Angleo Ross Jr.

Angelo Rafael Ross Jr. passed away peacefully at home in Santa Cruz, CA, the place he loved most, surrounded by his loving family on November 3, 2025.

Born in Santa Cruz, California, on September 23, 1939, to Marguerite Nellie Ross and Angelo Rafael Ross Sr., Angelo was the youngest of two children. Growing up in Santa Cruz with his sister Diane and their many cousins, he enjoyed a childhood filled with neighborhood games, picking vegetables in the garden, and large family gatherings. The Ross home was always full of laughter, warmth, and community, the same sense of belonging Angelo later fostered among his students and players.

He attended Laurel Elementary School, Mission Hill Junior High, and Santa Cruz High School, where he excelled both academically and athletically. It was during his childhood years that he met Norm Costa, who would become his lifelong best friend and coaching partner.

At Santa Cruz High School, Angelo distinguished himself as both a scholar and an athlete. As a basketball player, he earned a place on the All-CCAL lightweight team as a junior and the All-League varsity team as a senior, graduating with honors and as the class salutatorian in 1958. Despite being offered a basketball scholarship to UC Riverside, he chose to attend San Jose State University. There, Angelo earned his bachelor's degree and a secondary teaching credential, graduating with honors and being inducted into the prestigious Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society. His high school and college years exemplified the balance between academic excellence and athletic achievement that he would later instill in his students.

Following college, Angelo proudly served his country, joining the United States Army Reserves as a military policeman at Fort Gordon in Georgia. After completing his military service, he returned home to Santa Cruz and began a long and storied career as a teacher and coach in the Central Coast community.

From 1964 to 1999, Angelo taught at Mission Hill Junior High School, where generations of students fondly remember "Mr. Ross" as the U.S. History, Civics, and PE teacher everyone wanted to have. He also served as the school's athletic director for several years. Colleagues and students alike recall his steady presence, sharp wit, and fair but caring approach. He had an exceptional gift for connecting with young people, teaching not only in the classroom but also instilling values of responsibility, humility, and perseverance. Angelo loved teaching beyond the classroom as well, often chaperoning student trips to Washington, D.C., and mentoring aspiring educators.

In addition to his classroom legacy, Angelo was an iconic figure in Central Coast athletics for more than five decades. He coached football at Holy Cross High School from 1964 to

1970 and coached football and basketball at Marello Preparatory High School in Santa Cruz from 1970 to 1977. In 1976, Angelo coached the Marello Prep varsity basketball team, which won 21 games, earned a share of the Mission Trail Athletic League championship, and became the only school to have four players named to the All–Santa Cruz County team. Angelo also was named "Co-Coach of the Year."

He then joined the coaching staff at Palma High School in Salinas in 1977 and remained there until his retirement in 2014, a tenure that spanned nearly 40 years. While there, he, Norm Costa, and the rest of the coaching staff led the Chieftains to an extraordinary 28 league championships, 11 CCS titles, and one of the most dominant runs in California high school football history, including a 48-game unbeaten streak. After games, the coaching staff could often be found at the local Wienerschnitzel, enjoying chili cheese dogs and fries while reliving every play, especially "Rodeo."

Angelo also served as an assistant baseball coach at Santa Cruz High School, helping the Cardinals capture the 1989 league title. A fixture in the local sports community, he spent more than 30 years coaching Pony and Colt youth leagues, mentoring hundreds of young athletes both on and off the field.

In recognition of his extraordinary contributions, Marello Preparatory High School inducted Angelo into its Basketball Hall of Fame in 1986. Palma High School inducted Angelo into its Athletic Hall of Fame in 2000, and Santa Cruz High School followed in 2018.

In July 2014, Angelo suffered a rare spinal cord stroke that left him paralyzed, yet his perseverance and positive spirit remained unbroken. Even during his recovery, he continued to review game film, offer feedback to his players, and stay connected to the teams he loved by showing up to Friday night games and cheering them on from the sidelines. "Perseverance is something I try to teach," he once said, a lesson he embodied every day.

Family was always at the heart of Angelo's life. He lived in the same Santa Cruz home where he grew up, caring for his beloved mother until her passing at the age of 103. He remained exceptionally close to his nieces Pamela and Stephanie, as well as his sister Diane and brother-in-law Fred, and his extended family. Angelo often credited his mother with teaching him to always look for the good in people, a philosophy that guided his life, his teaching, and his coaching.

The family wishes to extend heartfelt gratitude to his caregiver, "Tootsie," for the dedication, love, kindness, and compassionate care she selflessly provided to Jr. for 11 years. The family also wishes to thank Christian Vega, Cathy, Joe, and the entire Escobar family for their incredible love and support. They would also like to express their sincere appreciation to Dr. Raj Singh, Dr. David Beck, and Dr. Michael Yen for providing exceptional care throughout the years.

Angelo was preceded in death by his beloved parents, Marguerite Nellie Ross and Angelo Rafael Ross Sr. He is survived by his sister, Diane Marguerite Treseler, and brother-in-law, Frederick Treseler; nieces Pamela Treseler Gangloff (Marvin) and Stephanie Treseler Colvin (Zach); great-nephew Michael Angelo Gangloff (Rachael); and his great-great-nieces Bailey, Kallie, and Rylee Gangloff.

A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on November 24, 2025, at Resurrection Church, located at 7600 Soquel Drive in Aptos, CA. The service will be officiated by Fr. Ron Shirley, one of Angelo's closest and dearest friends of 58 years.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to Palma School in Salinas, CA. In honor of Angelo Ross, Jr's lifelong dedication to education and coaching donations can be made to:

https://palmaschoolfoundation.app.neoncrm.com/forms/palma-fund-ask