VIRGINIA BEACH — Norbie Wilson has battled Alzheimer’s for eight years, but even before that the legendary baseball coach knew plenty about the disease.
Wilson’s mother and sisters suffered from it, and he often traveled to North Carolina to care for his mother.
“Me and my sister knew that there was a chance that we could get the disease because it’s inherited,” said Wilson, 74. “But you can never prepare yourself for it.”
Wilson won 417 games in 26 seasons at First Colonial High, with 14 Beach District championships, seven Eastern Region titles and a state title in 1993. That team went 28-0 and was ranked No. 6 nationally by USA Today.
Wilson, who is in the Virginia High School League Hall of Fame and Virginia Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame, also spent two seasons leading the program at The College of The Albemarle in North Carolina. He also served as an assistant coach at Norfolk Academy and Bryant & Stratton, and is currently an assistant coach First Colonial.
First Colonial head coach Scott Stubbe and Cape Henry coach Chris Dotolo wanted to do something to help in Wilson’s battle with Alzheimer’s. They’ll play a charity game at 1 p.m. Saturday at First Colonial High.
“We were looking to be able to do a benefit game this season,” Stubbe said. “We reached out to Coach Dotolo at Cape Henry and talked about playing for this cause. And with Coach Wilson being affected by it, and so many other people also being impacted by it in some form or fashion, we thought it would be a good cause.”
Dotolo, who has known Wilson for more than 40 years, didn’t think twice.
“He was a legend, even then. His footprint in baseball, especially in Virginia Beach, and more so in Hampton Roads, is just incredible. So, to do this is really cool,” he said. “I think it’s going to mean a lot for anybody who’s ever played for him. Hopefully it will be meaningful to Norbie. But it’s just a great thing for the baseball community because he’s been such a big part of baseball in Hampton Roads.”
Both teams will wear purple socks, purple belts and purple sweat bands — the Alzheimer’s Association signature color. Both coaches secured sponsors, and T-shirts will be sold. All proceeds will go to the Alzheimer’s Association.
“And Norbie’s going to throw out the first pitch,” Dotolo said. “So, it’s going to be really cool.”
Wilson said he’s “honored” by this gesture and is glad to bring awareness to Alzheimer’s.
“Anything I can do to raise money for this dreaded disease, I’ll do anything,” he said. “If they had a walk-a-thon, I’d walk 100 miles to help with this. I’m honored that they’re doing it in my name, but it’s really in everybody’s name who might have to face this.”
When he was diagnosed, Wilson first thought about keeping quite about it, but changed his mind.
“I was very skeptical at first to let people know that I had Alzheimer’s,” he said. “Then the more I got into it, I said, ‘Heck, I don’t care.’ I can remember things when I was a child, but I can’t tell you what I did yesterday. And that’s the truth. Candy (Wilson’s wife) keeps me on that.”
Many families are affected by Alzheimer’s — including mine.
I watched my grandfather battle it and my grandmother care for him. He was a lawyer for a firm in Syracuse, New York. One day, he called my grandmother on his way home from work to tell her he was lost and couldn’t get home. Four hour later, he made it home safely. I still remember how she cared for him as the disease engulfed him in his final years.
As I was talking with Wilson this week, I thought about my grandfather and how much of a toll it takes on the entire family.
“It’s a lot on everybody,” Wilson told me. “Yes it is, especially on my wife. When you get in a position like I’m in right now, if you don’t have somebody who is a strong supporter, you’re in a lot of trouble. And she answers all the questions that I’ll ask her, 25 questions a day, and she never gets irritated. She just goes about her business.”
Norbie and Candy have been married for 52 years.
Doctors first thought Norbie had Mild Cognitive Impairment. The symptoms of MCI are not as severe as those of Alzheimer’s, and people with MCI can usually take care of themselves and carry out their normal daily activities.
But a doctor friend wanted Norbie to have more tests at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.
“I was kind of not for that,” Candy said. “I didn’t know if I wanted to know what it is. He did and he went up there.”
Those tests proved that he indeed had Alzheimer’s.
“They knew what they were talking about,” she said. “And from that point on, he’s been real open about it. And I think it’s a good thing because people need to know.”
Candy said baseball has been a tremendous help. She is so thankful for Stubbe for keeping Norbie close to the program.
“It’s everything. And anybody who has Alzheimer’s, they have to find a sense of purpose,” she said. “And Stubbe, he’s such an amazing man, he’s included Norbie in everything. And because of that, Norbie has a purpose. But for some people who have Alzheimer’s, they sit in front of the TV set all day and they have no sense of purpose.
“If I could send a message out to anyone who either has Alzheimer’s or is taking care of someone who has Alzheimer’s, find something that they can do that gives them a sense of purpose,” she urged. “Whatever it is. It could be repairing things. It could be drawing. It could be writing. It could be reading. Whatever it is, do it. If they don’t have a sense of purpose or they can’t do anything that gives them a sense of worth, then they just fade away.”
Candy is looking forward to Saturday when Cape Henry, ranked No. 2 in Hampton Roads, travels next door to play No. 6 First Colonial in the Battle of Mill Dam Road.
“It’s neighbors helping neighbors. It’s pretty cool,” she said. “Here’s a person with Alzheimer’s and they’ve come out and they’re willing to put their name attached to it. A lot of people don’t want others to know. But that’s not been his program. His program is let everybody know that you can still function with it.”
Larry Rubama, 757-575-6449, larry.rubama@pilotonline.com
