Marty Biegel, 86, at a reunion with some of his Fairfax High basketball players. In addition to building a winning program, he was a father figure to his athletes and built bridges across racial divides. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)
Marty Biegel and friend Janet Colman visit with his former players at Canter’s Delicatessan in Los Angeles’ Fairfax district. Much of the city fretted when blacks began appearing in white schools during the 1970s. Not Biegel. He celebrated the new black athletes in his gym. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)
Former players Daryl Brooks, Kevin Barrett and Ed Dickerson, from left, share a laugh during the reunion with their coach. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)
Marty Biegel, left, kisses former player Daryl Brooks during their reunion. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)
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Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky hugs former Coach Marty Biegel at the Canter’s reunion. Yaroslavsky, a former classroom student of Biegel, recalled: The work was demanding, and you didnt want to let him down.” (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)
Coach Marty Biegel, in the red jacket, is joined by former players Ed Dickerson, Christopher Parker, Conrad Lewis, Steven Cantor, Kevin Barrett and Daryl Brooks during a reunion at Canter’s Deli. “Youre all like sons to me, Biegel said at one point, his eyes welling with tears. You were my little boys back then. And youre all such handsome men now. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)