I remember the Ware house like this...I grew up on Grandview Drive, right below them!!!!

I played CEE and BEE basketball for Bud Ware right around 1970, practicing outside in the afternoons. He at times would stop practice, and make us appreciate the sunset sky. I kept in touch with Bud and Joan through the years even up until last year, when he took me downtown to Phillipe’s restaurant, and on to the Norton Simon museum. He always brought joy into my life. I was heartbroken to not find him at his home in Topanga, and then learned of his passing. He will be forever in my heart. I send condolences to the Ware family.

I met Bud thorough Mary Benjamin and Rick Gottfried (Rick was coached by Bud in high school).  Our production company was looking for a location to film a short segment for a documentary about dark matter using tennis as an analogy and they suggested I call Bud. I went up to his home in Topanga and Bud struck me immediately as the most kind and lovely individual--a rarity on the planet.  He showed me around his home and pointed out the things he was particularly proud of...his children and grandchildren, the art he drew while in Europe.  The only thing he couldn't show me, but mentioned immediately was his wife, Joan. And of course, then we saw his tennis court high atop Topanga.

We spent about 10 hours together in total.  I will never forget him.  As I drive through Topanga I feel his presence and his beauty everywhere.  Blessings to you, his family,  to carry you through this time of mourning.  

Peace and Love, Andrea Anderson

When I lived on Pt Dume, in the 70's, one day I got a call from "Mr Ware" (became "Bud" from then on). He asked if he could bring a few of his athletes and friends down to the Private Beach at Pt Dume (gated), to catch some waves on the many breaks, lefts and rights, at one of the best Surfing Beaches around! I was shocked at first, and then just gleeful! Sundays with Bud and friends became a tradition; it was so wonderful to get to know such a vital man outside the structure of High School. He became such a great friend! I'm so lucky to have known him!

Lynne Fonda

I attended Pali approaching 50 years ago and was in the same graduating class as Sally.  In my first two years of high school I was a basketball manager for Bud and his teams.  As a coach who taught basketball as well as a mulitude of life lessons in the process, his voice has remained in my head each day of my life.  And I am all the better for it.     

I have more than a few stories I could tell about Bud, but the one that I feel speaks best to who he was as a person happened in 1969, when Pali won its first and only City Championship in basketball.  I was a sophomore in college at the time, but helped out with Pali's basketball program, scouting opponents and coaching the team during its summer league play.  In '69 Bud assisted Jerry Marvin with coaching the team during the playoffs.  When Pali won, Bud received a well-deserved championship trophy (his playoff coaching help was invaluable and a number of the team's players had played for Bud's teams in prior years).  Then a few weeks later, he called me into the PE office and handed his City Chamipionship trophy to me, saying, "You deserve this more than I do.  You did a helluva lot more than I did to win the Championship."  Needless to say I was very touched and flattered, but declined and tried to refuse his offer.  But Bud was insistent and yes, eventually I caved.  The trophy is within eye-view as I write this.  

And when I retired from business almost a decade ago and began a second career as a playwright, Bud was nothing less than thrilled and excited (and intrigued) for me and while he was still able, both he and Joanie attended several of my plays.  My only regret in that arena was that he didn't get to see my latest piece, since it featured characters based on former players he knew well.

Anyway, I could say I will miss Bud, but in truth I have missed him since I graduated Pali in '67.  But I am so grateful that his voice is still with me.  Rest in peace, Coach.   And thanks for making  part of your life part of mine.

Richard Martin Hirsch 
          

One day a friend and I were in the locker room, arguing who could bench more weight. I had showered and dressed, and my friend had just came out of the shower wrapped in a towel. Finally, we decided to go into the weight room and find out what was what. It was still open and my friend was in the middle of a benchpress when Coach Ware walks in with a scowl on his face, and says verbatim(recently confirmed by my buddy in a email in which he recounted the incident without my prompting,said "____________what are you doing running around in the raw!" in his most authoritarian form. My colleague began explaining which I knew was a mistake. Coach Ware never much entertained explanations. So he ran us both out of the there, but in his profile I caught a wry, almost non-existant smile, and I took off as quickly I could, I ran into another friend, and we had a great laugh about it going up the hill just off Sunset to buy a snack at Mayfair Market. Somehow the phrase "nature boy" came up, and my friend was stuck with that for the balance of his time at Pali!_Misha Allport,Brasil

What an impact Bud Ware made on so many of our young lives at Pali High. He led our Girl's Tennis Team to the LA City Final Championships and we won - 1976. As our coach he inspired us and motivated us to strive and win. We did. As I remember, this was the last year the LA School District allowed a male to coach a female tennis team, blaming his gender on our championship. Maybe so. All of us on that team wanted to show our coach that we could play hard and win. We made Bud proud, our parents proud and most of all ourselves. Fabulous experience.

At 53 years old, tennis has continued to be a part of my life. I thank Bud Ware for all he taught me in tennis and as a person playing tennis. He is an icon in my heart. R.I.P. and blessings to The Ware Family.

My Dad, Richard Ackerman and Bud Ware coaching us.

Bud speaking to all players and parents and more. He was proud of our winning team from Pali High. So were we.

Riviera Country Club celebrating our victory. Melanie and Laurie were doubles partners.

At The Riviera playing the Finals Tennis Match against Uni High.

I left a tribute but also wanted to say that Coach Ware had a transformative effect on my life. I had hardly ever played basketball and was really not very good. When I started Pali High I signed up to try out for Basketball thinking it would be better than general PE. Somehow I got hooked up with Coach Ware and he started teaching me how to shoot a basketball. It was as if the lights went on. He showed my how to hold my wrist and and system of learning how to shoot by being very close to the basket and make 20 shots, then move back, 20 more, etc. etc. And every day I improved - to the point that I was playing competitively that fall…for me the 10th grade. He said I had to be a "gym rat" to really learn how to play basketball so i spent hours at the gym at Pali playing pick up games. I had had extensive musical training from a young age so having a "system", a way to practice was very helpful for me. In any event by my 11th grade year I made the varsity team. I wasn't a starter, never was, even in 12th grade. As Coach said, I was a "hustler" and every team needs one to help in practice and when needed in a game. But for me, ANYTHING seemed possible because of how he taught me to practice. It was hard for me to get out of my "head" -  coach made me believe that I could do it. Upon hearing of his passing I had a Nietzsche "wooshing" moment. Coach was a true teacher. In my life I do a lot of composing and conducting. All of it has to do with teaching and convincing people of your point of view - not that it's the only point of view  - but that it has merit and value and that you can convince a group to get behind it. Teaching…that was Coach. May he rest in peace.

Bud was one of a kind, and a touch stone for all of us.  My step-father, John Boldemann, was one of Bud's great friends and the Boldemann and Ware girls were a force to be reckoned with in Topanga.  When John passed, way before his time, Bud was overwhelmed and pledged to work a little bit harder every day for John.  They had cleared the space for the tennis court together and the number of projects and hard working days were ones of complete joy, satisfaction, and often exhaustion.  Our families became one extended family and when my mother, Barbara, moved back to Topanga in the little house on Sischo we were all delighted because we knew we'd get to see Bud and Joan that much more. His visits to my mom after she moved north to San Luis Obispo were times she cherished, and his compassion and kind words to my sister Sarah after her beloved Pedro passed were a great comfort.

At Pali Bud was my basketball coach and I will never forget his encouragement, or the time he pulled me from a game, wrote 17' in chalk on the bench and told me to "sit on it...it may sink in!"  His advice and encouragement throughout the years was invaluable, and I thought of him often.  His confidence in me and encouragement through the years helped inspire me to work just that much harder and to open my heart up to others just that much more.  He has always been a model for me in the way I've coached, mentored, and provided counsel to others throughout my life.  

He will be missed but never forgotten, and is always with me.

 

In the photo are John Slatebo, his wife, yours truly, my wife Dora, Joan on Bud on my mother's terrace in Carmel.

My son Robert said it best, however I would like to add, it is satisfying to see on the website that a person who was so generous with others sacrifying himself,  loving and loved, kind and forgiving should have these qualities reflected in the anecdotes of his students, and others, at the time of his passing.  He made us feel special and grateful that we were a part of his life.  That he could cut to the core of a young man or woman’s personal, scholastic or other problems and make a difference in their lives may have been his greatest gift.

I was not in good health but decided anyway to go to Winter 64’s Pali High 45th Reunion the year before last.  I flew into LAX from Ecuador and Bud was there to meet me; drive me to his house, stopping alone the way to pick up two porterhouse steaks; put me in and take me out of the shower and into bed for a much needed nap; wake me and drive us to the Reunion which started at 4 pm; stayed there with me, in spite of my insisting on his going home, conversing with several of those who remembered him;  but most of the time just watching out for me sitting on a stool behind a potted plant, distributing 30 Panama hats that I had brought from Ecuador, driving us back to Topanga; waking me in the morning; serving us a hearty breakfast; driving me to LAX and seeing me off to Ecuador.  That was Bud.

When I saw Bud right after his fall as the paramedics were tending to him, he saw me smiled and waved.  I thought "that's good he'll be OK". But that was Bud, making sure you felt he was fine.  He was independent about taking care of himself and all the things around.  He always refused my help with the tennis court, and when I offered to pay towards a net replacement he was rather adament that the court was his baby.  So much so, that one time when I hosed and cleaned it I was nervous about it, and left a note apologizing and 'hope it was OK'.
Just prior to his fall we spent some time together admiring his work in the garden and the copper pipe railing he had installed himself.  It was typical of his self reliance and "do it myself" attitude.  My granddaughter was 1 yr old when we started to walk over and visit him, she probably will not remember those times, but I will--every time I pass his house--which is about twice a day.
The funny thing is that all those tributes to his wonderful coaching were denied by him.  He would say: "I could teach them very little, they knew it already from lessons growing up"  But what it says is that coaching, as John Wooden said, is much more than teaching court skills, its being a mentor for life-the bigger game. 

To the Ware Family,

With Tears in my eyes I offer heartfelt sympathy to all of you.  Losing Bud Ware is like losing a legend for me.  He was there thru every high school event that we all attended. Such great memories!  I have seen him many times over the years at reunions, and sadly many funerals.  He was one of the first people that called me when my husband, Mark Weiss passed away.  We talked for a long time after Ken Baker's funeral, about him losing his own wife, and i remember him telling me the story of losing her with tears in his eyes, and it made me envious of the wonderful years they spent together.  He always included me as part of "the team" even though I was just one of the groupies!  You were so very lucky to have a Dad who will always be remembered as a kind hearted man, that was a great husband, father and friend.  What more could you ask for.  He will be missed by all of us.

Susie (Honig, Weiss) Hogan  
   
  

I've thought about Coach Ware every once in awhile over the years. I'm sorry to hear of his passing. I was a scrawny, puny kid on the tennis team, but he worked me hard and made me reach to be a better player. I'm a better person because of his personality, influence and hard work.

I was in the same class as daughter Sally.  Though I wasn't in any of the organized sports (except football for a while) we still had PE everyday.  As I recall the PE teachers rotated and it was always the most fun with Coach Ware.

One time we were going to play softball and Coach split up the class into two teams.  Our side was one short, so Coach was going to be on our team (Yay!), plus he was the umpire.  One of the rules was no sliding. Slide and you're OUT!
Game is tied and we're close to the end and a guy belts one and is running the bases for a homerun.  It's a close play at home and in all the excitement he slides!   SAFE!!  The other team,,,NO, NO he slid ....He's OUT!!!

As coach calms everyone down and the guy is brushing off his leg and examining the road-rash damage, Coach says, "Anyone with guts enough to slide in the dirt with only gym shorts is SAFE!"  Game over....We win!! 

Another time the school was experiencing what I like to call "The Hair Wars".
Guys could get suspended or worse if it was deemed their hair was too long. Protests began.  Then the football players rebelled and shaved their heads in their own protest.  This was 1966 and got national news coverage.  About hair!!
Ahh, the good ol' days.  Over a period of days, things began to get tense.

I lived just down the street and usually walked to school and one day I came around the corner about a block from the school and there was a mob scene of sorts in front of the school.  Surprised, I see Coach Ware, so I go up to him and say, "What are you doing over here....what's going on?? He smiles and says they (I'm assuming the administration) told us to keep anyone else from joining the fray.  So, we laughed talking about the absurdity of it all.  Eventually I said, "So do I get the day off then?"  He said , "Nah, just go around and go to class."

Those were a couple of stories I love to tell.  Mr. Ware was viewed by all that I knew as such a cool guy and treated us kids like friends. I always have and always will remember him with great respect and fondness.  I'm proud to have known him. 

I am so sad, yet relieved that Bud is back with Joannie. Never met a more devoted couple, and a more gentle soul than Bud. Such happy memories from my visit with them when I was but a teenager. So many things we shared...pouring concrete in his driveway, cycling up the hills of Topanga, a beer, some chips, the jacuzzi, dancing lessons with Joannie, going down to challenge the crowd at paddle tennis on the beach, afternoons at the High School with coach Marvin hitting golf balls, talking basketball,  golf and of course...tennis. 

Get to the net Robert...today we are playing kamikaze! I cannot pick up or look at someone with a racket and not think of Bud. How much fun it was to sit down and watch the tape reel--Kenny Rosewall's backhand over and over and over. His phone calls asking about my career, my life, my kids. He made it to my graduations and it was so special that he was there...Berkeley, Med School. He was so proud, and it me so happy that he was proud because he was a great guy.

He took me to a tennis camp when I was 16 and was so upset that Bolletieri tried to get me to change my backhand to two hands---We got back to Topanga and we changed it right back to one hand..."Robert" he would say... when you get out and play at the Country club in Guayaquil... no matter what you do, you have to look cool out there....

Bud...my dear friend, I will never look as cool as you did...the picture of gentleman and class, but I will always remember you and try my best.

The Wares and the Sloans have been friends through fires, floods, scouts, historical society events, picnics and all of the other etc.'s that go into long lives together in a community such as Topanga.  But it was after Mom (Pearl Sloan) died that Bud proved what a solid and steadfast friend he truly was.

Bud made visiting Dad (Bill Sloan) and taking him on errands part of his weekly routine.  He always arrived with a fresh package of fig newtons, and then would sit and regale Dad with whatever stories came to mind (and Bud had LOTS of stories!).  They were a good pair - Bud the talker and Dad the listener.

His natural kindness, genuine interest and honest caring will never be forgotten.  When I visit Dad this weekend, it will be with a fresh package of fig newtons in hand, and we'll reminisce about his good friend Bud.

Thank you, Bud, from all of the Sloan family. 

After my first year at Pali in his Geometry class and playing on his CEE basketball team, Bud came up to me, handed me a racquet and asked me to come out to tennis practice. Bud must have thought that if you want to teach someone to swim, you throw them in the water. My first day at the courts, Bud paired me up with the varsity and I got peppered while he casually leaned against the fence, watching to see how I'd respond. After a few minutes he yelled out,"Hey Peattie! Come here." Realizing my tennis ability, he handed me a basket of balls and pointed me toward the handball courts and suggested I hit over there for a while by myself against the boards. Tennis was not for me at that time, but the one thing I'll never forget is that Bud believed in me. Forever grateful.

Bud and I always loved and enjoyed each other, especially in later years when we were the only ones remembering our old family stories.  In fact we felt closer than ever before, because we were so glad to both be alive and able to share these memories of Sierra Vista.  I remember one story that I had to keep reminding Bud about: the blimp used to come over on little trips to Valley Blvd, and we and the other young people in the neighborhood would run out and grab the ropes to help it land.   The fruit from his orchard kept me in touch with my California roots, and I so appreciated the care packages he sent me every time a new crop ripened.  I always will cherish the memory of my dear brother Bud.

To the Ware Family,

I was one of Mr. Ware's students whom he coached (tennis) at Pali. He was an amazing tennis coach and I loved him very much. I have so many wonderful memories of him that I cannot write them all down. He would love to make fun of me when I did my forehand stroke. It was funny!
  We kept in touch via Christmas cards and I would always look forward to recieving his card written in his beautiful calligraphy writing.
He would always ask about my kids. When my daughter was born 18 years ago, he stopped by my house and brought her her first pair of Nike tennis shoes.
He wanted to make sure she was stylish. :-)
When he found out that I was still playing tennis, he even rode his motorcycle (this was a few years back) to Palisades Park to watch me and my husband play this new game called "live ball". He sat on the grass and watched proudly.
I didn't get a Christmas card from him this past Christmas and I wondered why.
He must not have been well. 
I am so sorry to hear of his passing. It absolutely shocked me and my heart is broken because he was such a special man and mentor.
He was such a sweet soul and I am so proud and honored to have been coached by him.
May Mr. Ware rest in peace and be smiling and laughing with his wife in heaven.
Much Love,
Linda Peters Ellrod
Class of 1984 Palisades High School   

I have attached my only photo that he gave to me with something that he wrote on it that I have and always will treasure.         

Bud coached Caroline and me on how to bake his trademark oat kolaches.  Luckily we have the recipe, written down on the back of an old Program Card from the Los Angeles City Schools.

This was taken during Caroline's and my last visit with Bud, in April 2011.  No one in my family will ever forget the magic of Topanga, Fort Ware, Joan, and Bud.

On March 24th, 2012, I got many past members of the Pali Hi tennis teams to get together with Bud at his beautiful Topanga home.  Here are a few of the gang that he coached over his many years at Pali.  Some of these players became ranked tennis stars in CA state, nationally and also in college.  Bud was our mentor on/off the court and our inspiration for winning in life and on the court.

Every NBA season, Chris Marlow (2nd from left) comes into town as the TV announcer for the Denver Nuggets when they play the Clippers or Lakers and he always invites Bud and our other favorite Pali Hi coach Jerry Marvin (on the left) to dinner along with myself and a few other friends.  This dinner was at Malibu Chart House on Feb. 21, 2012

Through my tears ..I’m so, so sorry to learn of Bud’s death.  He was such a thoughtful friend.  I feel so lucky that I got to know Bud and that I got to see him last spring.

I’ll never forget Bud.  I loved him so.  I’ll write more on his page.

Linda, thanks so much for keeping us in touch these last weeks.  I’m glad I got to meet you and I heard many fine stories about you and your whole family during the all too short time I knew your father.

My love to you and all of Bud’s offspring,

Sam Thornham

I thought I was prepared to get this kind of news but it turns out I'm nowhere near ready. Bud was one of the giants of our family circle.  The loss is profound. A couple of photos from Caroline's and my last visit to Topanga.    Dave

Dear Linda, and all the gang, I wanted to let you know how sad we are that Bud has passed away, but how glad we are that he is no longer suffering. He was just not the kind of person to sit quietly in a wheelchair for very long.   When we moved down the street 25 years ago, you all had moved into your lives, and we never had the pleasure of really getting know you all. Your parents were very self-contained, but also very generous in lending a hand. The few times we have crossed paths, I have always wished that we had had a chance to get to know you all better. We so appreciate all the major efforts you have all put forth to make sure Bud had good care after his fall, and to deal with the huge undertaking of selling the house. That is never an easy task.   I will never forget the day we came to look at buying our house, when Barbara and Charlie had tea with your folks so we could look around, and then since we took so long, came down, and introduced us to the neighborhood. It was the start of a wonderful friendship with your folks that meant a great deal to us. From tomato starts, to geranium plugs, to chainsaw and concrete pouring extravaganzas, we have a host of fun memories of both your parents. After your mom passed away, we tried to include Bud more regularly in dinners, etc. and watched with sadness as he aged before our very eyes, despite his regular hikes and bikes up the hill. He was a wonderful role model for the best neighbor possible!   Chris, Sean and I send you all our condolences. As large a hole Bud leaves in our neighborhood, I am sure it is an even bigger hole for all of you. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to help.   Hugs to you all. Rosi

Bud was one of three people I would EVER let call me Tommy! :)
 

Soft spoken, always a smile had more weight and impact to others than someone with a big stick!



You get to reunite with Joan and have many more adventures!
 

I’m so sorry to hear about Bud.  He was an extraordinary person and a unique spirit.

I love the memory of being with him this spring as he hosted Mike, Susan, Sammy, John and Sam and me at his home for Sammy’s UCLA vs Berkley lacrosse game.  Being at Bud’s was always a treat and cooking with him in the kitchen was amusing and lots of fun,  as were the quiet talks he was so good at fitting in throughout our time with him. 

I loved his kind heart and the way his gentle humor and genuine interest invited me in. 

I will always remember him with love.

Gayla