Randy Ziraldo
Randy Ziraldo, mentor, shorts wearer, and charmer extraordinaire went peacefully to join his father in eternal bowling and flooring bliss on February 12, 2016 after nearly 5 months annoying nurses in the hospital awaiting a heart transplant. Randy spent his life overcooking eggs, insisting on ice in every beverage and making inappropriate comments to make slightly awkward situations fully uncomfortable.
He was born to cause trouble in Battle Creek, Michigan in 1951 and began his lifelong passion of charming the ladies at St. Philips Catholic High School whence he graduated in 1969. While in high school Randy played baseball, basketball and football and chose muscle cars, dates and trouble over studying. He played offensive lineman at Northwood University where he garnered his first bachelor’s degree and went on to receive a second bachelor’s from Michigan State University while playing for the semi-professional Lansing Capitals.
After nearly being chosen to join the NFL as a player for the Washington Redskins, Randy turned down the offer of a career in the Canadian Football League to begin a life as a public school teacher and coach in 1977 at Battle Creek Central High School. Years later, after coaching every sport imaginable in Michigan, Indiana and California, he got his big break as an assistant coach at the illustrious University of California, Berkeley. At Berkeley Randy developed his mentorship skills, coaching style and love of Mexican food. He coached National Champions and Olympians, all while maintaining a permanent crew sock tan line. He is known among his throwers and mentees to have been a tough-on-the-outside softie who would do anything for his friends, even if they incited him to remove his hat, throw it to the ground and smash his brand new glasses. He changed the lives of many and became a second father to countless high schoolers and college athletes.
To his sons he is the man who was always late but “always waiting on you guys.” He was the man who brought 30 pounds of food to camp for three days but forgot the tent poles. He was the most loving father possible who would coach you no matter how badly you wanted him to stop. He was the dad who made you steer the truck so he could eat his burrito while driving, and who got a dent in his skull from hitting the car door frame one too many times. If Randy fell asleep, which he could and did literally everywhere, he couldn’t be woken up without a shake and a yell. If there was a stray animal within 2 miles, he would find it and keep it or pawn it off on an unsuspecting family member. If a truck didn’t have more than 200,000 miles, it was “brand new.”
Randy Ziraldo never met a stranger and in his final years began every discussion with a new acquaintance with the question “do you go to church?” His faith carried him through many difficult times. His last months were spent in a hospital from which he continued to yell at his throwers for being stupid, force jolly ranchers on every passer-by, insist upon his qualifications as a top-quality marriage counselor and ask with a sly grin: “…is chocolate healthy?”
Randy is survived by a robust, crazy family including his mother Yvette Ziraldo, many siblings and cousins, and his two sons Vincent and Arturo.
In lieu of flowers, which Randy (aka Jack Benny) would have found “girly,” gifts of support to his sons will be accepted.
A service to celebrate “Ziraldo”, “Z” and “Coach” will be held Tuesday, February 16th at Indiana Funeral Care and Crematory at 8151 Allisonville Road, Indianapolis, IN 46250. Public visitation will take place at 1pm and the celebration service will begin at 2pm. Please come armed with your best Randy story to write for the family’s enjoyment.
He was born to cause trouble in Battle Creek, Michigan in 1951 and began his lifelong passion of charming the ladies at St. Philips Catholic High School whence he graduated in 1969. While in high school Randy played baseball, basketball and football and chose muscle cars, dates and trouble over studying. He played offensive lineman at Northwood University where he garnered his first bachelor’s degree and went on to receive a second bachelor’s from Michigan State University while playing for the semi-professional Lansing Capitals.
After nearly being chosen to join the NFL as a player for the Washington Redskins, Randy turned down the offer of a career in the Canadian Football League to begin a life as a public school teacher and coach in 1977 at Battle Creek Central High School. Years later, after coaching every sport imaginable in Michigan, Indiana and California, he got his big break as an assistant coach at the illustrious University of California, Berkeley. At Berkeley Randy developed his mentorship skills, coaching style and love of Mexican food. He coached National Champions and Olympians, all while maintaining a permanent crew sock tan line. He is known among his throwers and mentees to have been a tough-on-the-outside softie who would do anything for his friends, even if they incited him to remove his hat, throw it to the ground and smash his brand new glasses. He changed the lives of many and became a second father to countless high schoolers and college athletes.
To his sons he is the man who was always late but “always waiting on you guys.” He was the man who brought 30 pounds of food to camp for three days but forgot the tent poles. He was the most loving father possible who would coach you no matter how badly you wanted him to stop. He was the dad who made you steer the truck so he could eat his burrito while driving, and who got a dent in his skull from hitting the car door frame one too many times. If Randy fell asleep, which he could and did literally everywhere, he couldn’t be woken up without a shake and a yell. If there was a stray animal within 2 miles, he would find it and keep it or pawn it off on an unsuspecting family member. If a truck didn’t have more than 200,000 miles, it was “brand new.”
Randy Ziraldo never met a stranger and in his final years began every discussion with a new acquaintance with the question “do you go to church?” His faith carried him through many difficult times. His last months were spent in a hospital from which he continued to yell at his throwers for being stupid, force jolly ranchers on every passer-by, insist upon his qualifications as a top-quality marriage counselor and ask with a sly grin: “…is chocolate healthy?”
Randy is survived by a robust, crazy family including his mother Yvette Ziraldo, many siblings and cousins, and his two sons Vincent and Arturo.
In lieu of flowers, which Randy (aka Jack Benny) would have found “girly,” gifts of support to his sons will be accepted.
A service to celebrate “Ziraldo”, “Z” and “Coach” will be held Tuesday, February 16th at Indiana Funeral Care and Crematory at 8151 Allisonville Road, Indianapolis, IN 46250. Public visitation will take place at 1pm and the celebration service will begin at 2pm. Please come armed with your best Randy story to write for the family’s enjoyment.
Leave a condolence
- I just wanted to take a moment to send my sympathy to the Ziraldo/Zavites families, I will always remember these kids I grew up with we had such great fun playing all around the neighborhood riding the bikes and Randy was so caring of his little sister Kathy just like my brother Bobby .Randy was such a standup guy truly one of the good guys
- My thoughts and prayers and my condolences to his mother aunt Yvette and his brotherRickyand sisters Cathy and Yvette.
- Randy was one of the most memorable people I have known. I had the pleasure to care for him, argue with him and banter with him on a daily basis while he was in the hospital. I cannot tell the number of times I had to tell him “no” and he would find ways to make me say “yes.” I enjoyed his stories and looked forward to spending time with him.
He was an inspiration to me. I appreciate the life lessons he taught me. I will strive to make it easier for patients like Randy moving forward. To find a creative way to say more “yeses” and hear Randy all along the way saying “I told you so!”
My heart is saddened by this loss. My prayers (in a fully non-political correct style as Randy would have liked them to be!) will be with your family. May you find comfort in the memories you will share.
- So sorry to hear about Randy,
May Randy rest in peace. May God bless his family. May all who knew him keep him in their memories and share their appropriate great stories on line for family and friends.
A great personality, a lot of fun, a great competitor, a concerned friend and mentor to many … In loving memory, John Dowdle.
Here is some more info:
Randy Ziraldo, 65, Greenfield, IN passed away February 12, 2016.
A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, February 16, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. with visitation from 1:00 p.m. until the time of service at Indiana Funeral Care and Crematory 8151 Allisonville Road, Indianapolis, IN 46250. If you want to go directly to their web site: https://indianafuneralcare.com/obituary/randy-ziraldo
- My deepest condolances
- Deepest sympathy to Randys family. Although we have not been ln direct contact for many years I always considered Randy a very special friend as we were roommates and teammates at Northwood. I have no doubt Randy is directing and coaching in a place we all hope to get to. Marty Szepanski
- Randy was my good friend for thirty years. After reconnecting, he insisted I go back to church. He always had suggestions for me to live a good Christian life. I will miss his laugh, humor, and wit.
Elizabeth Slawson
