Longtime Maui Sports and News Writer, Broadcaster and Coach Remembered

Good friends, family and community customers are mourning the reduction of Wilfredo “Fred” Guzman, a longtime member of the sports activities, information and soccer community on Maui. Guzman passed absent on Tuesday, Could 25, although in the enterprise of family members.

“Fred will be sorely missed for the reason that he impacted so lots of people today in so several different capacities,” stated sports activities writer and photographer Rodney Yap. “My romance with Fred extends to superior university and school. It was due to the fact of him that I pursued sporting activities crafting as a job. When I attended faculty in San Jose he took me to Golden Condition Warrior and 49er game titles he was doing the job and released me to the players and coaches in the locker rooms later on. Those ended up larger-than-everyday living moments for me and he never hesitated to open up his residence to me. Which is the variety of person he was.”

The two worked collectively, co-hosting a sports activities discuss demonstrate on what was then KMVI AM 550, and broadcasting nearby Maui Interscholastic League video games and point out tournaments. He also manufactured appearances on sister station KPOA 93.5 FM, exactly where he was affectionately known as “The Sporting activities Expert.”

Guzman was hired by Radio Maui in 1991 in which he served as Information Director and on-air talent for KNUI and KMVI. After the stations were procured by Lahaina Broadcasting Company (now Pacific Media Team), in 1999, Guzman led the company’s sporting activities division and served as System Director for KMVI.

He held a selection of roles such as on-air, writing and marketing and advertising, as well as election protection and sporting activities creating. “Fred experienced a reward.  The way he communicated in person, more than the air on the radio or on the discipline coaching.  He was authentic and honest, often looking to convey out the most effective in individuals around him,” mentioned Chuck Bergson, Main Govt Officer and President of Pacific Media Team.

Yap reflected on Guzman’s occupation and neighborhood involvement calling him a normal chief with an innate capacity to bring people today alongside one another. “From his dealings as a mentor, to his remarkable interviewing capabilities with athletes and politicians, Fred was the consummate professional. A renaissance person, who was usually calm, amazing and collective — primarily on deadline or when the stress was at its greatest.”

“Family was every little thing to Fred and all of the teams he led and gamers he coached, he taken care of them like relatives — usually singling out and generating additional time to do the job with the most hard gamers, the kinds other individuals had given up on. His passion for telling tales is what manufactured him an award-profitable sports activities author, and he utilized that similar passion and travel to create profitable soccer systems at Baldwin and Maui United,” said Yap.

Functioning on live radio jointly for practically 10 several years, Yap reported he acquired to see Guzman showcase a selection of conversation expertise firsthand. “A deep thinker and voracious reader, Fred possessed impressive expertise on a wide-vary of subject areas. He was relaxed conversing with political leaders and legends like Pele or Muhammad Ali a single working day, and the regional prep all-star the upcoming working day. No matter whether it was covering the Olympic Games or the local Mayor’s race, he was normally humble, respectful and authentic.”

“My brothers and I have been content to share our Father with all of his soccer kids throughout the a long time.  We have been all brought in at some stage to coach with him, and he instilled the pleasure of winning with a staff and aggressive spirit in each individual of us.  Men and women from all about the environment have achieved out to us and it tends to make us feel so very pleased that he touched so many life,” said daughter Tanya Ponce.

Colleague and buddy, Sherri Grimes, who now serves as the Vice President & Typical Supervisor of Pacific Media Team for Maui Radio Functions reported, “Fred and I became prompt friends when beginning as Account Executives a handful of months apart in the early 90s.  We the two liked the radio sector but not essentially remaining in product sales, so we rallied jointly to get as a result of each and every working day.  Currently being competitive by mother nature we would then push ourselves to excel on the income facet until eventually he transitioned into the programming division.” 

When her oldest daughter took interest on the soccer subject, Grimes mentioned Guzman corralled her into aiding with Maui United Soccer Club.  “I did not know considerably about the complex aspect of the activity but I feel he required my involvement as he was usually inclusive that way. When Fred spoke there was generally one thing to be uncovered, constantly with intention and daily life classes.   I’m blessed to have known Fred and his loved ones,” said Grimes. 

Buddies say Guzman and island attorney, Tony Takitani are credited with acquiring Maui United Soccer Club in 1992, which now goes by the title Albion.

“Fred was a pioneer of youth soccer on Maui.  He considered in our regional scholar athletes and noticed soccer as an prospect to create men and females who contributed to our community in several means,” said Takitani. “Fred gave of himself his complete grownup lifestyle on Maui.  He cherished the little ones he labored with and was extremely proud when everyone did very well and pushed on their own to achieve.  All he questioned for was for a participant to participate in intelligent and give greatest energy.”

Brent Nunes, Technological Director for Albion Soccer Club Hawaiʻi mentioned the soccer entire world lost a real pioneer, leader, and ambassador of the sport right here in Hawaiʻi. 

“He was extra than just a mentor on the discipline, he really loved supporting create youthful pupil athletes into successful men and females.  Several of us would in no way be where we are nowadays without his steerage and mentorship,” stated Brent Nunes.   “Fred labored hard to open doors for Hawaiʻi kids who had a desire of one particular working day reaching the maximum level within the sport.  His mission to aid Hawaiʻi young children acquire lifestyle lessons by way of this attractive game will generally be a precedence in all that we do listed here at Albion SC.   These days, we go on to attempt to obtain the eyesight of inspiring greatness and encouraging our youth to desire huge and work tricky to attain their aims on the discipline, and most importantly in life.  Fred, your legacy will live on forever.”

Close friend, Chuck Nunes claimed, “Fred Guzman was a mentor but extra than that he was spouse and children.  He raised the bar for youth soccer on Maui by endorsing the purpose of coaching Maui groups to be competitive  with the best teams on Oʻahu and the mainland.  Fred dedicated  his life perform to aiding all gamers.”

“I witnessed several occasions  the place large school players, who did not participate in for his groups, and their mom and dad question him to converse to numerous higher education coaches on their behalf,” claimed Chuck Nunes.  “On our several excursions to regional and nationwide soccer tournaments, he would endorse various  Maui soccer gamers to the college coaches that had been attending these tournaments. He considered in serving to any participant that required help.”

Chuck Nunes also served with Guzman on the Maui HYSA (Hawaiʻi Youth Soccer Affiliation) board jointly for quite a few many years.  “He centered his suggestions and conclusions on what was greatest for all the gamers in the league.  It was under no circumstances based mostly on what was very best for his club teams,” explained Chuck Nunes. “His contributions to the youth of Maui were numerous  and he will be sorely missed.”

In addition to his do the job on Maui, Guzman also served in the US Military as a Sgt. E-5 in the early 70s with a specialty in medic and administration in advance of obtaining an honorable discharge. Starting up in 1968, he labored as a sporting activities author and columnist for the San Jose Mercury Information in California, where by he was utilized for 16 years. He also put in two years as Government Editor of the Morgan Hill Moments from 1984-1986. For 5 several years from 1986 to 1991, Guzman worked with unique gatherings firm ProLink out of Santa Clara, Calif. where by he served as Vice President ahead of moving to Maui.

Guzman is survived by his: mother Laura Otero of Bayamon, Puerto Rico little ones: Tanya (Andrew) Ponce, Cacique Guzman, Ali’i (Erin) Guzman and hānai son Raul Tornel of Morgan Hill, California niece, Naydine Espinosa of Orlando, Florida grandchildren: Noa and Laʻa Ponce and Isabella, Bennett, Tehya and Emeline Guzman and good grandson, Meison Ponce. 

He is predeceased by his: father Martin Guzman spouse Cynthia Nahi Guzman sister Nydia Espinosa and nephew Marco Espinosa.

A cremation ceremony will be held on Monday, June 14 at Ballard Family Mortuary with visitation from 3-4 p.m. A Celebration of Lifetime will be held in early August.