My Father’s Eulogy

“created” by Barry Wurst II

co-written by Pamela and Mark

edits by Tiffany and Lena

 

David, at the age of 72, passed quietly in his sleep on June 8th, in Texas, with his wife Pamela at his side.

David was born in Omer, Michigan, to missionaries Dan and Esther.

David as a baby, with parents, Esther and Dan, and older brother, Bill

His childhood was full of travel and adventure, living in Missouri, India, and the Philippines. David graduated from Highland Park High School in Dallas, Texas. That summer, he journeyed to the Bahamas on the very first outreach of Youth With a Mission.

He graduated from Vanguard University in Southern California with a degree in Diversified Education. That fall, David began working as a teacher and football coach at Giano Intermediate School in West Covina, California.

This was the beginning of an extraordinary career in education and sports.

“The Marocco Brothers” Jim, Dave and Phil.

In the summer of 1970, he joined his siblings in the Philippines. While touring in the gospel group, “The Marocco Brothers,” his sister introduced him to a young missionary named Pamela Edgell. Pamela was initially put off by this “Californian”, but was ultimately attracted to the kindness and respect he showed every person.

The couple married in December of 1971, in Fairmont, West Virginia. They began their life together in California and eventually welcomed three children into the world: Matthew, Lena, and Mark.

David continued teaching and coaching at Freemont Junior High in Anaheim. In 1975, he earned a California Life Teaching Credential in Biological Sciences and Mathematics. The following year, he became the Assistant Principal, Math Teacher, Athletic Director, and Head Football Coach at Melodyland High School. After he left, three people had to be hired to fill his shoes.

In 1981, David moved his family to DeSoto, Texas, to teach at a junior high, while earning a Master’s Degree from the University of North Texas. Throughout his tenure as a math teacher, football coach, referee, and basketball coach at Sunset High in Dallas, he worked with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He started a Bible study group with one student, which soon grew to over 100 students. For three summers, he led an undefeated football team in Europe for Christian Sports Outreach International.

In 1990, David and his family moved to Maui, Hawaii, to become the principal of Ka’ahumanu Hou Christian School.

Family’s first May Day ceremony at Ka’ahumanu Hou, 1991.

“To understand the impact Mr. Marocco had on his students and everyone at Ka’ahumanu Hou, all you need to do is ask yourself these questions.

Do you remember your high school principal? Do you remember his name?

Did you care about your high school principal? Did he care about you?

Were you inspired by anything your high school principal said? Did he matter to you?

Did your high school principal demonstrate the qualities of Jesus Christ and inspire you to be a better Christian?

Can you honestly say your high school principal changed your life?

If the answer to all of those questions is a resounding yes, then Mr. Marocco was your high school principal.”

In addition to being the hands-on school administrator, he was also a math teacher and football coach…and sometimes the bus driver, counselor, chaplain, MIL cheer coordinator, basketball/baseball/wrestling/track coach, a construction worker, janitor, cook, and more.

He spearheaded several school fundraisers, including the notorious Christmas Tree Lot, Turkey Trot 10-K, and spaghetti dinners. Over the course of eighteen years, David shared his home with more than 40 students and teachers. Known to his students as “Mister M, Coach, Papa Rocks/Rocco,” he is remembered for his sense of humor, corny rhymes, traumatizing driving, and weakness for Carl’s Junior.

Coach getting his head shaved by students. It was an incentive for team to win.

“The first time I ever saw him, he was wearing shorts, a t-shirt and a baseball cap. Laura pointed him out to me. She said, ‘That’s our principal, Mr. Marocco.’ He was folding school uniforms. I thought, why is he doing this? Doesn’t he have underlings to do this for him?

He lived on Maui but, like a true Texan, was almost always dressed in a suit, jacket and tie. Despite many hot days, he was usually in his Sunday best. I once asked him about this. He told me he dressed up because he was representing the school and that we should all aspire to look our best.

Over four years, I watched a man who never sat down at his job, gave up months of sleep and relaxation, and never hesitated at an opportunity to encourage and inspire. He was very humble, very real, very persistent and one of the most inspiring men I’ve ever known.

He became legendary among his students for his unique manner of speaking. I always thought he sounded like an educated cowboy. Anyone who knew him could do a halfway decent Mr. Marocco impression but the truth was, he was always funnier in person. His noted sayings, ‘Tuck It In To Win,’ referring to our school uniforms, and ‘Cross the Line, Change the Sign,’ for his math students, became a part of the Ka’ahumanu Hou legacy.

During those seasons when we were winning games, meeting our academic goals, having life changing spiritual emphasis retreats and putting on a good theatrical production, it was wonderful to see the joy it gave him. He was so proud of us.

I’ve never known another head of a school, Christian or otherwise, who exuded such passion, dedication and sacrifice. You could never say the following to Mr. Marocco:

You just don’t get it, man! I have so much homework, I have practice after school, play rehearsal and I have to study for a test. You don’t know how hard I’m working and you don’t appreciate the effort I’m putting in.

You could never say that to him, because Mr. Marocco was always right there with you, either doing the equivalent or at the same event. He wasn’t just our teacher, he was a father figure. Everyday, he gave so much of himself.

Coach “encouraging” a player, 1993.

Ka’ahumanu Hou was just one of the many stops on his long, journey as an educator but, witnessing the way he pushed himself and each of us, year after year, you’d assume it was the only job he ever had.

You know that movie where there’s a classroom of misfits and outcasts, rejected by their own families, who have a bad reputation, bad grades and a bad attitude? Then a teacher comes along who inspires them to study, encourages them to work hard and pushes them to achieve their goals and find their best self? That teacher was Mr. Marocco. He played that part dozens and dozens of times.

You know that movie where there’s a team of promising but arrogant, uncooperative and disorganized athletes who have no shot at winning a season, let alone a single game? Then a coach comes along who teaches them to collaborate, play to their individual strengths and motivates them to become a winning team and respected by their opponents? Yeah, Mr. Marocco was that guy, too.

Mr. Marocco’s unprecedented sacrifice, compassion, and dedication forever changed the lives of his students. It’s obvious and redundant to say this but here’s the plain truth: God used him every single day. Mr. Marocco made a world of difference to thousands of young men and women nationwide.”

In 2008, our beloved principal stepped down and moved to Texas, to be near his grandchildren. Despite turning 63 and amassing a lifetime of education experience, David continued to work as an administrator, teacher and substitute teacher at multiple DFW school districts through 2016.

Until the very end, David was hard-working and seemingly tireless; he retained a firm belief in the potential of every student and inspired excellence. David lived his life as an obedient servant of Christ and believed in the power of early morning prayer.

“The last conversation I had with him was a few years ago over the phone. It was the first of several times that he was in the hospital. I called Lena to see how he was and she handed him the phone. I didn’t really expect to talk to him, since he was in a hospital bed, hooked up to wires and on medication.

Nevertheless, he seemed eager to speak with me. He told me how proud he was of me for all the things I accomplished in my life. I was so taken aback by that. I thought, shouldn’t I be telling him this? Here he was, hospitalized and dealing with pain and health issues, but going out of his way to lift me up.

When Shea, my class of ’96 alumni, began to call old high school buddies to tell them Mr. Marocco had passed away, he reported back to me something that shouldn’t have come as a surprise: even the former Ka’ahumanu Hou students who were once busted, disciplined or suspended by him were deeply moved to learn that he had died. Why? Because, unlike many of the adults in their lives, Mr. Marocco had never given up on them.

The first Bible verse I ever learned was Romans 12:2 and I used to jump at every opportunity to recite it from memory. At some point, Mr. Marocco noticed this and began to call on me to recite it when requested. He would be giving a lesson in Bible class or addressing his students in chapel and he’d often find way to incorporate Romans 12:2. He’d look at me and say, ‘Barry, you know Romans 12:2, how about you say it for us?’ I’d always do it.

There was one chapel where I could sense that he was working his way towards referencing Romans 12:2. I silently counted to three, then heard, ‘Just like it says in Romans 12: 2…Barry, why don’t you tell us what it says in Romans 12:2?’

The day I found out Mr. Marocco died, it hit me hard what that verse is really about. Romans 12: 2 is about standing your ground, not giving in to the nonsense of the world around us, pushing up against your greatest obstacles and keeping God as your focus and inspiration. Who would have thought that one of his favorite scriptures would exemplify his life of faith and devotion: That verse says everything about who Mr. Marocco was and why he will always matter to every life he touched.”

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing     and perfect will.

Pam and Dave at the hospital, Spring, 2017.

David lived his life as an obedient servant of Christ and believed in the power of early morning prayer. He is survived by his wife Pamela, his children Matthew (Rachel), Lena (Lance), and Mark, his grandchildren, his brothers Bill (Brenda), Phil (Faye), and James (Colleen), his brother-in- law Bob, cousin Mary, beloved nieces, nephews, and extended family. He is preceded in death by his parents Dan and Esther, sister Debbie, son Stephen, and prayer dog Jodie.

Until we meet again. . .

 

Please enjoy the slideshow my brother Mark created for my dad.

Special Thanks to Daniella Mason https://www.daniellamason.com/ for the music mix, and Tiffany for scanning pictures.