Ronald Jack Boorman
Ron Boorman passed away unexpectedly on April 19th. He was born and raised in Pasadena, the elder child of Jack “Bud” Boorman and Helen Boorman. Ron attended Pasadena High School and John Muir Junior College, then came to Santa Barbara to attend UCSB. He was the senior class president of the first class to graduate from the Goleta campus, and a star third baseman on the baseball team, batting a .400 average one season. After serving two years away in the Army Intelligence Corps, he brought his young family back to Santa Barbara in 1958 to begin a long and rewarding career of 33 years teaching history and social studies at San Marcos High School.
Ron was a very popular teacher who brought great dedication, energy and enthusiasm to the classroom. He brought the world closer to his students by relating his personal experiences and photos of both U.S. and international travel, and mentored many student teachers over the years. After school, he was an avid long-distance runner, completing full marathons into his early fifties.
After 33 years, Ron retired from teaching to his home in the Samarkand neighborhood. He began volunteering to help growers sell their wares at local farmer’s markets, and for the last 12 years was the friendly, energetic salesman behind the honey stand at up to four local markets each week. Ron immensely enjoyed hearing “Hi Mr. Boorman!” from the generations of former students who happened by the honey stand. His greatest pride, however, was in being a father to Dan, Deb and Carrie, and grandfather to Nick, Skylar, Eli and Owen.
Ron is survived by his younger sister Charlene Little of Santa Barbara, son Daniel Boorman, daughter-in-law Laura Funk and their children Nicolas and Skylar Boorman of Woodinville, WA, daughter Debra Dimick and son-in-law Roland Dimick of Provo, UT, and daughter Carrie Moore, son-in-law Glen Moore and their children Eli and Owen Moore of Willow Springs, MO. Ron was a brilliant, curious and immensely generous man. As a friend, teacher, brother, father and grandfather, he will be terribly missed.
Ron was laid to rest on April 25th. A scholarship fund is being established to help students pursuing a teaching career. Donations may be sent to the Ronald Boorman Memorial Scholarship Fund, checks payable to “UC Regents”, Department of History, UCSB, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9410.