Ralph Barkey

Ralph Ralston Barkey, a two-time inductee into the UC Santa Barbara Hall of Fame, passed away at his home in Lincoln, California, on Thursday, January 23, 2025, just four months shy of his 90th birthday.

Born on May 16, 1935, in Sheridan, Wyoming, to Vivian Church Barkey and Reuben Ralston Barkey, Ralph was the youngest of eight siblings. After losing his mother at the age of seven, he was raised by his siblings and eventually settled with his sister Doris in Laramie. He excelled as a student-athlete at Laramie High School, earning All-American honors in both basketball and football.

In 1953, Ralph's athletic achievements led to his recruitment to Bakersfield Junior College, where he continued his basketball career. In 1954, he was named an All-Conference selection for the Southern California Junior College Association. During this time, he met and married Diane Peery Barkey, with whom he shared a loving marriage until her passing in 2011.

Ralph transferred to the University of California, Santa Barbara, majoring in Exercise Physiology. He was named to the 1957-58 Honorable Mention All-America basketball team and earned All-Conference honors. His contributions to UCSB athletics earned him induction into the UCSB Hall of Fame as an "Athlete."

In 1958, Ralph became an assistant basketball coach at UCSB while completing his master's degree. He later served as head coach at the College of San Mateo before returning to UCSB in 1962 as an assistant coach and then head coach in 1966. He led the program through its early years in NCAA Division I and was later inducted into the UCSB Hall of Fame again in the "Coach" category.

Transitioning into athletic administration, Ralph held leadership roles at Cal State Fullerton, UC Irvine, and Sonoma State University, where he served as Athletic Director until retiring in 1996. In recognition of his contributions, he was inducted into the Sonoma State Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003.

Ralph and Diane retired to Sun City Lincoln Hills in 1999, where he pursued his passion for golf, organizing travel groups and fostering camaraderie among fellow players.

He is survived by his daughter, Leslye Barkey MacDonald of Davis, California; his son, John Barkey of Walnut Creek, California; four grandchildren-Isabelle, Natalie, Brendan, and Bridget; and one great-grandchild.

Ralph was known simply as "Coach" to many. He believed deeply in the power of athletics to shape young lives and dedicated his career to mentoring and inspiring others. His legacy lives on in the countless individuals he guided throughout his life.