Obituary of Ronald E. Staley

Ronald Staley passed away on December 23, 2013, leaving his wife Elsie after 64 years of marriage, plus the previous 5 years of "going steady". He died peacefully after less than one day in Dominican Hospital. He was 87 years old. Ron came to Watsonville High School after graduating from San Jose State University, taking the position of basketball coach and teacher. Eventually he became a counselor, dean of students and vice principal, retiring after 36 years. Besides his career in Watsonville, he returned to Turlock, his birthplace, every summer for 10 years, conducting the city swim program for 1000 students each summer. When sons Loren and Brian were ages 14 and 12 he started Staley's Swim Ranch in Aptos as a make work project for them to save money for college. After 44 years he closed the business and retired again. The school has taught thousands of children to swim, sometimes the second and third generations. After retirement from Watsonville High, Ron and Elsie traveled most of the world, including all the states except North Dakota. They traveled across Canada, Europe, Asia, Central and South America, Australia and New Zealand. Some of those trips came about from traveling with the Watsonville Band, cruising and driving thousands of miles and even a house exchange in Horsham, England. They went to many educational Elderhostels (Road Scholar), and Dixieland Jazz festivals. Ron and Elsie always loved dancing to the famous big bands during the war years and more recently the Sea and Tree Dance Club of Santa Cruz and Pendangos in Monterey. For years they have been regulars at the Santa Cruz Symphony, the Cabrillo Theater productions, as well as those at Monterey Peninsula College Theater. He loved working outdoors, growing flowers around the pool, and teaching or supervising his swim school. Ron has been a longtime member of the Aptos Community United Methodist Church, California School Administrators (president), and SIRS of Watsonville. He leaves sons Loren and Brian (Anna) of Aptos and grandchildren Kristen and Tim Staley, both of Grass Valley, and Matthew Staley of Granite Bay. Private services for friends and family will be held on Sunday, February, 9 at 1:30 p.m. at the Aptos Community Methodist Church, 221 Thunderbird Drive, Aptos, followed by a Celebration of Life at 2:30 p.m. at Aptos Seascape Golf Course for all who wish to celebrate and pay tribute to Ron's life. Any donations may be made to Watsonville High Foundation, 250 E. Beach S., Watsonville CA 95076 or the Cabrillo College Foundation, 6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos CA 95003