ROD OHIRA'S PEOPLE
Telling hero's story a labor of love
By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer
Award-winning director, editor and videographer Donald Mapes of Kailua has spent eight years filming the lives of a remarkable couple for a TV documentary.
Cory Lum • The Honolulu Advertiser
"Courage to Live: The Story of Charlie and Lucy Wedemeyer" is near completion, and Mapes hopes a major television or cable network will air it sometime between March and June. As part of the package, Mapes is pushing for informational spots about amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, to be shown in place of commercials.
Kailua director Don Mapes is editing 110 hours of videotape for his hour-long documentary on Charlie Wedemeyer.
"We're hoping for a minor miracle that someone in television will understand, and politics won't be as important as the Wedemeyers' message," said Mapes, a 1998 Tele Award winner for his mini documentary "GTE — The China Story."
"The message is there's always hope if you have faith."
No script was needed: The Wedemeyers' dramatic story unfolds naturally, every minute of every day, he said.
"Charlie and Lucy are the real deal," said the former linebacker and teammate of Russ Francis. "You don't have to create a story. With them, it's all about a journey, enjoying life day to day."
Wedemeyer, who distinguished himself as one of Hawai'i's all-time great
high school running backs at Punahou in 1962-64, went on to star at Michigan State with two other local prep stars, Bob Apisa (Farrington) and Dick Kenney ('Iolani). The three played in the 1966 game between the No. 2 Spartans and top-ranked Notre Dame, the first Mainland sporting event televised live in Hawai'i.
Wedemeyer married his Punahou sweetheart, the former Lucy Dangler, and settled in Los Gatos, Calif. He was head football coach at Los Gatos High in 1977 when he was diagnosed with ALS and given two to three years to live.
"Charlie lives for another day," said Mapes, who is editing 110 hours of videotape for the hour-long documentary. "He wanted to see his daughter and son graduate from high school, and did. Now he wants to see his son Kale graduate from (the University of Southern California) medical school in June."
Charlie's courage feeds off Lucy's love. Their story has inspired countless newspaper and magazine articles, the PBS documentary "One More Season," the CBS movie "Quiet Victory" starring Michael Nouri and Pam Dawber, and the autobiography "Charlie's Victory" written by the Wedemeyers and Gregg Lewis. In 1992, Wedemeyer was named America's Disabled Employee of the Year.
Mapes' documentary provides an inside look at the Wedemeyers' daily life. None of it is staged.
"Charlie's days are tough, laying in bed," Mapes said. "But he's an amazing guy. He watches the Food Channel and figures out his own recipes. Charlie loves people and he can make anybody feel comfortable just by smiling. You can feel love just from looking at his face."
Lucy Wedemeyer, meanwhile, has the smarts, personality and talent to be the CEO of a big company or a national television talk show host, said Mapes.
"Lucy is the fireplug, the glue that holds everything together," Mapes observed. "She won't take credit for what she does. Lucy lives on the edge every day. She's in pain from chronic neck and shoulder problems that came from lifting Charlie in the early years. But watching her, you would never know she's in constant pain.
"There are a lot of demands on her," he said. "But she says if it were not for the grace of God, she wouldn't make it through the day."
The Wedemeyers live to help others, inspiring by example, Mapes said.
"To them, faith is about knowing it'll be OK, knowing that God is in control," he said.
Wedemeyer, hooked up to a ventilator, is paralyzed except for movement in his face. He communicates with his lips and face. Because he's starting to lose the ability to use his lips, he has been equipped with a new device called Cyberlink that reads his brain waves and muscle movement.
Wedemeyer also is learning to operate a program that allows him to write, opening up more communication opportunities, Mapes noted.
Mapes took on the project in 1989 after filming the couple in Hawai'i when Charlie received an Aloha Bowl honor. Except for a hiatus in 1995-99, he has stayed with the project, paid for by donations of $370,000 so far. The project still needs $200,000 to be completed. (For information about tax-deductible donations, e-mail wholenet@aloha.com or call 235-0978).
The documentary is being produced by Mapes and his wife Brenda, Suzanne Maurer and Morris Takushi. They say none are in it to make a profit.
Mapes looks to another life for his reward.
"If I can get to heaven," he said, "all I want is to listen to Charlie speaking to me in his own voice."
Reach Rod Ohira at 535-8181 or rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com.
