Obituary of Ronald Eugene Useldinger

Ronald Eugene Useldinger passed away on May 16th, 2016 of natural causes. He was 83 years old. Ron will be remembered for his love, passion and the ability to motivate those around him. Born in the small town of Euclid, Minnesota on December 16th, 1932, his family later moved to Portland, Oregon in 1938 on the tail end of the great depression. Ron graduated from Jefferson High School in Portland in 1950. He was a highly regarded athlete. He went on to play football on scholarship at Lewis & Clark College in Portland. Upon graduation in 1954, he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Physical Education and started assistant coaching football for Lewis & Clark. Ron married Donna Bowman in 1955. In 1958, they moved to San Jose, California to escape the rain and continue his coaching career. Ron quickly gained respect and prominence in the high school sports arena during the 1960's. Being hired as assistant football coach at the newly opened Cupertino High School in 1958, Ron was also asked to coach the wrestling team. Despite having no experience in this sport, there was much promise of things to come in light of Ron's ability to teach skills and imbue a drive for excellence. His team won league and section championships in 1961. In 1962, his team won everything- league, section and state championships. Over the next 2 years, he developed 15 league champions, 9 section champions, and 5 state champions. This record reflected Ron's coaching and leadership abilities. His athletes always believed they would win before ever stepping on the mat, being prepared with superior training and conditioning. In the fall of 1962, Ron was hired on as the head football coach at the newly opened Homestead High School. During this time, Ron also completed his Master's Degree at San Jose State University in Physical Education. During Ron's 5 years as Head Coach at Homestead High, he brought the team from an 0-9 season their first year to an 9-0 season in 1967. The team was ranked number one in California by Scholastic Coach. After leaving high school coaching in 1968, Ron went into the field of Fitness and Sports Conditioning. He went on to become one of the leading authorities on Fitness Motivation and Conditioning in the 1970's and 1980's. Ron successfully worked with many of the top professional sports teams including the Oakland Raiders, Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49er's, Golden State Warriors, and Seattle Seahawks among many other teams. His focus was always on conditioning, strength and flexibility to prevent injuries on the field. Ron also authored several books on fitness and a book on football strategies called "A Revolution in Football". Applying great principles of speed, power, and versatility using his strategic "U formation" play. Ron went on to invent the Isorobic Exerciser using the principles of combining Isometrics and Isotonics to create the most efficient and effective way to better health and fitness. Ron traveled the world lecturing and setting up fitness and conditioning programs and motivating the masses on how to live a healthy and productive life, this was the essence of who Ron was. His legacy was building strength of character that prepared those he touched for meeting the challenges of life with courage, determination, and integrity. Ron was a devout follower of Jesus. In spite of all his accomplishments, this was the most important choice in his life. He attended Gateway Bible Church in Scotts Valley. Ron is survived by his daughter Krista Bertetta, her husband Marc of Capitola, son Kevin Useldinger and wife Susan of Monterey, and son Kurt Useldinger and wife Melanie of Santa Cruz. Also survived by grandchildren Marisa Guess and husband Griffin, Maleah Miller and husband Brian, Alisha Booye and husband Jared, Kyle Useldinger, Jenny Toler and her partner Nathan, Meredith, Natasha, Conrad, Joshua and Camelia Useldinger, Jack Abbott and his wife Crystal, along with 13 wonderful great grandchildren. Proceeded in death by Daughter Karole Dollente in 2001. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, August 20th at 1pm at Gateway Bible Church, 5000 Granite Creek Road, Scotts Valley, CA.