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Harry Dinnel Obituary
10/9/40 – 8/26/17
Retired Redondo Union High School coach and educator Harry R. Dinnel, Jr. passed away peacefully on 8/26/17 with his family by his side.
Harry was born at home in Venice, CA and lived in the South Bay for 61 years until he retired and moved to Fallbrook, CA. Harry graduated from Mira Costa H.S., El Camino College, and Pepperdine University where he is in the Basketball Hall of Fame. Harry was drafted by the San Francisco Warriors in the 1963 NBA draft. He played for and coached the Anaheim Amigos of the ABA 1967-1968. Harry spent 34 years as a coach and educator at Redondo High School and loved to tell people "I never worked a day in my life". Harry loved Redondo High and his students so it never felt like a job to him.
He is survived by his wife, Jeri; son, David (Gina); stepson, Matthew; and grandchildren, Malia and Jaylen; brothers, Ron (Linda), Gary (Chris); and sister, Caroline.
In lieu of flowers please donate to the Red Cross for Hurricane Harvey or the Fallbrook Animal Sanctuary.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, September 16th at 11:00 a.m. at the Presbyterian Church of the Covenant, 2850 Fairview Rd., Costa Mesa, CA. Please sign the guest book at www.dailybreeze.com/obits.
Memories and Condolences
for Harry Dinnel
20 Entries
Josh McLeod
June 13, 2023
Man. I´m here with my friend who also graduated from RUHS and we are reminiscing about `Dinnely Boy´! Loved the memories he gave us all. His hook shot was incredible! And man did he get mad at me for wearing my Dr Martens in the court! Class of 96!
George Plante
March 27, 2021
I am so saddened to find out that Harry Dinnel has passed.
I knew Harry when I played on the El Camino College basketball team for a few months in 1959. Harry was a great guy and a terrific basketball player and team mate. I saw him from time to time over the years until I moved out of the area in 1974. I am an RUHS graduate (1956) and used to go play basketball occasionally at RUHS after graduation. One Saturday I walked into the gym to play a little basketball and there stood Harry! I said "Harry, what are you doing here" and he replied, "I'm the Varsity Basketball coach". I was so pleased and happy because I knew he was going to do a great job for my Alma Mater. From what I read here, he was dearly loved by his players and students. I'm not a bit surprised, he was truly and exceptional person and I feel blessed to have known him.
He is probably making half court shots in heaven these days.
May he rest in eternal peace.
patrick andersen
January 28, 2020
I am so saddened by the loss of mr Dinnel, I had basketball as the later periods, one of the things I was always about was old school bball I believed in good defense and the sky hook and mr Dinnel smiled and said that's one hell of a shot andy! keep it up. I would always ask him hey you look like you played for some real pro ball he always shyed away and was very humble but always supportive. You will be greatly missed.
Pat andersen class of 99
October 16, 2019
Coach Dinnel was definitely the best part of my senior year at RUHS. He always provided comic relief to any challenge myself or classmates were facing. He will be dearly missed. "It's Miller time" as he would famously say. Enjoy paradise.
David Miller
RUHS 2001
June 26, 2019
It is with great sadness that I came upon Harry's obituary. Like Coach Nielsen, I was honored with many 1 on 1 basketball games with Harry. I also was one of Dave's teachers at RUHS. Harry and I would have some intense but fun games. We made each other laugh, but often it was he laughing at my inability to stop him. I was also honored with many talk sessions after our games where we would just randomly discuss a variety of topics. Harry was genuine to the bone. God bless my friend.
Steve Doc Brown
Danielle Melton
February 27, 2018
He definitely was the best part of RUHS . He and his wife would come to eat at joes and always sat in my section my heart hurts he was a big part of my life he will definately be missed
September 16, 2017
Harry was my basket ball coach. He let me play 10 min. one season LOL. He was also my driver's ed. teacher. It was fun, driving around to check on his rentals. He was SO FUNNY when he said "MMMMMMMMorris, back of the line". Miss you coach, you where the only thing I liked about high school. Love ya, God Bless. Jeff Morris class of 76
Jim Nielsen
September 15, 2017
"Horse" was a very good man , who was an excellent coach and one of the best examples of a Father's I have known. The countless 2-2 and 1-1 games were among the best memories of being at Redondo. His singular game of shooting from distance and not letting the ball hit the ground is one of the best basketball conditioning drills I have ever seen.
I passed it on many times and called it the "Dinnel Drill"
Thank you for our time together Coaching Redondo Basketball. Hope you are hitting the Hard Eight.
Jon Fowler
September 15, 2017
Dear Dinnel Family, My wife and I are so sadden by the passing of Harry. I had the blessing of teaching and coaching with Harry for 7 years at Redondo. He was an educator and coach that I greatly admired and respected. He was a man of integrity and humility, who always put others first. He had the utmost influence in my remaining years as a teacher and coach. Harry "the Horse" was a faithful and loyal friend that I will always remember. God Bless, Jon & Chris Fowler
ted atteberry
September 15, 2017
harry was one of the finest people i have ever known. as a teacher and coach he was well liked and respected by students, and held in high regard by his colleagues.
as a basketball player he was a star at every level he played, yet he never acted like a star. he was totally unassuming and down to earth.
those who knew him have great affection for him and many fond memories. he will be greatly missed.
GAIL HOPKINS
September 14, 2017
Whitey Campbell said it well. Harry and his brothers, along with all those other South Bay guys, including my roomie Dwight Jones, helped make our college days at Pepperdine fun and always interesting. "Pie" (Ted Bridges) and I hope to be able to attend the celebration of life on Saturday to remember our old friend and teammate. Even though it has been 50+ years, that loping walk and run of Harry's is buried deeply in my memories!
Hop
Cynthia Bennett
September 14, 2017
I'm sorry for your loss. I had Mr/Coach Dinnel for PE and he always made it fun. PE became a class I loved because of Coach Dinnel. With warm regards, Cynthia
Brian Ulrich
September 13, 2017
Dear David and Family, so very sorry to hear of Coach Dinnel's passing. I'm an '83 RUHS alumni that was coached by " The Eagle" for all 4 of my years at Redondo. Out of all the coaches, teachers, and faculty that were a part of my life during thar time, " Dinnelly" has had the most lasting impact and given me some of the best memories that I have from high school. In fact, when my buddies and I still get together and start to reminisce about our glory days in high school, the subject of coach Dinnel always comes up. Whether it was goofing around before or after practice, betting on whether or not he would hit his patented , raised knee (to keep defenders away) hook shot from half court, or full court (if it was the day after his knees got drained of water), or one us going up to the coaches office to get him a "Pepper". He loved his Dr. Pepper. All of the memories that I have of Coach Dinnel are as good friends. However at the end of my sophomore season I got his attention in a deservingly, negative way. Coach exposed in me a character flaw that disappointed him. It had to do with not living up to my potential and always having an excuse for it. When he confronted with it I remember the effect his disappointment had on me. After some attitude changes, I came back the next season a better ball player and a better person. I felt totally redeemed when he took me aside, early in that season, after he noticed the changes in my character/ play, and said to me " man, what happened to you?" I just looked at him and said " thanks Dinnelly".
I am a better man and a better father because Harry Dinnel. Thanks, Eagle.
At Staples' Chick Hearn Statue! Coach would be proud!
Richard Jaimes
September 12, 2017
Coach used to watch me play basketball during PE and encouraged me to join the team. Not in the stars for me at that time but I appreciated his recognition and it did compel me to do my best during PE and during class. Great teachers have subtle ways of motivating their students...although his more direct yet humorous cries of "HAVE AN IDEA, SUPER SQUIRRELS!" when we messed up during PE class is a classic memory from my days at RUHS! Rest in peace, Coach!
Nancy Morris
September 11, 2017
" Harry was a very nice neighbor and friend. When he moved to Fallbrook Jeri and him were so happy to be able to have a large space for the animals they love. He will be missed . "
Nancy Morris
Colleen Morris
Dennis Nemecek
September 11, 2017
I never played basketball under Coach Dinnel, but will always remember him as a good man with a quiet and confident demeanor. My condolences on your loss. We are a Seahawk family. Every life he touched was better for knowing him!
Harry Jenkins
September 11, 2017
Harry was a best friend for many years in our coaching careers at
R U H S, what a great guy and coach. A true old school coach who new the way to play the game. I will miss you dearly, my friend, and will always remember the fun times we had. I admired how much you loved David and spoke of him all the time. Rest in peace.
Your Friend
Harry Jenkins
Whitey Campbell
September 10, 2017
Harry was a great dorm buddy when I was at Pepperdine. He and his friend Noel Smith spent a little too much time in my room playing cards and doing other less laudable things all in the name of fun. Harry the Horse, as he was known then, was a terrific BB player and an all around swell guy. We all, the other sport athletes and non athletes, supported Wave basketball with enthusiasm. It was great fun to watch Harry, Noel, Dougan, Roger, Pie, Lee, Tim and Bobby and others make minced meat out of many opponents. He and his team greatly impacted my college life in a positive way. I am sure Harry will be greatly missed and very fondly remembered. He was a good man!.
Whitey Campbell
September 9, 2017
Harry, thanks for your perfect timing of becoming the varsity basketball coach at Redondo during my senior year. How fun to be coached by someone who could relate so well to his players and actually knew how to teach and play the game. I was reminded last week of the time you purchased a pair of basketball shoes for one of my teammates who couldn't afford to pay for them himself. A small but not insignificant example of the type of caring person you always were. Putting others first and always showing compassion toward everyone. One of the nicest men I've ever met. You'll be missed, Coach. "hully gully."
Steve Gray, RUHS class of '71
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