Ronald J. Raquel

Ron was born on January 5, 1950, in Port Hueneme, CA and passed away on
March 22, 2012 in Long Beach, CA.

He was raised in Southern California, living in Port Hueneme, San Diego, Norwalk, Wilmington, CA and finally Long Beach, CA.

Ron went to Hawaiian Avenue Elementary School, Dodson Junior High School and in 1968 Graduated from Phineas Banning High School, Wilmington, CA. Ron was a student athlete, in junior high he ran track and in high school Ron excelled in football, baseball and basketball.

He worked many odd jobs, including the Tenderloin in Long Beach, as a salad server, and at the Winchell's Donut shop, on Santa Fe and PCH, in Long Beach. Ron worked at the L.B. Naval Station as well.

He pursued his education at Los Angeles Harbor College and transferred on to California State University, Long Beach. Majoring in two degrees.

In 1974, Ron received his Bachelor of Arts in History. In 1984, Ron received his Bachelor of Science in Microbiology, with a minor in Chemistry.

He worked as a student employee at California State University of Long Beach with Campus Police, then hired on as full time staff as a campus police dispatcher.

He volunteered first with the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, then hired there as a criminalist for about 1 year.

Ron started his law enforcement career as a Criminalist I and then as a Criminalist II with Los Angeles Police Department. Ron was sent for 4 months, as a visiting scientist to the F.B.I. Academy in Quantico, Virginia for training in Forensic Application of DNA Typing Methods School.

Additionally, Ron performed vital case work and provided expert witness testimony on countless homicide cases including, most notably, the O.J. Simpson case.

Ron's career advanced him to Criminalist III of the Field Investigation Unit, dividing his time between overseeing the day-to-day operation of the field unit and performing analyses in the Trace Analysis Unit. He developed his expertise in crime science investigation and bloodstain pattern interpretation before he returned to his real home in the Trace Analysis Unit as a Criminalist II, where he stayed for the rest of his career.

Ron demonstrated interest in his profession by membership and involvement in the California Association of Criminalists, the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, and the International Association of Bloodstain Pattern Analysts. With his vast amount of technical knowledge, Ron willingly provided training to newer Criminalists in crime scene processing techniques, various trace analysis sub-disciplines, court testimony, interview preparation, bloodstain enhancement techniques, and bloodstain pattern interpretation.

Ron reluctantly retired in March, 2010.

Ron enjoyed reading military history, reading his Los Angeles Times newspaper, watching CNN, watching crime investigation episodes, which sometimes he saw himself in. Liked playing Mahjong on the computer, watching sports, especially football, and taking up guitar again. In earlier years, Ron enjoyed going to the desert to watch the perseid showers. Ron loved attending family reunions, whenever he was able to. Ron was loved by all his family, and friends.

Ron and Sandy met while working at California State University of Long Beach. They were together for 26 years and married for 19 years, and had a son, Peter.
Ron was a loving compassionate, caring husband and father. Ron left us too soon.

Ron's memory will live on in our hearts forever.

Ron is survived by his loving wife Sandy, married for 19 years, and his son Peter of Long Beach, CA, his mom Adoracion T. Raquel, his brothers, Robert (Paula), Jeff (Marie), Joe, David and sister-in-law Cathy Raquel, his nieces and nephews,
Antoinette, John Paul, Brandon, and Trisha. He was preceded in death by his father Juanito Raquel and by his brother Anthony G. (Tony) Raquel. Ron is survived by sisters Florence Blas (Robert), Jenny Ford, Karen Backman and brother Walter Backman. Additionally, Ron also is survived by his mother-in-law Antonia G. Flores, sisters-in-law Mary Ellen Flores, Diane Saenz (Ben), Sylvia Risler (Patrick), niece Ann Marie and Delia Flores.

He will be greatly missed by his numerous uncles and aunts, cousins, colleagues and friends.

"Due to the condition of Ron's mothers health, the family would appreciate it if all could respect the desire to refrain from notifying her of Ron's passing at this time."

A visitation will take place on Thursday, March 29, 2012 from 5:00 to 8:00 pm at Westminster Memorial Park. Services will be held on Friday, March 30, 2012 at 12:00 noon in the Westminster Memorial Park Main Chapel.

Arrangements under the direction of Westminster Memorial Park, 14801 Beach Blvd. Westminster, CA 92683. (714) 893-2421