Ronald Dean Clarke

(1942-2015)

Ronald Clarke passed from this world on the morning of April 4, 2015. He was taken suddenly while doing the thing that he most enjoyed; coaching softball. He is survived by his wife Tess, brothers Donald (Suzanne) and Bud (Charlie), son Anthony Asia (Linda), daughters Tamara Mansfield, Jolene Asia, Vanessa Vazquez and Jessica Thurber, granddaughters Kristi Lindsay, Lia Madrazo, Jennifer Mansfield, Jessica Mansfield and Ashley Asia, grandsons, Marc Asia (Monique), Nikolas Vazquez, Brandon Vasquez, Ryan Vazquez, Justin Vazquez and Leland Madrazo, great grandchildren Leiana Madrazo, Lio Madrazo, Ikaika Madrazo, Kawika Asia, Karter Lindsay, Jazlyn Ramirez, Cruz Asia and Adriana Isabella. He was preceded in death by sons, Kevin and Gary, and daughter Rhonda.

Ron was born to Dean and Irene Clarke on May 26, 1942 in Chewelah WA. He spent his childhood and high school years in Kettle Falls WA, where he was a 3-sport athlete. He graduated from Eastern Washington University with a degree in PE and elementary education.

Ron began his teaching career in Fairfield, California in 1965, which culminated with his retirement from the Fairfield Suisun Unified School District 46 years later. He was highly respected in his profession. His contributions to the school district were officially recognized through the dedication, in his name, of the Green Valley Middle School gymnasium.

Ron’s most significant contributions to the community were manifested in his lifelong love of the game of softball. Multiple generations of young ladies benefited from his enduring passion for teaching the skills of the game, especially pitching. The history of his softball coaching career is unparalleled. Teams he coached won national titles in 1979, with daughter Rhonda, and again in 1981, with the NorCal Tremors. His coaching career at Fairfield High School began in 1978. During the next 33 years he amassed 732 wins to become the winningest coach in the history of the Sac-Joaquin Section and the 3rd winningest in the state of California. These accomplishments solidified Ron to be selected as an inductee in to the Class of 2012 for the Sac-Joaquin Section Hall of Fame. His teams won 15 league titles, 8 trips to the section finals, 4 section titles (1981, 1995, 2000 and 2001). He was nationally recognized for his coaching ability as evidenced by his being named the Assistant Coach of the 1991 Girl’s 16U USA Junior Olympic team in Adelaide, Australia.

Ron was loved and respected for both his coaching ability and his deep concern for the lifelong skills acquired by the players he coached. This icon of softball has left us, but he has left us with a solid foundation to succeed in this game of life. He will be reunited with his parents in Kettle Falls WA.