Obituary of Richard James Voris

A memorial service will be held on Friday, January 26th at 1:00 p.m. for Richard James “Coach” Voris, who passed away in 2008. This will be a joint memorial service for Mr. Voris and his wife Idelle Voris October 23, 2023. “Coach” was born January 25, 1922, in Santa Cruz, he graduated from Santa Cruz High School. He attended Salinas Junior College and enlisted in the Marine Corps for a four-year tour of duty in the Pacific during World War II. After the war, he attended San Jose State College, and graduated in 1949. “Coach” was inducted into the San Jose State Hall of Fame in 1992. His First coaching position was at Hanford High School. He then coached at James Lick High School in San Jose Calif. He was named the head coach at Hartnell College, where he led the 1952 Hartnell Football Panthers to the Junior Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. In 1953 he led the Panthers to another undefeated season. In 1954, the Los Angeles Rams signed him to a coaching contract. Then came a move to West Point N.Y. to coach Army football with Col. Red Blaike. The Green Bay Packer’s head coach, Vince Lombardi, made him the personnel director and assistant coach with two World Championship teams. Coach Voris returned home and joined the San Francisco 49ers. He then went on to coach the Saint Louis Cardinals. Detroit Lions, Baltimore Colts, New York Jets, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He retired in 1981 to his “paradise” in Hernando Beach, Fla. He is survived by his daughter Susan Voris-Christiansen, and his son Ronald Michael Voris, four grandchildren, and four great grandchildren. Mr. Voris was predeceased by his son Richard James Voris Jr. Memorial Service will be held on Friday, January 26th at 1:00 p.m. at the Santa Cruz Memorial Park Mission Chapel, 1927 Ocean St., inurnment in the mausoleum will follow the service.