Cloy Stapleton

STAPLETON, Cloy Revered City College Professor, Passes away Dr. Cloy Ray Stapleton, 84, Professor Emeritus at Sacramento City College, passed away Tuesday, March 25, 2015, at approximately 6:20 A.M. at Kaiser Hospital on Morse Ave. He suffered a cerebral hemorrhage deep in his brain the previous Saturday afternoon and never recovered. He died peacefully, without suffering, surrounded by his loving family. He is survived by his wife Lois (Black) Stapleton, sons Stephen R. Stapleton and Dr. Craig D. Stapleton, and grandchildren Austin LaGrotta and Analyse Stapleton. He is also survived by his stepsons David Black, Dennis Black, and Nick Trejo; stepdaughters Alysian Grey and Jaene Trejo; and step-grandsons Ray, Jr.; Diego; and Rick Gray. He was preceded in death by his first wife Ruth Stapleton, his second wife Sandy Orosco Stapleton, and his stepson Mecki Trejo.

Cloy was born at home in Moobidy, Texas, on August 9, 1930, a town so small it doesn't exist any longer, but was near Dumas, TX. In 1936, his father moved the family to Richmond, CA, where both his parents worked in the Kaiser shipyards, eventually building Liberty ships.

With both parents at work, WWII in full swing, and because of the crowded half-day schools, young Cloy took the ferry or tram to SF's Market Street to see movies and earned money selling papers, shining shoes, and odd jobs. Later his family enrolled him in San Rafael Military Academy. When his father died from jaw cancer, Cloy's Uncle Ollie and Aunt Winnie Stapleton moved from Oklahoma to raise him and take over the family business, Stapleton plumbing in Willows, CA. Cloy excelled at Willows High becoming student body president, running track, and playing on the football team.

After high school, he attended San Jose State under scholarship and then followed his old coach to Yuba College, where he was inducted into their Athletic Hall of Fame in 2006. He served as a Drill Instructor for the US Marine Corps and later earned his BA in Education at Chico State, where he was inducted into their Athletic Hall of Fame in 2013. Not only was Cloy the first in his family to go to college, he earned his masters at Chico State in 1962 and a doctorate in education at Nova University in 1975.

Starting in 1958, Cloy taught at Quincy High School for six years and was then hired by Sacramento City College in 1964. Cloy, known as "Doc" around the campus, was the assistant coach for the football team for 28 years. He founded and led the boxing program, taught women's self-defense, and established the first program of physical training for the physically handicapped in Northern California, adaptive PE. His women's self-defense classes were very popular and even attracted heiress Patty Hearst when she was on the run with the Symbionese Liberation Army in 1974.

In May of 2007, Cloy married a family friend of many years, Lois Black. They were a loving, wonderful couple of teenagers in senior bodies. They had a friendly competition with the crossword puzzle every morning and never missed an episode of Jeopardy!

He was well known for his passionate collecting. He could often be seen working on his collections of 1959 Cadillacs, model trains, coins, stamps, erector sets, or Jim Beam bottles. He was also an active member of the Elk's Club for 40 years.

Services will be Thursday, April 2, 2015, at 1:00 P.M., at the Student Center, West Hall, Sacramento City College, 3835 Freeport Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95822 (916-558-2111). Parking is available in Lot F just off Sutterville Road and will be free as City College has agreed to suspend parking fees for the event. After the memorial service there will be a reception with snack food in the same location. People are welcome to bring food to share, but nothing is expected. Dress is whatever you feel comfortable in. We expect to finish everything by 3:00. There will be a time to share your story about Cloy. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for contributions to the California State Railroad Museum Foundation; the SCC Athletics Department Fund; or the California State University, Chico, Athletic Scholarship Fund. Your donations to each of these will help forever, while flowers only last a few days.