South San Francisco, CA May 1, 2018 from Legacy.com
Raymond E. DeJong
March 29, 1926 – March 29, 2018
Ray DeJong passed away from heart failure in his home in Albany, CA on his 92nd birthday. He was born in South Dakota and raised on a cattle ranch until moving with his family at age 12 to an Enumclaw, Washington dairy farm. As a teenager, Ray milked cows, worked in the forests and discovered football. During WWII he enlisted in the Navy Air Corp program. Ray completed his Navy pre-flight training at Moraga’s St. Mary’s College where he met and fell in love with his future wife, Ada Jean MacKellar of Albany, CA. After serving 2 ½ years in the Navy, Ray enrolled in U.C. Berkeley in 1947 and played football on Cal’s Pappy Waldorf coached 1949 & 1950 Rose Bowl teams.
From 1950 to 1988, Ray taught P.E. at South San Francisco High School. In the summers, he ran South San Francisco’s American Red Cross swim program. Ray coached football and wrestling during the majority of his 38 year teaching career. He won many football championships and Coach of the Year Awards, but won many, many, more friends during his lifetime. Ray has been inducted into three sports Halls of Fame: Enumclaw, WA high school sports hall of fame, San Mateo County Sports Hall of Fame and the California Coaches Hall of Fame.
He supported Cal football for 70 years as both player and loyal fan, attending all home games. Ray was a gentle giant of a man. He selflessly took care of all around him as son, husband, dad, grandpa, neighbor and friend. Ray is preceded in death by his beloved wife of 62 years, Ada Jean. He is survived by his children Jim and June DeJong, daughter-in-law Jane Gerughty, and grandchildren Jeff and Janelle DeJong.
A memorial service and lunch reception will be held on Sunday, June 3, 11 a.m. at the South San Francisco Elks Lodge, 920 Stonegate Drive. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the South San Francisco Athletics Booster Club at South San Francisco High School, Attention Nancy Hoffer, 400 B St., South San Francisco, CA 94080
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from Bearinsiders
Ray DeJong
1926 – 2018
After playing on two Cal Rose Bowl teams, Ray DeJong came to South San Francisco High School in Sep. of 1950 where he coached JV and Varsity Football and taught PE for 38 years. He was the first Varsity Football Coach at the current SSFHS site and started the wrestling program for which he coached for 10 years. Ray also coached baseball for a short period of time. During the summers, he taught and ran South San Francisco High’s American Red Cross swim program.
In his 28 seasons as Varsity Head Football Coach, South San Francisco High’s win/loss/tie record was 154-94-8 and amassed 9 league championships. Ray won several Football Coach of the Year awards and was selected to coach California’s Northern team in the North/South California High School All-Star Shriner’s Football game, which was played in the LA Memorial Coliseum. He’s been inducted into three sports Halls of Fame: his Enumclaw, WA high school sports hall of fame, San Mateo County Hall of Fame and the California Coaches Hall of Fame.
Ray passed on his 92 birthday. A true Warrior.