WASHINGTON 鈥� It was a week ago that a in Springfield claimed the life of a beloved high school coach and gravely injured his nephew. On Saturday at the Vienna Presbyterian Church, funeral services were held for 52-year-old Leonard Schultz.
He was a beloved James Madison High School football coach and teacher.
Many knew him as Lenny Schultz.
Gianni Cugini is a former James Madison football player who graduated in 2015 and now attends college. He came to say goodbye to his former football coach and teacher.
鈥淚t鈥檚 crazy. It鈥檚 very shocking,鈥� Cugini said of the sudden and tragic loss of his former coach.
Cugini said this tragedy has him looking at life a little differently.
鈥淵ou got to enjoy life, enjoy the people around you and don鈥檛 take things for granted.鈥�
He said Schultz was such a humble man and a joy to be around.
鈥淗e will be missed a lot.鈥�
Cugini said his death will really be felt come football season.
Max Ehrsam is also a former Madison football player who came back to attend the funeral services.
He graduated from high school in 2012. He, too, was stunned at the sudden lost of his former coach. But he does smile when he thinks back on how his coach made his senior year a blast.
鈥淚t was one of my favorite years playing,鈥� Ehrsam said.
He says Coach Schultz was awesome. Schultz was fun at practice and challenged his players.
鈥淗e was a players鈥� coach for sure. He loved his players,鈥� Ehrsam said.
Coach Schultz鈥檚 legacy lives on through former football players like Ehrsam, who now coaches high school football in Salisbury, Maryland.
鈥淚 try to coach the same way he did I guess. I guess it鈥檚 like having a selfless mentality. Just doing what鈥檚 best for everyone around you,鈥� Ehrsam said. 鈥淗e鈥檒l be missed but we鈥檒l see him again.鈥�
The family of Lenny Schultz is setting up a scholarship fund in Lenny’s name.
