poster on these forums .... ever.

The following is a post from my Facebook page that I hope folks take a couple of minutes and read. At this time Luke is still with us .... as only he would have it, he is picking the day he will "pass"

Luke Bell

Warning .... This will be long.
As some of you know Luke Bell is my friend. A few years ago Luke was diagnosed with ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease). The V.A. has determined this to be as a result of probable contact with “Agent Orange” while serving in Vietnam.

Over the last few days I have received messages that have broken my heart and made tears run down my cheeks. Today I received a message that was all of that yet made me happy. I have been asked by Luke to write this and I almost cannot.......

From Luke: “ *****day is the day that I will pass. I’m good with it. I’m actually looking forward to it.”

Luke along with his wife Gloria and his son Josh recently decided to have the ventilator that is keeping Luke alive disconnected. The necessary arrangements have been made Luke is ready. I’ve decided to leave the day out of this .... just to say ..... in the next few days. After other personal comments between us I asked ... Is there anything that you would like me to do for you? The reply was “Please tell my FB friends”

At this point I am 2 hours into writing this at this point .... I so want this to be special and to not sound like an idiot.

In February of 1998 I started an internet website for the information exchange about all things related to High School Baseball. I knew nothing about website design, running a website or a message board forum ... I just jumped in. I added a message board in the first week thinking that a community of like minded, polite people would be the key to the site working and achieving any longevity. One of the first people to sign up was a user by the screen name of “Fungo”, from Spring City, Tennessee. Fungo turned out to be Luke Bell. He and I had a very quick bond and exchanged ideas, barbs and disagreed on some of my “ideas”. Best of all we became friends. Luke Bell has a type of common sense that few people have. I tried several times to get Luke to write articles for the website .... he always declined my requests ... saying that he was not a good writer. Then one day I realized something and did this to him (from the website) “I coaxed and nudged our friend Fungo to write an article or two for this website, without luck. I know many of us enjoy his wit, charm and tongue-in-cheek wisdom that comes through in his message board posts. Then I suddenly realized it! He was writing articles for the site .... All I needed to do was capture his message board posts.” And I did!

Over the next few years our sons (Andy (mine) and Josh (Luke’s) graduated from High School, played Division 1 college baseball and each had a couple of years of professional baseball. We rooted for each others sons just as if they were our own, exalting in each success and saddened by their disappointments.

During Andy’s senior year in college I decided to let the website go ... I did not feel that I was able to give it the proper time it deserved and gave it to a wonderful lady from Minnesota (a Mom of a high school player). The site has continued and become a constant and unbiased reliable resource for parents. Luke Bell was a key element in the success of the website .... the site never charged for membership ... had an average of 50,000 forum posts per month and most importantly helped thousands of players, coaches and parents / guardians. Over the 19+ years that we have known each other Luke and Gloria, Sue and I have remained friends, had dinner together when we were “in the area.” Luke and I met different places to photograph critters ... I took him to Florida for a week of bird photography. I remember him meeting my brother David on that trip and them taking up like they had known each other for 30 years! (two people that have never met a stranger) How they both picked on me .... sheesh. The most marvelous part of the trip was when Luke and my Dad sat across from each other, at my Dad’s kitchen table and talked for hours and hours and hours .... I finally went to bed!

Why was today's message one that made me happy? I visited Luke in the hospital at Vanderbilt, when his ALS diagnosis was confirmed. I have watched the disease trap a special person in a body that betrayed him regularly. Several times Luke and I talked about “the quality of life.” We did so briefly again today. I will miss my friend ..... but will always smile when I think of him.

Last edited by Bob H.

Bob said it best, Fungo/Luke is the very best poster on these forums ever, and from knowing him only online this past decade, but feeling like I know him well, an even better human being. I've been praying for Luke and his family for weeks, even moreso since Bob posted the news yesterday on Facebook. God bless you and your family, Luke. You will be missed by so many.

Luke Bell (fungo) is a very special person. Wish I could have got to know him better.  Luke a baseball dad of an extremely talented player, but with other interests and a ton of wisdom.  A person who cared and wanted to help others. It was people like him and other friends of Bob Howdeshell that caused me to follow the HSBBW many years ago. 

I wish the circumstances were much different, but it sure is nice to know that Bob is still around. It is amazing how his crazy creation, continued by Julie, has helped so many people.

My thoughts and prayers to Luke Bell and his family.

Bob, Grand Poopah, thank you for your tribute to Luke Fungo. I hope we here from all the "old timers", like Hiwasee Vol, Bama Bomber, Jolly Roger, & so many others, to add their thoughts. Luke, the wise old sage..We'll forever have fond memories.

 "Never argue with an idiot...they take you down to their level, then beat you with experience." What a line!            May the Lord's peace & comfort rest on him & his family.

Last edited by baseballmom

Good to see Bob post again.......but sadly for this reason. I cannot stress hard enough how Fungo set the tone for this website. It was Fungo and a good many others that made me stay long after my son's college baseball journey.

It truly is to repay the likes of Fungo for all the help he gave to the people who came to this site. I will pray unceasingly for his upcoming journey.............

He will join an unfortunate increasing number of our past members.........I hope their reunion is a joyous one. Tell Michael Taylor I said hello.......   

Just thought I'd put a face with a name.  Meet Luke Bell!  One of the kindest folks I've ever known.  I think he made every one on this site feel like he was their personal advisor and friend.

We share a wife's first and middle name - 'Gloria Jean.'  He figured that out from reading our older son's bio on his college website.  Luke always found something that connected him with the folks on here and in his home town.  Baseball, photography, tinkering, heritage, kids....wife's names.  Luke is a very special person - he uniquely touched so very many people.

His son, Josh, was a stellar catcher at Auburn University and played a few years of pro ball in the Blue Jays organization.  Josh, Gloria Jean and his older son Luke III are with him, along with his grandkids.  The outpouring of love is immeasurable.

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Last edited by justbaseball

 

Fungo...

I too never met you but felt I knew you as well. We shared the HSBBW for a  glorious but fleeting moment when our young men were stepping out, seeking to make a mark on the baseball world. You selflessly shared yourself, your family, and your story... your gave us direction, authenticity, experience, humor, hope, wisdom, cause to pause and kept us straight...And we your readers and our sons were the better for your wisdom. I am certain that when you reach the pearly gates, there will be a smile as they have sent an Ace.

I echo the words of Coach May...Godspeed.

44

Luke Bell passed on before noon today. 

Arrangements are being made through Glick Funeral Home in Boca Raton, no information posted as yet.

Rest in peace dear Fungo, you will always be missed here. Thank you for all you have done for this site.

Condolences to your loving family, from your HSBBW family.

One of my very favorite memories of Fungo was so many years ago in a Sunday night chat room.  I was talking with someone named "Staggerlee".  At some point, I realized that Staggerlee had another name, one that I knew so much better---Fungo.  He told me that he wanted to be just a guy---not Fungo.  But he wasn’t  ”just a guy".  He was "quite a guy". 

I had the wonderful privilege of meeting him.  One of my sons was going to college very near where he lived, and when I let Fungo know that I was driving down from Chicago to visit my son, he insisted that my daughter and I stay with him and his lovely wife.  It was a bonus, because there was a snowstorm and we were snowed in!  He also insisted that we stay with them when we traveled back down the following weekend when the games were rescheduled---this time, my husband came with us.  What a treat.  What a warm, generous, hospitable,  and fun guy.  He showed how caring he was when my son tore his ACL.  I will never forget his kindness and all that he did for Nick.

If anyone ever questioned if one person can make a difference in the world, the answer is yes.  Fungo touched the lives of everyone he met----either in person, or on the hsbaseballweb and facebook.   I joined facebook just so I could see his magnificent nature pictures! 

For some reason, Mother Theresa’s very famous quote is running though my mind…..”Not all of us can do great things.  But we can do small things with great love”.  Fungo did everything, great and small, with great love.  I hope he knew just how loved he was in return.

Godspeed, Fungo.  And thank you.  For everything.

 

infielddad posted:

I am not at all saddened that Fungo’s incredible life and spirit will no longer experience the ravages of ALS. I hope his family can find comfort in the courage with which Luke lived and loved.

One thing for sure: incredible photos will be soon be in his camera lenses!

Well said.  I am sad for his family and friends but comforted that Luke's pain is now over.  Perhaps we could turn this thread into a tribute to Fungo.

Here is a word tribute to him from William Shakespeare's Hamlet:

“He was a man, take him for all in all,
I shall not look upon his like again.”

I have no photography skill whatsoever.  I don't even like taking pictures on my IPhone.  I was out for a walk this past Sunday and came across this pastoral scene and immediately the thought of Luke entered my mind.  It even occurred to me that he may have passed at that moment but alas, he struggled for almost three more days.  Anyhow, here is the cell-phone picture I took when thinking of Luke:

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I will miss Luke.  I will SOOO miss Luke.  While he hadn't posted here in a while, he routinely sent me notes on Facebook, including very recently, asking about this and that, or commenting on something I had posted.  Even earlier this summer he sent me a note apologizing for not being able to write as much due to the loss of use of his fingers for typing.  I was like, 'are you kidding me?'  Luke was a unique friend - one who made me feel loved and touched nearly every day.  He was so genuinely kind - such a good...GOOD person.

I just love Luke Bell.  No other way to say it. I just love(d) the guy.

Below is a post his daughter-in-law posted this past weekend - I just cannot imagine a nicer, better thing for a daughter to ever write about her father or father-in-law....

Saying goodbye is never easy and in fact it's one of the hardest things in the world to do. Spending these next few days with my father in law Luke Bell will be bitter sweet. The best part of this is that I get to raise his legacy Luke Bell iv and married to his son Luke Bell, so I will always be able to wake up in the mornings and look into my husbands or sons eyes and see him and their webbed toes! One thing to keep in mind is that our loved ones are loaned to us by God, he belongs to our lord and I'm so very thankful that our Heavenly Father was gracious enough to allow me to be a part of this Mans family and the chance to love him. Actually this will be "see you later, in heaven". I love you and promise that I will take care of your son and grandchildren! - Vittoria Shutt Bell

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Rest in peace our dear friend Luke.  You were one very special person that God gave to us.  I miss you Luke - you are loved by so many, many people.

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I never thought this would happen...me being unable to find a suitable picture for the occasion. 'Fungo' is one-of-a-kind...and one who all of us were pleased to find. The tributes above and those that will surely follow are testimony to the greatness in all respects of the kind soul of Luke Bell.

We will all miss Luke, but more importantly we will always remember Luke. He lived his life such that we don't have a choice not to remember. A truly great guy...helpful, inspiring, kind, competent, and worthy of our admiration and respect.

He showed us how to do it...let's honor him by stepping up our game. Crack a smile when you know you've done something good for someone else...remember Luke Bell.

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Woody, you have been missed. I so much hope life has been good to you and those you love so much. 

The HSBBW has had its share of prolific writers, prolific thinkers, and those who have the ability, in a few words, to impact me right to my core. Little doubt you are near the top!

When I posted several years back about Coach Meccage and the Dash, Fungo was one who truly seemed to love the thoughts it conveyed about life.

I absolutely relish your recognition of Fungo and his life in these  words and this thought, which truly seems to be the essence of The Dash":

"He lived his life such that we don't have a choice not to remember."

 

 

When this thread first started I felt it would be wrong and refrained from mentioning this.  But now, with all of these great tributes and affirmations to a man who apparently had (and has) a genuine positive impact on so many, I feel compelled to do so...

My best friend died from ALS in his forties.  He, too, was a great man, great father and husband taken away far too soon because of this terrible disease.  I bring this up not to detract in any way from the proper focus currently on Luke but to further point out that this disease seems to target so many really good people for reasons mostly unknown and out of the control of those stricken.  It also affects far too many spouses, children, mothers, fathers, friends.  There is no cure and progress in research is painfully slow.  

What is happening here in this HSBBW community on this thread in commemoration of Luke Bell is a great thing.  I'm just thinking maybe we can do something more.  Maybe we can figure out how to collectively give to efforts to find a cure for this disease and do so as the HSBBW community in the name of Luke Bell.  Perhaps something is already set up that someone here that was close to Luke knows about?  Perhaps someone knows more about how we can pool our efforts?

CabbageDad has an excellent idea ..... Below is a post by his Daughter-in-law, Brooke. It is a piece of Luke's obituary .... most importantly is the families request for a donation to the ALS Association in lieu of flowers. (see the final paragraph below)

Luke Bell was a loving and devoted husband, father and grandfather, known for his dedication to his family and his willingness to persevere. Luke taught by example and no where was this more evident than the way he prioritized his children’s needs above his own. He was also an avid photographer who loved wildlife and the outdoors. Known by many for his beautiful pictures. Luke's bravery as he fought ALS and his deep love for his family is the legacy he leaves with us.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the ALS Association in Luke's honor (www.alsa.org). As you make your donation in his name, please use the following email address as the recipient so that Luke's family can send their gratitude: bb.bell1231@gmail.com

An irony of baseball fate here, but Luke succumbed to the same disease (ALS) as the great Lou Gehrig which many still refer to as "Lou Gehrig's Disease." 

I was a little surprised Luke's obituary did not mention baseball as his contributions to the sport were enormous.  I would not be surprised that there are current big leaguers, minor leaguers, and/or college players whose players and/or parents were not influenced in some way by Luke Bell.

Never really got to know him, but it feels like I did. His memory and values will forever live on in the freely passed sharing of a wealth of information that has become this wonderful community of baseball aficionados that have been through the process and are so willing and able to help those that are just beginning on their journey. All that anyone asks for in return is civility and to return the favor of sharing - really simple things in the grand scheme of life.

I don't know how I missed this thread.  It hurt my heart to hear of Fungo's plight, Agent Orange and ALS.  When I first started on this site so many years ago, Fungo was one of those legends that chimed in to make me feel welcomed.  Fungo was also one of those guys who would bring you along as a member here knowing the climate of the site and giving advice in a mentor type of way instead of an "expert" approach.

In reading this thread, I believe it would bring a smile to his face.  Look at some of the Old Timers and the Head Cook and Bottle Washer (Bob) who have chimed in to relate a thing or two about a great guy.  I once heard a guy say that the real mark of greatness is not in what you have done but who's hearts you have touched.  If that is true, Fungo was absolute GREATNESS!

Last edited by CoachB25

I missed this as not a frequent guest any longer. 

RIP Fungo (Luke)

i never got to know him on a personal level but always enjoyed his post

 

someome else i know was recently dx with this disease. Its tough illness and Gods grace and love and compasion to Fungos family.

best legacy a man leaves is the people he built relationships with that speak so fondly and loving of him  

 

 

 

 

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