Heavy is the heart with passing of Picciolo

Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
Rob Picciolo had the perfect nickname.   
"Peach."     
That said it all.     
Picciolo was a special man.     
Honestly, I've never met a better man in or out of baseball. I've met a lot who came close. But none better than Peach.    
How can we tell?    
Within hours of the news of Picciolo's untimely death breaking Wednesday night, thousands of testimonials about Picciolo -- the player, coach and man -- circulated around social media.    
Picciolo was beloved.    
A sample of the condolences:    
• Former Padres player Phil Nevin: "Rob Picciolo. Not a better man around. I looked up to you in every aspect of life. One last handshake my friend. RIP. Thinking of Debbie, Brett and Dusty."    
• Former Padres player Mark Sweeney: "We lost a great Man in Rob Picciolo. He always cared about everyone else first. He was a loyal baseball teacher. All my thoughts and prayers go out to his family. RIP Peach."    
• Friend and Padres associate Brady Phelps: "My heart is heavy. I can't believe we lost you, Peach. I'm crushed. You were an amazing friend who gave so much wisdom and love to my family. Heaven is an even brighter place today. All my love to Debbie, Brett and Dusty. I remember being so star struck when I first met Rob when I was 19 years old. He was so kind and genuine to the core. To give you an idea of the type of man he was, before being rushed to the hospital on Monday, Rob had spent Sunday feeding the homeless in downtown San Diego."    
• Padres broadcaster Ted Leitner: "So shocked so sad at the passing of longtime Padres coach Rob Picciolo. Baseball has never had a nicer man as player or coach. If you get to heaven and Rob's not there trust me -- you're NOT in heaven. Rest In peace ol friend."    
• Padres broadcaster and former player Mark Grant: "Hearing the news of the passing of Rob Picciolo saddens not only our baseball family, but everyone who met him. One of the most humble and nicest guys you'd ever meet. A prince of a man. Not a bad bone in his body. A family man. A man for all people. A great soul. RIP Peach."    
There were countless other remembrances. Some from fans, some from teammates and players he coached.    
Picciolo positively touched the lives of everyone he met.    
After a nine-year playing career with the Oakland Athletics, Milwaukee Brewers and California Angels, Picciolo joined the Padres as a Minor League manager in 1986 with short-season Single-A Spokane of the Northwest League. He then instructed Padres minor league infielders from 1988 until July 11, 1990, when he was promoted to being the Padres first base coach.    
Picciolo then began a run of 15 1/2 seasons in uniform as a Padres coach -- the longest run in club history.   
Picciolo served three Padres managers -- Greg Riddoch, Jim Riggleman and Bruce Bochy.    
Peach was the Padres' first-base coach from the 1990-92 season. He was the bench coach from 1993-2002, then the third-base coach from 2003-05.    
And he was so much more.    
His cubicle in the coaches' locker room at Qualcomm Stadium was the first inside the door. Peach greeted all visitors to the room the same way -- with a handshake and a huge smile.    
I remember when that room fell silent in June 2002 when Peach had surgery to repair an abdominal aneurysm. That piece of news stunned everyone because no one among the Padres trained harder or ate healthier than Picciolo.    
Picciolo soon returned to the Padres -- friendlier than ever.   
"You see how much there is to love around you," Picciolo said during his recovery.    
Picciolo was genuine.    
Of his playing career, he once said: "It gave me a lot of time to observe the game from the bench and prepare for Phase Two."    
That would be his career as a coach -- a career that spanned nearly four decades. After leaving the Padres, he joined the Angels and was Mike Scioscia's bench coach from 2010-13.    
Picciolo was 64 when he passed earlier this week. Peach was survived by his wife, Debbie, and sons Brett, who formerly worked in the Padres' public relations office, and Dusty.    
Peach was a friend, a coach, a counselor and a dedicated family man. He excelled in all those roles … and so many more.