USA Wrestling recently received the sad news that Ron Pineda of California, 73, an international wrestler, coach and lifelong wrestling enthusiast, passed away on Friday, February 10.

Because of his involvement in the sport at many levels, Ron had many wrestling friends around the nation and the world.

One of his best friends in wrestling was Bill Farrell, head coach of the 1972 U.S. Olympic Freestyle Team, longtime wrestling leader with the New York Athletic Club and wrestling director with ASICS.

“We were friends for more than 50 years. It goes back to when the New York Athletic Club would wrestle the San Francisco Olympic Club every year. We had constant battles. One year, we went to Reno together. After that trip, we remained friends forever,” said Farrell.

Farrell and Pineda kept that wrestling club rivalry spirited, decades after they stopped competing as athletes. They also travelled together, along with Olympic champion and Oklahoma State legend Yojo Uetake, to major wrestling competitions all over the world.

“We went to 10 or 15 countries. We also talked two or three times a week, about just about anything. He was the nicest person I ever met, and the most helpful. He’d do anything for anybody,” said Farrell.

Wayne Baughman, a contemporary of Pineda as an athlete and coach, had tremendous respect for Pineda.

“Ron never met a stranger. He loved life and people, wrestlers, coaches and officials; anything or anyone associated with wrestling. He had an extremely high energy level; he never slowed down. He enjoyed and lived life to the fullest; his enthusiasm and zest for life was contagious,” said Baughman.

Pineda competed for the University of Illinois in college, as well as with the U.S. Marines, and the San Francisco Olympic Club. He was also very active as a coach and wrestling leader in California after his competitive career was over.

“Ron was a huge supporter of California wrestling, wrestling for the Marine Corps and the SF Olympic Club in San Francisco where he was a national Greco-Roman medalist. He coached at Mare Island Naval base in Vallejo and Hunter's Point Naval shipyard in San Francisco. After moving to Sacramento, Ron coached the club team at UC Davis and was one of their major fundraisers. He was a long time member of the California Wrestling Hall of Fame Committee and a huge wrestling memorabilia collector. He will be missed,” said Bill Grant of TheCaliforniaWrestler.com

Funeral services will be held at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, 1017 11th Street, Sacramento, Calif. at 11:00 am, Saturday, March 3, 2012. (see more information below).

Ron Pineda was a great friend and supporter of USA Wrestling, and made a positive impact on so many people for a long time. 

Obituary published in The Sacramento Bee on February 17, 2012

Ron Pineda passed away suddenly on February 10, 2012. He was born in Sterling, Illinois on June 18, 1938 to Max and Catherine Pineda. Ron is survived by his loving wife of 40 years, Donna; his brothers Richard, Randy, Butch, and Roger, his sisters Sandra and Sylvia, four aunts, one uncle, many nieces and nephews, numerous in-laws and many friends.

He attended the University of Illinois and was a proud member of the United States Marine Corps. In 1962 he headed west to California to wrestle for the San Francisco Olympic Club.

In his 31-year federal civil service career he worked for both the Navy and the Air Force at: Mare Island, Vallejo; Hunters Point, SF; Sand Point, WA; and Mather AFB, Sacramento, as well as bases in Iceland, Crete and Germany. He retired from Mather in 1993 after many years as Recreation Services Director. His creativity always left his bases with enriched programs for the military and their families. He enjoyed many years in the antique business, was a tireless sports fan attending nine Olympic Games and loved to golf with friends.

Ron's lifelong passion was wrestling. He competed for the U of I, the Marines, and the Olympic Club and was very active in coaching and promoting the sport for over 40 years.

Ron lived and enjoyed life to the fullest. He loved kids and dogs and his uniquely exuberant character endeared him to many, young and old. He will be sadly missed.

Funeral services will be held at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, 1017 11th Street, Sacramento, CA at 11:00 am, Saturday, March 3, 2012.

Remembrances may be sent to support the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum, 405 West Hall of Fame Avenue, Stillwater, OK 74075-5025, if you so wish.

Ron Pineda Guest Book