MANY OF HAWAII’S top athletes have come out of Farrington High. Right up there with the best of them is Edward "Skippa" Diaz, a legendary football player, coach and teacher, who will be honored on his 68th birthday Feb. 17 at a Willows luncheon, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Skippa graduated from Farrington in 1962 and loves the school, where he also spent 21 years as a coach and teacher. "Farrington is the best high school in the world, as far as I’m concerned," he said. Skippa taught world history, science and a special motivation program to keep kids on the right path. He said he enjoyed working with students: "They keep you young." He advised them "to be good people, love their parents, help their families and get the best education they can find."
Skippa has cancer. "Skip has gastric adenocarcinoma stage four, which had already metastasized by the time it was discovered," said his wife, the former Mary Krause. When the doctor informed Skip of his diagnosis in 2010, he taped his fingers, got in his three-point stance, and dug in to fight the disease." (That’s the kind of guy Skippa Diaz is.) There is no stage V for this cancer, Mary said. "He has far outlived the prognosis by doctors. We are treasuring each day we have together with family and friends." Skippa says he appreciates prayers. Travel was on their bucket list and they have taken trips across the U.S. and to China, Europe and Canada.
Skippa, a former 6-foot, 250-pound defensive tackle, was a standout at Oregon State University, where he made the All Pac-10 team and played in the Hula Bowl. He graduated from OSU in 1968. He set shot-put records at OSU, just as he did at Farrington. He played pro football in Canada with the British Columbia Lions. After that, Skippa went back to OSU to get his graduate degree. He then came home and taught at Washington Intermediate and was an assistant coach at Kalani before taking a job Waialua High. He replaced Norm Chow as football coach at Waialua in 1972. Norm, of course, was recently named UH head football coach. It was at Waialua that Skippa met his soulmate, Mary, in 1973. She was a teacher from Wisconsin who only planned to stay in Hawaii for a year. "I met this handsome Hawaiian who sang and played guitar for me under a koa tree," Mary said. They were married in 1977.
"There was nothing in the world I wanted more than Mary," Skippa said.
He moved on to Farrington in 1979 and was an assistant coach at Mililani for a year while teaching at Farrington. The next year he was named head coach at Farrington, a job he held for 20 years. He succeeded his high school coach, Alfred "Eki" Espinda. Skippa led the Govs to the playoffs 12 times, winning the championship in 1990. He was succeeded at Farrington by a player he coached there, Randall Okimoto, who is still head coach. Skippa was also head track and field coach at Farrington, Waialua and Mililani.
He grew up in Kalihi and set two age-group swimming records in the butterfly and freestyle, swimming for Palama Settlement. After his Farrington years, Skippa joined the city’s Parks and Recreation Department in 2000, retiring as deputy director in 2005. Many coaches, former players, dignitaries and friends are expected to attend his Willows party. Tickets are $25. They can be reserved by sending a check to Diane Yoshida, 1147 Ala Napuanani St., Honolulu 96818. They also will be sold at the door. Call party organizer Phil Nakayama, 221-9365, for more info …
Ben Wood, who sold newspapers on Honolulu streets in World War II, writes of people, places and things. Email him at bwood@staradvertiser.com.
