In Memoriam
A remembrance for our League brothers resting in glory.
Karel Pleskot
March 25, 1951 - July 8, 2024
In the Middle Ages, knights wore armor known as “greaves” on their shins to protect themselves in combat. Today, Marin Soccer League players no longer have to wear shin guards on both the front and back of their shins: long-time Real Marin SC defender Karel Pleskot has moved on to the Heaven Eleven football club, following a short battle with stomach cancer. He was 73 when he passed.
A native of Prague –capital of the Czech Republic—he left his Bohemian roots and came to the U.S., arriving first in Georgia, in the 1980s. A decade later he moved to the San Francisco Bay Area, pursuing business opportunities initially in the brokerage and investment field, and later in event and entertainment planning.
Karel and his partner, Francesca Valdez, have been proprietors of the storied Broadway Studio, a party venue, nightclub and music theater in North Beach, on the edge of San Francisco’s Financial District, since 1995. (Under a succession of owners, their Mission-style building, built in 1919, over the years has hosted performers ranging from Louis Armstrong to Robin Williams; from Blondie to Metallica; from The Police to Whoopi Goldberg.)
Czech people are generally polite, avoid confrontation, and aren’t overtly direct in conversations. Karel possessed those qualities, along with an engaging smile, and a wry, sardonic sense of humor. When you met him, you couldn’t help but like him.
An athlete in his youth –excelling in both rowing and soccer—Karel achieved real prominence in the soccer world during weekend games with Real Marin SC, based in San Rafael. On the soccer field with Real Marin, Karel was a defensive stalwart. He was the last person opponents needed to get past to try to score a goal. Few succeeded (and usually received a bruising tackle as a souvenir of the experience.)
On the soccer field, Karel was in command. During games he was calm, focused, determined and a rock-solid team-mate. In competition, he ate midfielders for a snack, and forwards for dinner. With his passing from the scene, players on Marin County soccer fields from Hall Middle School to McInnis Park, from Corte Madera Town Park to Piper Park, can now breathe a sigh of relief.
Karel never went down without a fight: whether it was on the soccer field, in his business undertakings and especially in his hard-fought struggle with cancer. He was philosophic about life, and about soccer. He might say something like this: “Guys, guys, guys! Soccer is a match made in heaven (great news for you and me!) In heaven the fields are smooth and perfect. Players kick off for free. Referees there are fair and rarely whistle you for a foul! (But when God raises his eyebrows at a contested play, nobody argues the call.) New players arrive all the time, and there’s always a good team to play on. You kick off as soon as you can get your boots on. And you’re cheered on by family, team-mates and friends. Soccer’s really a blast in Heaven, and after the first whistle, play never ends. I want you to know: I’m OK!”
Alfonso "Al" Bongio
April 25, 1948 - December 26, 2023
Al passed away suddenly on December 16, 2023 at the age of 75.
Alfonso (Al) Bongio was born in the town of Morbegno, Italy on April 25, 1948.
He immigrated to San Rafael, Calif., in the Fall of 1956 with his parents, Mario and Carla Bongio and two siblings, Carlo and Maria. Al was a graduate of San Rafael High School and excelled in baseball starting in little league through high school. He also attended San Francisco State College. He was proud to serve in the United States Marine Corps for several years. He worked as a Sales Representative for several food distributors and received several awards for Salesman of the year before retiring at an early age. Al enjoyed mushroom hunting with his father and brother, Carlo in Marin and Sonoma County. He also loved to go searching for Abalone with his father and brother along the rugged Sonoma County coastline, as well as clam digging at Hearts Desire Beach in Tomales Bay. Al was a huge opera fan and had an amazing voice and his friends loved to hear him belt out My Way and other Sinatra and Tony Bennett songs. Al loved the game of Soccer and played in several leagues. His favorite position was goalie. He loved watching the San Francisco Giants play ball as well as the San Francisco 49ers. He also loved watching the World Cup of Soccer and of course hoping that Italy would win the cup. Most of all, Al loved his native country of Italy and traveled to Italy many times over the years to visit and stay with his relatives. He enjoyed being a member of Club Italia a social club based in Marin County. Al is survived by his wife of 52 years, Sharon of San Rafael; his brother, Carlo and his wife, Lynn of Brookings Oregon; his nephew, Anton Bongio Karrman of Texas; and his sister, Maria; and Sharon's sister, Loreen McKinney her daughter, Dawn; and several nieces and nephews as well as numerous relatives in Italy. He will be greatly missed.
Leon Alex Trevor Farley
1935-2022
Our friend Kerry Farley just lost his dad Leon Farley, who was a long-time member of the Marin Academicals of the Mayflower Soccer League and introduced Kerry to the game fifty-three long years ago (the predecessor to the Marin Soccer League).
Leon Alex Trevor Farley: May 6, 1935 – January 6, 2022
Leon Farley of Greenbrae died peacefully at home on January 6, with Karen Metz, his wife, by his side.
Leon loved words. And a proper lunch. Anything UCLA. Premier League Soccer. A cold beer after a long tennis match. He was game to travel, but adored his home and community. He cherished his work and the friends he made. He became a lover of dogs, his two and those he met on the path. Above all, he loved his family. His was a life well-lived and well-loved.
Kambiz “Nik” Charalaghi
1951-2021
We have lost another good friend and long time player in our League.
Kambiz “Nik” Charalaghi, Kambacksh’s older brother, was a regular player in the O58 scrimmage group. Nik was an immensely pleasant man, whose humor on and off the field was infectious. He clearly enjoyed the scrimmages, always approaching them with a positive attitude and providing encouragement for others. Although his participation in the scrimmage group was a vehicle for him to regain his fitness, so that he might be able to join an O58 team down the road, his excellent soccer skill and savvy were readily evident to those who played with him.
He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
Brian Marais
1935-2021
Novato resident, Brian Marais, died unexpectedly on Tuesday, March 16, 2021, at the age of 86. Brian was a native of Johannesburg, South Africa, a descendant of French Huguenot emigrants who arrived at the Cape of Good Hope in the 1600’s. Like his forbears, throughout his life Brian displayed characteristics that combined native intelligence, a cheerful disposition, a constant desire to learn and experience new things, hospitality, a wry sense of humor, ingenuity and a unique blending of engineering skills and artistic expression. He spent the majority of his successful career –nearly 40 years-- as a mechanical and project design engineer with Bechtel Corporation.
Brian is survived by his beloved wife of 29 years, Pat Lepe’; his two daughters, Kim Marais (Jim Brooks) and Terrie Marais; his grandchildren Steven, Robert and Anthony; his step-children Ted Lepe’ (Elsy Guardado) and Denise Lepe’; and his step-grandchildren Chris, Jeremy, Blake and Valentina.
While living in San Francisco, in 1992, Brian met the love of his life, interior designer extraordinaire Pat Lepe’. Together Brian and Pat enjoyed hosting dinner parties for family and friends in their Novato home, with consummate dance aficionado Brian often romantically sweeping Pat off her feet, twirling her across the floor to the tune of their favorite songs.
Soccer was an important component of Brian’s life. He was a life-long fan of the Premiership’s Liverpool F.C., having made the pilgrimage to ‘The Reds’ Anfield Stadium. But Brian was more than a fan. In his heyday he played in the San Francisco Soccer Football League, and for years was a fixture playing and coaching with Real Marin S.C. in San Rafael. Even in his 80s, Brian would turn out for games, park himself in front of the goal, and demand that team-mates pass him the ball.
He was a Renaissance man who had a breathtaking romance with life. In so many areas –mechanical engineering, narrative and poetry, competitive soccer, music and dance, photographic composition—Brian shattered the matrix of the ordinary, and in so doing produced remarkable results and won many hearts.
John Randle
1944-2020
It is with sadness, and deepest respect that the Marin Soccer League has learned of the passing, at age 76, in Birmingham, England, of former Real Marin SC midfielder, John Randle. He was a support of Aston Villa FC and Birmingham City amongst the West Midlands football clubs.
A longtime resident of San Francisco, where he was involved in real estate investment, John had been in failing health for some time, and succumbed to complications of Alzheimer's disease. He had relocated to Birmingham several years ago, and had been living with family there.
His long-time friend and soccer buddy, Brian Marais, can regale you with stories of John off the field from their many trips, including a memorable one going to Africa. John was also quite the ladies man and Gerard Bessat can relate about an incident from a trip to Berchtesgaden, Germany, where he not only got a woman to do his clothes, she also gave him a "free" massage!
John was a gifted player, and an early proponent of possession-football: maintaining ball control and denying opponents the ability to impose their offensive will. During six-a-side training sessions he was noted for shouting out the number of times a side would make passes and keep ball possession.
John was a commanding figure in Real Marin's midfield for decades, beginning in the 1980's, and a key component beyond league fixtures in Real Marin's over-50 national age group championships in the Veteran's Cup, ion Bellingham, WA, in 2007 and 2008.
Win, lose or draw, after games John was known to hoist a pint at the Mayflower pub in San Rafael. Because no one can recall him ever buying a round there for the house, the League suggests you drop by and hoist one there in his name.
Hail and farewell, Johnny!!