Longtime Altadena coach loses home in Eaton Fire
LOS ANGELES COUNTY, Calif. - A beloved and longtime Altadena coach who has preached the importance of resilience and perseverance finds himself faced with unimaginable adversity after losing his home in the devastating Eaton Fire.
Adonis Jones Jr., better known as "Coach AD," is one of the thousands across Los Angeles County who have lost everything.
Known for his tough love, "Coach AD" had lived in his home for over 50 years.
"It’s still a nightmare," he told FOX 11’s Mario Ramirez. "The process is really, really tough. It’s like what do you do? Where do you go? The things you lost…I still can’t imagine this happening to anybody, but it happened to us."
He added that the process since losing his home has been draining.
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His wife, Denise Jones, said she was raised in Altadena and while she’s lost so much, she will continue to cherish the memories made in the community.
She recalls her home being "where everybody came together."
"We don’t have the structure, but we have the memories," she said.
She said the home was insured and they have been staying with other family members during the fire.
Denise and Adonis Jones Jr.
"It’s a beautiful community," Mrs. Jones said when describing Altadena. "We’re all like one big family."
Their daughter, Rochele Jones, created a GoFundMe on her family’s behalf.
"I wouldn’t say that I’m surprised by the support because it’s a community that’s tightly knit," Rochele Jones said. "It just means a lot to me that someone would come and support my parents during this time."
Click here if you'd like to donate to help the Jones family rebuild.