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John Walsh Obituary
John "Red" Walsh
Resident of Santa Clara
Dec. 12, 1926-Dec. 25, 2010
It is with sadness in our hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved father "Red" Walsh on Christmas Day. Being a man of faith, he joins the love of his life our mother JoAnn on a day of great spiritual significance. Born and raised in the Mission District of SF, the youngest of five children born of Irish immigrants. He leaves behind four sons, Mark, Tim, Jeff, and Kevin, 8 grand children, 7 great grand children. Baseball was the passion of his life. Playing professionally for the San Francisco Seals and Milwaukee Braves, his most rewarding experience was coaching at Santa Clara University for 18 years with his good friend Sal Taromino. The confidence and inspiration he embedded in his players was a true gift. He will be missed by all.
Services tba at later date. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Santa Clara University baseball program. Send C/O SCU Baseball Office 500 El Camino Real Santa Clara, Ca 95053.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for John Walsh
Tony Andrade
August 16, 2025
Red was a great coach, but most of all a great human being. His ability to lead kids and young adults and college ball players as well showed how baseball relates to life.
Martin "Marty" Martinez
June 17, 2011
My prayers go out to the family and friends of Mr.Walsh. I was fortunate enough to get to know "Red" when he coached one of our summer baseball teams in Santa Clara. I had the deepest respect for him because of his kind and honest instruction. Thank you "Red".
Jim Secola
January 5, 2011
In loving memory of Red Walsh. An awesome guy who will be missed by all. The world is a little smaller with his passing.
Jim Secola
January 5, 2011
My heart is filled with great sadness at Red's passing. I spent many years watching him coach Connie Mack league baseball with my Dad, Vince Secola at Washington Park. How we got to meet pro ball players from the giants at the Oldtimers Club. I have many happy memories from the old Santa Clara days. My condolences to all of his family. He will be missed.
Mike Denevi
January 4, 2011
Condolences to the Walsh family, Red was a legend. I was really blessed to see him and son Jeff about a month ago at a Santa Clara Camp game. It brought back so many wonderful memories. Must have taken over a thousand batting practice pitches and ground balls from him. He was always positive and encouraging. He knew baseball and we were so lucky to have Red and Sal back in the day. What a great patriarch he was to such an athletic family! God Bless you Red say hi to Sal in heaven.
Sean Venezia
January 4, 2011
My thoughts and prayers are with his family. I'm sorry to hear the sad news. I had a ton of fun with him playing baseball at SCU. I still crack-up when I think about him spitting chew on our cleats while walking through the dugout and how he would bust a fastball in on my hands during BP whenever I drove a line drive back at him. He volunteered a ton of his time coaching, throwing BP and hitting grounders to me while at SCU and I'll always appreciate it.
Romeo Baddo
January 4, 2011
My condolences go out to the Walsh Family. I will always remember him watching his grandsons play baseball at Briarwood Little League. He definitely knew what he was talking about when it came to basebal.
Gary Kolegraff
January 3, 2011
My heart goes out to the entire Walsh family during this difficult time. I can remember seeing him countless times at the Briarwood Little League games in Santa Clara.
My hopes and prayers are with you all at this time and I am certain, that he went to heaven like a "shooting star!"
Bill Hutton
January 3, 2011
Great baseball man and a great family man. A legend in the coaching world. I have been blessed to have been touched by his family.
Jim Cortese
January 3, 2011
In the fall of 1979, my Senior Year at Mitty High School a coach asked Red Walsh if he would allow me to play on his team in a College Winter League, they called the "Rookie League" at Flood Park in Menlo Park. Red was gracious enough to let me play on the team he coached, The A's, which was quite unusual to have a high school player compete in that league. Larry Dick, a great pitcher at Monte Vista High School and I were both given that opportunity by Red. I was as intimidated as a kid possibly could be playing on a team with "stars" such as Ken Caminiti and Nattie George to name a couple. Red taught me how to have confidence and how to enjoy the game and have fun! I had my ups and downs as any 17 year old would in a league like this, but Red never waivered in his attempt to teach me and get me as much experience as he could.
While playing for Red that winter, I was seen by some college coaches and scouts. To make a long story short I ended up being recruited by St. Mary's College who had taken notice of me while playing on Red's team. While at Mitty, Pete Petrinivich, my coach then would constantly talk to me about how great of a pitcher Red's son was while at Mitty. Now that I had played for Red and knowing him, it inspired me to try and be as good as his son who was a "legend" in Mitty baseball history.
I don't think I ever did become that good, but I was truly inspired. To this day, The extended Walsh Family might be the greatest sports family to ever play in the Santa Clara Valley. I will always be grateful for the chance Red gave me and the lessons he taught me, not only with my pitching mechanics but more importantly my attitude and belief in myself. My thoughts and prayers are with his entire family.
Michael Casey
January 1, 2011
A pebble's been dropped in this peaceful ocean,earth,but who can replace a righteous man?
Mary Jane Taormina
January 1, 2011
Red was a great coach and a dear friend of my father, Sal Taormina. My father respected him very much. He was a great contribution to Santa Clara University baseball and touched many players' lives. Our warm condolences from the Taormina Family - Lorraine, Diana, Sal Jr. and Mary Jane.
John Casey
December 31, 2010
Red was a great friend and relative. We will miss him.
JIM MICELI
December 31, 2010
My thoughts and prayers are with you.Red was
a great coach and a great man.He will be missed.
.
December 31, 2010
Our thoughts and prayers are with Walsh family. Red will be remembered by all the players he coached and influenced in Santa Clara youth baseball, but especially at Santa Clara University. He is a great part of the Santa Clara University baseball program legacy. Jerry McClain and family
December 31, 2010
Condolences to the Walsh family, we have fond memories of Red and the rest of the baseball gang from Santa Clara. Cary A. Cardinale
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