Ralph Vincent Mazza's Obituary
Ralph V. Mazza, of Spring Valley, CA, died on February 26, 2018, two months before his 98th birthday.Ralph was born in Brooklyn NY. He left with his family during the depression and resettled in San Pedro, California in 1936 where he completed his high school education at Chadwick School on a scholarship. After a year at the University of California, Ralph left college to enlist in the Army in 1941. He served in the Occupation Army in Nuremberg, Germany in 1945-46 as a Captain in the Signal Corps. Upon discharge from the Army in 1946, Ralph finished his education then returned to Chadwick School as a chemistry teacher. He met and married the school’s physical education teacher, Elinore Young Mazza.After beginning a family in Palos Verdes, Ralph and Ellie settled in San Diego, and found their dream home in Spring Valley. Ralph taught at San Diego City College then became part of the inaugural faculty when Mesa College opened in 1964. He taught physics at Mesa College until he retired in 1985.An avid gardener, Ralph sculpted his Spring Valley hillside property with natural rock terraces to hold fruit trees and vegetable garden beds, a project that took over 40 years. He hunted dove in what had been the back-country areas of San Diego County, and fished for trout in the John Muir wilderness of the Sierras as well as in the surf off Torrey Pines State Beach and in the Pacific ocean from his boat, the FineLee. After retirement, Ralph traveled the United States and Europe on educational excursions with Ellie, camped and fished in the Sierras with extended family, experimented with new fruit trees in his garden, and continued to be a source of information and know-how for his five children.Ralph is survived by his children, Elizabeth McLendon (Curt) of San Juan Capistrano, CA; Phyllis Saunders (David) of Boise, ID; Cris Mazza (Mark Rasmussen) of Aurora, IL; Ralph C Mazza (Kate) of Cary, NC; and Walt Mazza (Anne Ellis) of Lakeside, CA. He also leaves six grandchildren, Robert McLendon, James McLendon, Sarah Mazza, Jacob Saunders, Jonathan Saunders, and Anne Mazza, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, extended family, and dear friends.In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in Ralph’s name to Wounded Warrior Project (www.woundedwarriorproject.org) or Meals on Wheels San Diego County (https://www.meals-on-wheels.org/give)
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