Eulogies are difficult. Earlier this week George Baljevich passed away at the age of 84. 

Baljevich played one season of college basketball for Saint Mary’s College, appearing in four games in 1959-60. He made 2-of-3 shots from the field that year, while backing up future NBA Gael Tom Meschery. No game footage survives.

Known as Dr. B, he coached Oakland’s St. Elizabeth High School to six championships posting an overall record of 201-28 before joining the college ranks at the University of San Francisco in the early 1970s under Bob Gaillard as the Dons returned to national prominence. From there he moved into media spending more than 40 years working in local television telling the stories of youth, preps and college sports throughout the East Bay.

His impact in the community and in the sports world extended far beyond.

I met Dr. B in the early 2000s when I worked at USF. The first time we met he gave me a basketball card of Dons’ legend Bill Cartwright. He told me that Bill could “play a little” and regaled me with stories of watching him play high school ball in Elk Grove. 

From there, nearly every time I saw him he had a trading card for me and at least four stories. 

The last time I saw him and the last trading card he gave me (former Saint Mary’s baseball legend Von Hayes) was in 2020 at the Gonzaga at Saint Mary’s game. I don’t remember what we talked about, but I remember the enthusiasm, the energy and the passion this guy always displayed. 

George was kind. George was curious. George was a mentor to many. George will be missed.

WHAT I’M LEARNING
Anyone who has ever worked in tech support will ask you “well did you unplug it and restart the modem/computer/cable box?” Sometimes it’s just time for a reset and I’m taking a course from Mel Robbins, called “Spring Reset”. I highly recommend it.

QUOTABLE
“Sometimes people make it seem like you have to have certain prerequisites or a crazy life story in order to be successful in this world. But the truth is you really don’t.”
 – Stephen Curry