'Only disability in life is a bad attitude': Pinnacle honorary basketball coach Brandon Wechsler dies at 28
From Phoenix Pinnacle High School to Arizona State to the Suns to the Cardinals, wherever Brandon Wechsler could be found in his wheelchair - and it seemed like he was at every big Valley sporting event - he made everybody feel good.
As he once said during his days as team manager for Pinnacle's boys basketball teams in the early 2010s, "The only disability in life is a bad attitude."
On Tuesday, that joy left the world. Wechsler died at the age of 28, fighing COVID-19 in the hospital to start November and beating it, before he was unable to conquer the medical condition, Duchene Muscular Dystrophy, he was diagnosed with at age 8 that left him unable to move his arms and legs.
In March 2019, after Pinnacle won its second straight state championship behind guard Nico Mannion, Wechsler was given a standing ovation at the team banquet after coach Charlie Wilde introduced Wechsler as the team's honorary assistant coach.
"His personality and smile was infectious," Wilde said. "He brought joy to everyone he came in contact with."
Wechsler, who graduated from Pinnacle in 2013 and has a framed jersey with his name on it hanging in the Pinnacle locker room, had countless surgeries since he was 8, the latest a week ago, a BiPap procedure for his diaphragm to help him breathe, his father, Len Wechsler, said.
"He was undergoing operations on his feet," Wilde recalled about Wechsler during his time as a student-manager at Pinnacle. "The pain was so bad he could not wear shoes or socks. I had to lightly wrap them.
"Brandon came into practice and let me know he was struggling in pain that day. He then drove away (in his wheelchair) from me to every basket in the gym and conversed and made every player in the gym either laugh or smile.
"Brandon was here to make people feel better, even on his bad days. We will miss him."
Drew Bender, the star player at Pinnacle from 2009 to 2013, had a close bond with Wechsler in high school that never left. Wechsler was supposed to be best man at Bender's wedding earlier this month before falling ill.
"Brandon was a larger-than-life figure," Bender said. "He was my best friend, best man, and the brother I never had. He exuded positivity and was a pillar in our community and within the Pinnacle basketball program. He taught me and everyone he interacted with the value of perspective, and that the only disability in life is a bad attitude."
Brandon had loving parents in his mother Eydie Mandell and father Len. Brandon's sister Brianna Wechsler, 25, who lives in San Francisco, adored her brother.
After Kobe Bryant played his final game against the Suns in Phoenix, he spent 30 minutes afterwards talking to Brandon, his father said.
"He put his arm around Brandon and we talked," Len said.
Brandon Wechsler attended the Super Bowl in Glendale, college football playoffs. He was a team manager for Herb Sendek basketball teams at ASU. He graduated from ASU and worked at Apple. He came around ASU basketball and coach Bobby Hurley embraced him as he would one of his players.
Len said that former Pinnacle quarterback Spencer Rattler reached out since Brandon died, sending heart-felt condolences.
"Brandon was just unique," Len said. "He was somebody that lit up a room. He had a legacy. It's hard to describe. He's just Brandon."
A service for Brandon will be held Thursday at 2 p.m., at Mt. Sinai Cemetery, 2410 N. 68th St., in Phoenix. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert atrichard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on Twitter@azc_obert
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Pinnacle honorary basketball coach Brandon Wechsler dies at 28
