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BORN
1931
DIED
2014
Maylen Wiltse Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for Maylen Wiltse
Larry Hendricks
July 1, 2025
"Coach Maylen" inspired my fitness for the rest of my life. He taught what true fitness was. "THANK YOU COACH FOR SOME OF LIFE'S LESSONS. LARRY HENDRICKS (student since 1994)
Paul Kearns
May 20, 2025
Maylen´s gym near La Jolla brought me to the next level as a high school athlete.
A great coach. His inspiration was a great foundation for my early life.
It´s been awhile. Will never forget his influence upon me.
RIP Maylen
Clint Miller
December 17, 2024
Maylen was a big help for me when I use to workout at First Class Fitness in Oceanside California as he was always there to provide a spot when needed, gave great advise on proper lifting technique, and had great stories to tell! Such a great guy that impacted many people and good ways!
RIP Maylen!
Clint Miller
Steve Somodi
February 27, 2024
As a skinny young man I wondered into Maylan's La Jolla gym in 78, Maylan walked me through a written program and said just follow what I give you and you'll be fine. Six month's later I was pretty damn big. One month I couldn't afford the dues, and Maylan said "don't worry about it, your good for the gym'.. A ggod man to be sure!
Jo Ann Vieke
January 5, 2024
Coach Maylen trained me at Coast Gym in Solana Beach and took an overweight, unsure young woman and turned her into a confident, self assured woman. Without Maylen , I´m sure I would not be as strong as I am today, in so many ways. Of all my life´s mentors, Maylen was one of the most influential and his name comes up the most frequently. I´m sad to hear of his passing and I hope he´s resting in peace.
Allan G.
March 29, 2023
I remember Maylen from Coast Health Studio in Solana Beach in the early 1990's and his black Porsche that he used to drive. I was a member of his gym and saw him often. It was a pleasant surprise when I switched to Frog's Gym and saw him there shortly after joining. I always wondered what happened to him and am sad to hear of his passing. May he rest in peace.
David Maultsby
May 16, 2022
Maylen trained me in 1991-1992. Great guy. Sorry to hear of his passing. I just got back into going to the gym and thought of him, looked him up and landed here typing this. RIP buddy!
Tim Coyle
May 5, 2020
If I haven't already said it, Maylen inspired me at a most important time in my life. He turned it from what was trending negative into a real positive in a matter of months, instilling in me a self-confidence that survives in me even today. He always exacted a profound and positive discipline, in the gym and on the football field -- as equal for pros as for amateurs like me. He was a great leader of men. I still miss him.
TC
August 21, 2019
I will always remember maylen as a kind man who was very knowledgeable inweight training. I was quarterback on the La Jolla football team in 1963 and a number of us joined his La Jolla health studio. We worked out 4 hours everyday in the summer and he made us very strong. He had us do neck work everyday and my neck grew from 13 inches to 21 inches in one summer! Rip maylen.
Chris Fernandez
June 5, 2019
I was just talking to a young guy, 24 yrs. old, today and began telling him about Maylen. This young man wanted to know about training and the first person I thought of was Maylen. I trained at the Birdrock gym about 1973, when I was 11 yrs. old. I remember hearing a few of the old guys saying "Isn't he too young to be in here?". But I ignored them and kept listening to Maylen. I used to do half my workout on the women's side. He used to tell me to drink a quart of milk right after my workout and that is what I told the 24 yr. old guy who just asked me for advice. He used to know exactly when I should increase the weight of my lifts and I would get so sore. It's like every week was my first week of training. But that is was got results. And I remember he had records on the wall for different lifts. There was a record for the bench press for 170 lbs or something like that. I was close and kept working towards it and eventually set the new record according to my age or weight, can't remember which? But Maylen put one of those 1 1/4 lb. plates on one side of the bar only and that's how I beat the record. I was really proud to set that record and get my name up on the board. I also remember the deli sandwiches he would always get next door-man, they looked deeeelicious! Several years later when I was in my 20s, I went up to Del Mar and visited him at the other gym he'd worked at. I'd grown tall and turned into a man and he was impressed. Thanks to him I had reached all personal goals and had the work ethic and techniques he'd taught to get me there. What a great guy, a LEGEND/personality and I've never met anyone close to being like him. Now almost 57, I still think of him when I'm working out. Maylen is still very much in me. I appreciate his influence and wish my kids could've met him.
Dr Mark Losack
February 17, 2019
I just found this. Coach Maylen was the best. He was awesome. I am able to still use programs he gave me. RIP Coach. SF
Charles Molnar
January 9, 2019
He was the best. I'd been out of wrestling for three years. He got me back into condition to compete at the college level!
Christopher Garcia
November 17, 2018
I just realized I found this obit on Coach's birthday.
Happy Birthday in heaven!
Tim Coyle
November 15, 2018
My Dear Maylen: Thanks for shaping my life along with my (undeveloped) teen body. You, together w/ Coach Edwards, taught me well: about hard and disciplined work leading to self-improvement leading to getting on well throughout life. To this day I can't eat a banana or cottage cheese without thinking of days after school at the gym. In fact, every sauna I've taken since the many times I did at your place has been in your memory. I will always be grateful to you about driving me to do better and inspiring me to always do my best. RIP.
Davie Davis
April 10, 2017
Maylen was one of the most inspirational people in my life helping me grow from a skinny kid of 135 lbs to 220 lbs when I graduated from LJHS. I went to his gym 4 nights a week, learned about proper nutrition from him and most importantly that exercise was one of the keys to a long happy life. Because of him I grew to value exercise as part of my life. Recently went through a heart valve replacement due to a birth defect. The doctors told me I was one of the most fit patients they ever saw, I owe that to one person. I think of you often Maylen.
Jim Sweeney
August 25, 2016
Maylen and the La Jolla Health Studios were an important part of my teen years as a wanna be football player for the La Jolla Vikings. Coach Edwards told us that a new health studio was opening up on La Jolla Blvd. that was giving discounts to student athletes, so some friends and I biked to join the first day of summer after our sophomore year. Maylen prepared us for the upcoming season, I made good friends at the gym, and developed a lifelong enjoyment of weight lifting for fitness, even got my dad to join. Maylen ran off-season morning and weekend training sessions at the high school to work on skills and conditioning for the up coming seasons. These meant a lot to us. I learned how to do long snaps from one of the attendees, Zindali, and this helped me in college. After my junior year I avoided summer school so I could focus on going to Maylen's summer morning workouts. I also gave up other non-football sports my junior year to focus on training at Maylen's for my senior year. It was probably the most important part of my high school after school life. Maylen had us drinking five quarts of raw milk a day to gain weight for football, eat yogurt,cottage cheese, and drink concoctions of raw eggs, protein powder, and desiccated fish liver to try to build muscle and gain size for the upcoming season. He made everything fun and took a real interest in all of us, no matter what sport, age, or level of competition. He was both a mentor and friend. I remember him as being an extremely important part of my youth and a contributor to getting me ready to at least make the team in high school and college. I came back to spend the summer in San Diego before my senior year of playing college football so I could go to his workouts and rejoin the gym for the summer, recapturing what I could of those good times from high school. That was the last time I saw Maylen. When I drive by where the Health Studios used to be I still think of him and what he contributed to our sports community back then. His life touched many of us in a very positive way.
I just got this recently from Ed Wrench so it is a bit late.
Jim Sweeney
Class of 65 LJHS Vikings
Bill Sandeman
December 2, 2014
Maylen was my good friend and really one of a kind. He lived his work and loved to help people. He was always there for me and anyone else who needed anything at all. He was the
trainer who led the way during the acceptance of weight training in the NFL and other sports. He even had golfers weight training back in the day. Sorry I was not there to say good by.
November 18, 2014
rest in peace coach
Jon D
October 12, 2014
Maylen
You were the best
Derek Greedus
June 16, 2014
You were sent by God to spread good will and a strive for fitness and health.
I was your friend and will see you in that gym in he sky.
Kenny Flores
May 22, 2014
Maylen was a guru and mentor to me when I started my fitness career. If I needed advice and guidance on strength training there was no better resource than Maylen. When I was preparing for my first bodybuilding competition Maylen was my unofficial Coach. He encouraged me, like he did everyone, and his training tips that he provided I still use today with my Clients. Thank you Steve for watching and caring for Maylen all these years
May 20, 2014
Maylen - you pushed us to be the best day after day. Taught us to take care of the body we have and strengthen it for tomorrow. You were THE BEST! Jim Schroder
May 19, 2014
Coach
Thank you for all you taught me at First class Fitness.It was the first gym I went to. I will always remember the tips on how to work out the correct way.I valued your friendship & will never forget you.
Shirley Bedard
Mike Raney
May 16, 2014
Maylen the master of a magic time for me at La Jolla Health Studios. So positive and keen to help all achieve their goals.You had me work out with Ferdy Reed a pro baseball player and still a great friend. Results: a true fastball and confidence to excell in life. Thanks Maylen your spirit remains in all who were fortunate to know you.
Sandra Sutherland
May 15, 2014
World road cycling champion Audrey McEmury went to Maylen for help and lifted weights all her life. If she was still with us, I know she'd leave her good memories. There was a series of photographs in Sports Illustrated of Audrey lifting in Maylen's Gym. She was always grateful for his help.
Mike Schulte
May 15, 2014
Maylen, you were an amazing guy who could find a way to inspire people to be better than they thought they could be. I spent many hours at the small Bird Rock gym from 1968 to 1972. Thanks for everything you did for me.
Russell Ingledew
May 14, 2014
Maylen what a man. I started working out at his Bird Rock gym when I was in 8th grade (1965). I used to clean,paint dumbells,run errands to pay for my membership.Helped him during Charger training camps in Irvine. Painted his bathroom at his house fire engine red high gloss. He was a father figure. Always enthusiastic and charismatic. Maylen was on top of the world. He volunteered his time to mentor all the kids who wanted to play football. He would hold practices all summer long.
Love you Maylen!
May 13, 2014
I am deeply indebted to Maylen. Most athletic success I've had in life has been partly due to his influence. The countless hours he spent during summer football practices were key in our development. Before it was mainstream, he introduced us to the benefits of resistance training and motivated us to be better than we ever dreamed we could be. Even now, 50 years on, I'm still a gym rat and still inspired by Maylen.
Thanks, Babe.
Scott Boughton
Jody Tullis Plecas
May 13, 2014
At his BirdnRock gym in the mid 1960s, Maylen helped my family and changed the way we lived.
Stephanie Johnson
May 13, 2014
Coach Maylen trained me back at Coast Gym in Solana Beach. He was always generous with his time and he loved helping people reach their goals. He taught me the importance of strength training and eating well. I will always be grateful for his time and teaching. R.I.P. Coach.
Glenn Gessay
May 12, 2014
Maylen was a true blessing in my life when he opened La Jolla Health Studio at the perfect time for me. For the past 50 years I have always considered him to be one of the 3 most inspirational and influential men (mentors) in my life. I know that he touched so many other souls in the same way. I'm gladdened that I had the opportunity to tell him so. Maylen, you will always be revered by so many that you have touched.
Coach
May 12, 2014
Maylen will always be my hero.
Armen Janzen
May 11, 2014
Maylen was like a father to me. He had a heart of gold. An amazing fact....he had a photographic memory. I'll miss and love him always.
Arvel
May 11, 2014
Sorry to hear about the passing of Maylen. Although I wasn't a personal friend, I remember him sitting at his desk at First Class Fitness. He was always willing to help others, especially beginners, with their training.
My condolences to his family and friends.
May 11, 2014
We had a championship weightlifting team and great times together under your coaching at Lloyd's gym Maylen ... I often wondered about how you were doing ... this is not exactly what I wanted to find out, coach ...
always your pal Stan Levin
May 11, 2014
R.I.P. ol buddy
bob post
don haworth
keith thompson
Farbotnicks Gym/1955
May 11, 2014
Maylen you were a good friend and great trainer!! My first trainer when I moved to San Diego. The best shape I have ever been in and will eve be. You will be missed , but left a great legacy !!! Sandra Ann
Susan Lawson
May 11, 2014
I will never forget the years at La Jolla Health Studio and all of the things you taught me. To this day, I think about you when I am at the gym doing some of the same exercises you trained me on back in the 60s and 70s. Thanks for the memories and the instruction that carried me through to this day. You will be missed by many!
May 11, 2014
We will miss you coach, although you are with me still in the gym, as well as my life.
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