Dear Will,

It is hard to believe that you’ve been gone seven years. We were looking at some old slides of Kirk’s father and came across pictures from the neighborhood and birthday parties.  And it was always easy to pick you out because your expressions of wonder, joy and fun lovingness  stuck with you to adulthood We love you and miss you much.

We are in the process of moving and in digging out an old album from our Days at El Cerrito I saw your sophomore picture! You signed it and told me you could only give me a small wallet because your acne didn’t show up as much. We laughed together and we swore we could count each pimple on our teenage faces! Simple sweet memories. You are always missed and thought of! ❤️

Many people know of Willis’ accomplishments with his work and his church outreach programs.  Not many people know that Willis and Melissa are both accomplished martial artists.  I first met Willis in 2003 at our Kung Fu School.  He and Melissa were already advanced students, training upwards of 4 days a week. Willis tended to add his own ‘flavor’ into the martial arts routines we were learning.  The term “Big Willy Style” was coined, and seemed to encourage him to go further with his own unique interpretations of traditional moves.  Looking back, it’s obvious he put this “Big Willy Style” into everything he did.  He lived his life with Big Willy Style.  I’ve put together a short video of some of his tournament footage, in the videos section of this site.  Willis, there will never again be anyone quite like you.  I am humbled to have known you as a friend.

Sincerely, Geoffrey O'Brien.

I first got to know Willis at OLP's first day camp that Fr. Jose started. 
Afer a week-long of wrangling kids, we took them to Hansen Dam for a final field trip. They had a really cool slide that all the kids could not get enough of. So when the end of the day came, we had to really use our patience to get all the kids out of the pool and on the bus. 
Well I thought I would take the opportunity at this time to finally get a chance to go on the slide myself..... needless to say, Willis saw me and didn't think it was the best idea :) he was as stern with me as he was with the campers, haha.
From that day on, I greeted him as "Drill Seargant" as a term of edearment. 
 

Dear Ajoni and Family,

            Since your Dada’s passing I have pondered “why” but mostly I have thought of you. Of when I first saw you in a stroller as your mom walked you around the block. Also when I saw you a little older in mass. Of how fortunate your Dada was to have you in his life. Also how your Dada, for a long time, longed for a child of his own. Not just any child, you. Your Dada was truly one of a kind. Always a collection of smiles and he now lives within our hearts everyday. He is now living through you and your little brother. Every smile, every tear you experience is now his as well. He is sharing EVERYTHING with you, your joys and your sorrows, and you are never alone. He is always with you. Look in the mirror and he is there. Look into your moms eyes and he is there. Look at Asante’s smile and he is there.

            I was so fortunate to have met you Dada and would like to share this story I remember most of him. As many know he and your mother helped youth prepare and plan for college. I just so happen to join their group, College 4 Everyone, in 2003. After knowing Melissa and Willis for several years at OLPs Summer Camp, I was so excited to be in their class. To me they were fun, exciting, and who I wanted to be more like. That following spring we took a road trip to the Bay Area to visit college campuses. Your Dad rented a humongous van for all of us and asked us to name it. I suggested “knickerbocker” and so it was. The morning we took off was sunny and beautiful. We all got up early to go on this little adventure with your dad. As we were all waking up from our naps, we had started playing road games. And thus begins the fondest memory I have of your dad. We had begun a competition where everyone would sing the Oscar Meyer wiener song as fast as possible. Everyone sang, including your dad, and when it came around to be my turn I just couldn’t get through it. I could not spell B-O-L-O-G-N-A at the end of the song. I tried again and again as the van filled with laughter. I remember how hard your dad laughed with every attempt I made. His laughter was so contagious the entire van was a memorable sight of morning hair and smiles. It was one of those childhood moments I will treasure for the rest of my life.

            I hope that my short story has shined some light on his remembrance. I hope you can understand the greatness your dad was and is as you go through life. His greatness is within you and will keep spreading as you grow and touch so many lives, even fall in love, and spread that greatness with children of your own. He is always in our hearts and I will never stop remembering him and all the wonderful lessons he taught me.

                                                            Until next time…..Viena Sanchez-Cuevas

This was taken sometime in May 2012. Met Willis at the top of Reseda parking after work on a Friday with a few friends. I introduced Willis to riding local mountains. We have ridden prior to this photo twice before but in another area of Santa Monica Mtns. I was planning another ride but busy times usually take over leisure. Thanks Willis for having fun riding with me.

Submitted on behalf of Frank Luciano

I knew Willis in a different way than many did. I met him a very short 6 years ago and worked with him on Bishop Wilkerson’s regional pastoral council. He and I were among the original group who were elected by hundreds of voting parishioners from around the region. It was a leadership position that intimidated us both, but as we talked more about our concerns we were reminded that God does not choose qualified people, he qualifies the people he chooses.

As I reflect on our time serving together, I wanted his children to know that their father was part of something that has influenced (and will continue to influence) over 2 million Catholics. The projects and programs that we worked on while on the council together helped to shape the future of our church, and will likely leave their mark for the next 50 years. While serving together,  I quickly learned that Willis was exciting to work with and a joy to be around.  He had a passion for social justice and it showed in how he invested his energy when on the council. 

We were fortunate to have a bishop who has an open mind and is a pastor at heart. He always looked to us for advice and was always open to discussion; sometimes off the record. Before the 2008 California elections we were discussing the controversial proposition 8 and Willis’ brought a thoughtful and critical eye (and voice) to all of the aspects of the proposition and did a great job of broadening everyone’s perspective.

I firmly believe that Willis was a gift from God to humanity, and his passing comes as a great blow. I am sure there will be difficult days and possibly you all will be looking back to try and find God in all of this. Part of the answer is people receive grace to bear whatever comes their way, but the grace may not come until the moment they need it. He will provide what you need to get through this. It is painful but, you can’t go around it, you need to get through it. Spirituality, especially for males, can sometimes be difficult to articulate. God loves us all and wants us to love Him as well.

It was Big!World!Fun! at the Ford Amphitheatre. Melissa performed with KNL and Ajani and Willis cheered us on in the audience.  Willis told him at the end of the show, he was getting Ajani and himself ready to go to our home after the show for the KNL reunion when he came upon an elderly lady at the Ford parking needing a ride.  Apparently she was bit of ways away from where she needed to be and if you know the Ford area, it’s hilly. So what did Willis do?  He took in the total stranger in his car (with Ajani strapped in at the back mind you – was just shy of 3 years at that time) and drove the lady to where she wanted to be. I remember Willis telling me that Melissa was so upset with him for doing this, especially with Ajani in the car – what if the lady was psycho or something?  I told Willis that I had to agree with Melissa on this one. But both Willis and Ajani were safe and, so we were able to laugh about it later, saying the most laughable (but scary) “what ifs” scenarios in that situation.  Afterwards I told Willis, “well fortunately it all worked out well and you both are safe…your good deed will be rewarded in heaven”.  Willis replied, “Oh, I didn’t do it for that, I just wanted to help.”  Willis was true to himself even with strangers.

I met Willis when I was merely 4 years old. Little did know at that time, that I'd be meeting the coolest person ever. I met him at Summer Camp. At that time, to me, he was a really tall guy who could really shake it. As I grew older, however, I began to get really close to Willis, as if he was family. He introduced me to Ajani and I became his Ate. After camp, they had YLT meetings and Willis would tell Ajani, "You stay with Ate Francesca, okay son," and that's when I really felt like family. My fondest memory of him was when I was a first time counselor at camp, Willis and Melissa gave me the microphone during dance with the little kids and had me teach them "Pamela", a popular dance in the Philippines. I was put on the spot at that time, but in the end, i was given a Junior Counselor award. I really want to thank him for helping me achieve this award. Another memory that I have of Willis was at last years fiesta. He was the DJ. I approached him and asked him to play summer camp songs that we can dance to. He played "Let's Move" by Beyonce and other songs such as Cha Cha Slide, Cotton Eyed Joe, and Hustle. When it came time to dance the "Let's Move" dance, we forgot a move and we spent a good 30 minutes searching for the video on his phone. It was like we had a bonding time. Once we found the missing moves, we practiced and practiced. Finally, my favorite memory of Willis, was when he showed me a picture of the new baby, Asante. I remember the light in his eyes and smile on his face. He's a proud daddy. I miss him and he will forever be in my heart. Till we meet again, my friend. I love you Willis, Melissa, Ajani, and Asante <3

This is our College 4 Everyone group at Dominican University. Willis and Melissa organized an amazing trip to give us the opportunity to learn about different colleges and universities of all sizes. They also took us to eat amazing chinese food in china town, gelato and we went to drive around the crooked street in san francisco. I will never forget that trip. Willis was the life of the party. I will miss you Willis!

This was taken by the Golden Gate bridge during our bay area college tour. I didn't think that they were still going to go on the roadtrip with us while Melissa was pregnant but they did. I had a blast and I learned a lot thanks to them. This is just an example of how much Willis and Melissa have given to the OLP community. Love you both!

My group took this photo while I was recovering from being in the hospital.  They are actually standing in my cubicle.