Roy Ropp

1937 - 2021

Roy Ropp
April 30, 1937 - February 6, 2021
Sacramento, California - Roy passed away peacefully in his sleep on February 6, 2021. He is survived by his wife, Colleen, of 57 years, children, Roger and Steven, Grandchildren, Raymond, Stephanie, Emiko, Kiyomi, and Great Grandchildren, Ethaniel, and Leila.
Roy was born in Klamath Falls, Oregon, to Charles and Viola Ropp. He was raised there along with younger siblings Ronald, Carolyn, and Ralph. He was a graduate of Klamath Union High School and Oregon Technical Institute. After serving in the U.S. Army where he was stationed in Korea, he relocated to Sacramento, where he met and married his wife after a three month courtship.
Pursuing his interest in law enforcement, Roy graduated with degrees in criminal justice from Sacramento City College and CSU Sacramento. He initially worked for the California Department of Justice, and the California Youth Authority, but found his niche as a Deputy Probation Officer with Sacramento County. In a 25 year career, he worked the gamut from "work detail," to case supervision, to the Asian Gang Unit, to being a liaison with the Sacramento Police gang suppression unit. He co-founded and served a president of the Northern California Gang Investigators Association and worked tirelessly. to gather information on primarily Asian gangs in the Sacramento area in order to establish a comprehensive data base. In addition , he was chairman of the Tri-County Gang Investigators Task Force. As such he conducted many seminars and educational lectures. In recognition of his efforts, he received the Timothy Fitzharris Award from the California Chief Probations Officers as well as a proclamation from the California State Assembly. His greatest job satisfaction, however, came from helping the youths and their families who wanted help to free themselves from criminal influences and pressures and find a positive place in society.
Roy was a kind and compassionate but determined person who fully engaged in every aspect of his life. As a family we explored every part of Northern California from Lake Tahoe to the California-Oregon countryside to the beaches in Sonoma County and everything in between. He coached the kids in baseball and taught them how to maintain and repair almost everything. His grandchildren were of particular delight to him and he enjoyed their company and activities.
He loved sports. His lifelong participation began with high school football and wrestling and continued with the friendships and fun of bowling in the Nisei leagues and tournaments. We golfed and, at times, he was pretty good, even if not Tiger like. Tennis was enjoyed but strictly for family fun. In later years, he enjoyed watching the LPGA and the WTA on television. He was an avid fan of and attended games of the Sacramento Kings, the Sacramento Monarchs, the SF 49ers, and the SF Giants.
Roy had a green thumb. He was one of those people who could stick a bare branch in the ground and it would grow and thrive. In addition to his bountiful vegetable gardens, his beloved Bonsai trees flourished. Under his unplanned but enthusiastic guidance, our backyard turned into a mini ecosystem of its own.
His sweet generous nature will be greatly missed.
Many thanks to Emma, Glenda, Abby, Beth, and Esme, the "angels," at Young AT Heart RCFE No.4. Their loving care over the past year plus was a blessing.
A private service was held on February 17th at Sacramento Memorial Lawn. A public service or celebration of life will hopefully take place in the near future. Information will be disseminated through friends and family.