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I received this message on 5-21-2020 from Robert Stammerjohan
Ron Caballero, Class of 1970, died early this morning at his home in Modesto. He had been in failing health the past few years. I was the Dean of Students at PHS from 75-79 and Ron was my campus supervisor. I left Pacific in June 1979 to become an assistant principal at Turlock HS. Ron came with me and served as my campus supervisor there too. He later became a security officer at Modesto Junior College until his retirement several years ago. Ron was a generous and very kind person who had an uncanny ability to gain both the respect and friendship of the high school students that he supervised and watched over for all those years. He always made sure that students had a safe environment while attending school.
Rest in Peace Ron
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Vincent Acosta (1967)
rest in peace Cabby
Barry Branco (1970)
I remember Ron well, he was also at he Boy's Club and very friendly never a bad word about anyone. RIP
Barry Branco
Roxanne J. Ferguson (Cline) (1970)
I haven't kept in touch with classmates in years and years. Around the time of our 40th reunion, I had a call from Ron out of the blue. All the years fell away and we talked for a couple of hours as if it had only been a few days. We spoke of school memories, all the way back to Andrew Jackson Elementary. We talked about our life, children, grandchildren, spouses, it was as if no time had passed. I'm sure that I'm not alone, he had that special way about him. I appreciate his family live streaming his services this morning so we could be with them in spirit to pay our respects to a kind and generous man.
CarolLynne Biddle (Cole) (1971)
Sorry to hear of Cabby passing...he was a friend to all and always with a smile. Thanks for letting me out of the parking lot to go to work...and sometimes to sneak out for lunch! haha. Back in '69-'71 we had closed campus...Cabby would patrol to keep us in line.....but always nicely! Fond memories of Pacific High and he was part of it all. Condolences to his family who must sorely miss him.
Sue Ferreira (Nunes) (1967)
I received this note from Linda Howard :
Hi Sue,
I am Linda Howard, Ron's fiancé. Hope you are doing well.
I understand that you are the administrator for the "Pacific High Vikings" website. I'm writing, because, although it's been almost three years since his passing, his family and I are planning a celebration to honor him. As you know, we lost Ron during the COVID lockdown, so were unable to do anything but a small graveside service. Now we can do what we had intended all along. I know he would want his friends from Pacific High School, both from his days as a student and as an employee, to be informed.
I have his ID and password to get onto Ron's account but am not sure of how appropriate that is. Is there another way we can post an announcement on the site?
Here are the specifics:
Celebration of Life for Ron Caballero
Friday, May 19, 2023
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM: Mass at the Downtown Saint Stanislaus Church, 709 J St. Modesto, CA 95354
12 Noon (approx.): Honor Guard Ceremony at Lakewood Memorial Cemetery, 900 Santa Fe Ave., Hughson, CA 95326
Reception to follow at Tori's home.
Everyone is welcome. You know Ron would have wanted a party.
Thank you for your help.
Kindest regards,
Linda
Steve Bennett (1970)
Linda, thank you for this post. The date is on my calendar. I have fond memories of Ron playing pool at the San Leandro Boys club at a much younger age than High School. It is important to me to honor his memoryIs there any chance you can post it to the facebook groups : Pacific High School Class of 1970, San Leandro,CA; and Pacific High School, San Leandro, CA, Official Alumni Forum? If unable, can i copy/paste the information on your behalf? it would reach a much wider audience that Ron touched.
Sue Ferreira (Nunes) (1967)
Robert Stammerjohan
Ron Caballero (Class of 70) was an incredible guy — very kind, generous and giving. He loved helping people and would literally give you the shirt off his back. I was fortunate to have him as campus supervisor at Pacific while I was the Dean from 1975 until 1979. He and I then both moved to Turlock where he was the coordinator of campus supervisors and I was an assistant principal at Turlock HS. He remained in that position for 8 years until he moved on to become a security officer at Modesto Junior College, where he served for many more years until his retirement.
What I remember most about him was his ability to develop trusting relationships with the students and their parents. He cared about them and they liked & respected him, even though it was his job to enforce the rules. If something bad happened on campus, Ron could be counted on to quickly determine who were the guilty culprits. Someone always owed him a favor and would tip him off. And the guilty students would almost always confess. They knew better than to lie to him.
There were a number of times at both PHS and Turlock HS where a significant theft from a student or faculty member occurred and there were no clues as to who might have done it. Soon Ron would come walking in with the stolen property. I never asked him how he did it, or who did it, as I knew that the guilty person now owed Ron a favor. The stolen property was returned and Ron had developed another trusting relationship.
Major discipline problems, especially drugs or fighting, were minimal at both schools during Ron’s tenure. The students knew that Ron would catch them and they would be held accountable. Students felt safe. They knew that Ron was there to protect and help them. I was extremely fortunate to have worked closely with him for several years before I moved to a different position in the Turlock School District. He made my job much easier.
I regret that I will be out of town attending my granddaughters’ graduations from high school and college and will not be able to attend Ron’s Celebration of Life. I encourage his classmates and former students to be there if you can make it. He would truly appreciate it. He loved getting together with longtime friends — and he had lots of them.
Bob Stammerjohan
PHS Dean of Students, 1975-79