Memorial service for Ron Freeman scheduled for Feb. 18

Public service to honor coach, teacher

Community members created a memorial on the pool deck for coach and teacher Ron Freeman, who died on Jan. 21 at the age of 52. Photo by Kriti Garg.
A public memorial service for teacher and coach Ron Freeman is scheduled for Feb. 18 at 3 p.m. in the MVHS gym.

Freeman died on Jan. 21 at the age of 52. He had been a mentor at MVHS for almost 30 years as a water polo and swimming coach and a history and physical education teacher.

Memorial attendees are requested to approach the campus from the student parking lot side, as parents will be picking up children from Lincoln Elementary School at that time.

Event organizers are accepting additional items of remembrance for the poolside memorial after 1 p.m. on Friday in the Gym Lobby, formerly known as the Student Center. Attendees are encouraged to wear MVHS or Hawaiian apparel, as Hawaii was Freeman’s favorite place.

Following a proposal by Lisa Fischer-Colbrie, parent of three MVHS alums who participated in aquatics, The FUHSD Board of Trustees voted on Feb. 15 to honor Freeman by naming the pool complex “The Ron Freeman Aquatic Center.” An aquatics scholarship has also been established in Freeman’s name. Checks can be made payable to “Monta Vista ASB/Ron Freeman Aquatics Scholarship.”

El Estoque will be live-streaming the memorial service here at elestoque.org on Friday. Check back for more details.

Updated Feb. 16, 1:48 p.m., with Board of Trustees aquatic center renaming decision and additional information regarding memorial.