Rolfe Kenneth Williams II

1934 - 2025

Rolfe Kenneth Williams II, aka 'Buz', of Foster City, California passed away the morning of February 7 after a long battle with dementia.  Buz was born in San Francisco on June 12, 1934 and grew up in Walnut Creek, California.  Buz moved to Burlingame in 1963, and to Foster City in 1969 where he lived for 55 years.

As a young child, Buz contributed to the family income with an eight-mile paper route he completed before school via horseback, roller skates, bicycle or walking.  He played football at Acalanes High School in Lafayette, and in 1951 and 52 was one of only 2 players named All-County on both offense and defense.  He attended College of Pacific (now University of Pacific) on a football scholarship as part of 'Moose Myers Men'.  Buz also played Rugby and was an all-coast hooker.  To earn extra money, he taught ballroom dancing at an Arthur Murray studio, living in the apartment above.  Buz was also an actor with a small theater company "The Dramateurs" (now the "Town Hall Theatre Company of Lafayette") where he was lead actor, stage hand and took on miscellaneous roles; it was there he eventually met his wife Lucy.

Buz began his coaching career at Amos Alonzo Stagg HS in Stockton, CA in 1956, moving on to teach Spanish at Acalanes HS in 1957 where he became the head coach in 1961.  In 1963 Buz took a job at San Mateo High School to teach Spanish, moving his small family to Burlingame that year.

Buz coached football at San Mateo High from 1963 – 96.  His teams won 8 league championships, 2 CCS championships, and in the mid 80's had a record 29 consecutive wins.  He retired with a 201-90-5 record and was selected league coach of the year 8 times, as well as Peninsula coach of the year and Northern California coach of the year, once each.  Buz also coached golf from 1965-96.  His golf teams were undefeated in league play for 3 straight years from 1984-86, and placed 2nd in CCS in 1985.  Buz was inducted to the San Mateo County Sports Hall of Fame in 1998, the San Mateo High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002, and the entry plaza to the San Mateo High School Stadium was dedicated to Buz in 2007.

Buz was involved with a number of organizations and committees during his working life, and in retirement including the San Mateo High School Hall of Fame Committee; San Mateo County Scholar Athletic Committee; Northern California Golf Association Course Tournament Committee for Junior and Amateur golfers; Northern California Golf Association Course Rating Committee (1983-1984). He also served as a Marshall at many golf tournaments including the Bing Crosby National Pro-Am (now the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am) and was involved with many Coaching Clinics as a speaker and participant throughout Northern California.

Buz is preceded in death by his wife Lucy Williams; his parents Rolfe Kenneth, Sr and Ramona Williams, sister Cheron Stressen-Reuter, brother Britt Williams, nephew Shay Williams, and sister-in-law Susan Williams.  He is survived by his children Ray Williams (Moab, Utah), Kathy Molinari (Foster City, California) and Mike Williams (Louisville, Colorado); grandchildren Flash Williams (Fort Collins, Colorado), Dominic Molinari (Tracy, California); and great grand-daughter Brielle Molinari (Tracy, California). 

A Memorial and Celebration of Life will be held on June 22 at 12 p.m. at Sneider & Sullivan & O'Connell's in San Mateo. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the International Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva Association (www.ifopa.org), or a charity of your choosing.