Freedom's Olsen Dies at 38

By Paul Tenorio

Monday, January 26, 2009

Eric Olsen, the head cross-country and boys' lacrosse coach at Freedom High School, passed away Sunday after a battle with colon cancer. He was 38 years old.

Olsen, who taught history at Freedom, is survived by his wife, Ashley, and children Claire and William.

"Eric was one of those guys that was much more than just a coach he was an individual that cared about everybody," Freedom athletic director Rusty Lowery said. "... It's a huge loss not only as a coach, but for our Freedom school [and] our community."

Olsen had battled forms of cancer for nearly three years, Lowery said, and after discovering a recurrence of the disease in October, the Freedom community rallied to support Olsen by holding a day in his honor in November. Shirts were sold with proceeds going toward the Eric Olsen Caring Fund, and more than $9,000 was raised.

At a Coaches Vs. Cancer doubleheader basketball game held at Briar Woods on Dec. 19, Freedom's athletes wore the shirts during warm-ups in honor of Olsen. And on an internet blog set-up for Olsen and maintained by his family, there were more than 31,300 visits.

Despite the recurrence, Olsen coached cross country for the majority of the season this fall, Lowery said, and also returned for an emotional night at the fall sports banquet.

"He was a one of the most genuine people you'd ever meet," Freedom girls' basketball coach Jason Eldredge said. "In addition to being a fiery competitor, last time I saw him in late December, one of the things he told me was he missed the relationships he had that he was losing touch with, in regards to the families [of the kids]."

Eldredge, who taught with Olsen when the two first moved to the school and developed a close relationship with him in 2005-06, said his team will likely dedicate the rest of the season to Olsen and will meet Tuesday to figure out the right way to honor him.

A viewing for Olsen will be held at the Baker-Post Funeral Home on Tuesday from 2-4 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. The funeral home is located at 10001 Nokesville Road in Manassas.

Funeral arrangements at this time are set for 11 a.m. on Wednesday at Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church located at 8213 Linton Hall Road in Gainesville.

In lieu of flowers, please wait for additional information about educational trust funds that are being set up for Claire and William.

Freedom's athletic activies scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday were moved to other dates. A celebration of Olsen's life will be held on Friday in Freedom's gymnasium at 1:45 p.m., Lowery said, and at both the Freedom wrestling meet and the boys' and girls' basketball games, donations of $1 will be good for admittance and all proceeds will go toward a scholarship or educational fund in Olsen's memory.

Extra Points

By Paul Tenorio and Matt Brooks