Remembering Sal Aunese: Friends Pay Tribute To Aunese
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September 26, 1989
B.G. Brooks
BOULDER-Quarterback Sal Aunese, Colorado's inspirational leader in life as well as death, was eulogized yesterday in an emotional on-campus memorial service that attracted an overflow crowd to Mackey Auditorium.
The auditorium was filled to its 2,047-seat capacity. On the steps outside in the warm September sunlight, at least 100 more persons-young, old, students, and professional people-listened to the touching 60-minute ceremony via loudspeakers.
An emotional Bill McCartney, CU's head coach, paid tribute to his quarterback's leadership and courage. But McCartney was equally emotional in a tribute to the courage of his daughter Kristyn.
For the first time publicly, McCartney acknowledged that Aunese had fathered a son by Kristyn. Timothy Chase McCartney was born in April.
Other speakers yesterday included Gov. Roy Romer, CU president Gordon Gee, chancellor James Corbridge, athletic director Bill Marolt and senior players Jeff Campbell and Michael Jones.
Rev. James W. Ryle of Boulder officiated.
Aunese's courage and indomitable spirit were uniformly praised by those who addressed the tribute, as well as those who attended it.
"He brought a unity to this campus in a different kind of way," said Dawn Massop, a CU Student Union tri-executive. "He didn't contribute a lot of money and he wasn't an astronaut, but he brought people together on this campus. He kept fighting and fighting. You couldn't help but be moved by it."
After a 5 1/2-month battle against inoperable stomach and lung cancer, Aunese, 21, died Saturday night at University Hospital. He will be buried Monday at 10 a.m. in his hometown of Oceanside, Calif.
Yesterday's public service, which was preceded by an hour-long private ceremony for Aunese's teammates and members of the CU athletic department, prominently reflected Aunese's Samoan heritage.
Before the public ceremony, several of Aunese's relatives placed a red lei and a colorful woven straw covering on his casket. When the seven speakers finished their tributes, family members and a few friends gathered around the casket and sang I've Got Peace By The River In My Soul.
Cousins Albert and Vai Sega, and Aunese's closest teammate, defensive tackle Okland Salavea, then sang How Great Thou Art.
They, as well as several of Aunese's other male relatives, were barefoot and wore traditional black Samoan wraps and white shirts and black ties.
Romer, who traveled from the Western Slope to attend the service, praised the "courage and dignity Aunese brought to his last days."
HE SAID AUNESE'S death "reminds us how precious life is, how important relationships are, and how painful death is."
But, he added, "the tragedy . . . gives an opportunity to think of what we can celebrate in the life of a person like Sal. Even though it's hard to understand why God does not permit some of us to play in the second half, it's important for us to remember the way in which this young man lived his life."
He said that even though the Buffs, who made Aunese their honorary captain and dedicated the 1989 season to him, might be tempted to "win one for Sal," in reality, their thought should be "go live one life for Sal. Live it with the kind of love, the comradeship, the sharing he displayed."
Gee, wearing his familiar bowtie, said that during Aunese's hospitalization, the player often had kidded him about his neckwear. Gee also reflected on Aunese's sense of humor, his desire to excel, and what he believed Aunese would now want from his teammates.
"Sal's spirt is passed to us," Gee said. "He wants us to pick up the torch. That's what he wants."
Gee said that upon receiving news of Aunese's death, he wept and was comforted by his 13-year-old daughter, Rebekah.
"She came in and curled up in my lap and said, 'Sal's happy now, dad,'" said Gee, his voice choked with emotion.
On the left sleeve of the Buffs' game jerseys is a gold band with "SAL" inscribed in large block letters. Gee noted that, then added, "You'll wear Sal's name on your souls, too."
McCARTNEY TOLD his grief-stricken team that Aunese "knows of your affection. He saw first-hand of your concern for him . . . Never go through life wondering if he knew - he did."
McCartney had special words for Salavea, who made his decision to attend CU based on that of his close friend, Aunese. "Okland, nobody's ever had a better friend . . . loyal, loyal, loyal. I've never seen love like that," McCartney said to the CU player who might be most devastated by Aunese's death.
CU's head coach also praised quarterbacks coach Garry Barnett, who worked closely with Aunese and was a prominent factor in his development.
"You had Sal's respect, his trust, you were his confidante," McCartney told Barnett. "It was wonderful what you and Sal had."
CU plays Washington Saturday, and Jones, one of the Buffs' defensive co-captains, said, "When we step on the field, (Sal's) watching us . . . This is the season for Sal, that's all I can say."