Ronnie was born in Amarillo, Texas on September 3, 1943 to Alfred Glen and Pauline Elliott.
His family moved to Monte Vista in 1958 where Ronnie attended Monte Vista High School and pursued the two greatest loves of his life: sports, and Dorothy Lehnerz; he was successful in both endeavors, playing football, basketball, and baseball, and, winning Dorothy’s heart. Ronnie and Dorothy were married on November 22, 1962, and spent almost 52 years together before his untimely passing.
Ronnie attended Adams
State College, graduating with a BA in Business and a teaching degree. Ronnie
made his living in education and as an administrator of the Colorado State
Veteran’s Center, but, he lived his life for his family and for sports.
In his seventy-one years of life, Ronnie coached flag
football teams, tackle football teams, youth basketball teams, and Babe Ruth
baseball teams. He led by example, with grace and dignity. He believed in hard
work, dedication, loyalty, and team spirit. He couldn’t abide a quitter and
loved the underdog. He saw the potential in each individual he coached and he
worked tirelessly to instill self-confidence and pride in his athletes. He was
patient, brave, and compassionate; three skills which prepared him for his most
challenging coaching assignment: raising three daughters.
In addition to coaching, Ronnie spent twenty-eight seasons
refereeing High School football and basketball games. He enjoyed the physical
challenge, overlooked the hecklers, and, called ‘em like he saw ‘em. He was installed
in the Colorado Football Association Hall of Fame in 2003, in honor of his
contributions.
His love of sports continued to the day he died, with avid
participation in Fantasy Football Leagues, where he was affectionately known as
Puff.
Ronnie was an active member of the Ski-Hi Stampede
Committee, volunteering his time and talent for over twenty years. He counted
Committee members among his best friends, and, it was for them that he actually
rode a horse. Once.
Privileged to have shared in his life, wife Dorothy,
daughters, Kristy (Clay) Corzine, Michelle (Steve) Gottlieb, and Brandi
Elliott, grandsons Bryce Corzine, Joshua Gottlieb and Brecken Reiser, granddaughters
Samantha Corzine and Brooke Gottlieb.
In addition, he is survived by sister, Glenda Osborne, Step-sister
Joan Messser, lifelong friends, Merv and Darla Self, friends and family too
numerous to mention, and, by Roper, the dog his wife swore he would never have.
Ronnie was preceded in death by his parents and by his son,
Richard Glen Elliott, and grandson, Mitchell Elliott Reiser, with whom he was no
doubt reunited on a heavenly football field. Practice started at 10:30 a.m. on the morning of October 19, 2014.
I love you, Daddy, and I miss you, already.
The world lost a good man way too soon. I am so, so sorry for the hurt you and your family are going through.
ReplyDelete(I usually comment as bikinfool, but this is different.)
I'm a long time lurker here, but reading your blog each morning is one of the bright spots in my day. I just wanted you to know how very, very sorry I am for you loss. I lost my dad suddenly 5 years ago and I still miss him each and every day. I sympathise with the pain that you are feeling.
ReplyDeleteI'm not going to offer any of the clichéd things that people say when you lose a loved one, because I know that right now they won't really help. But what I did want to say to you is that, even though
I am on the other side of the world to you, I am keeping you and your family in my thoughts and close to my heart as you grieve the loss of someone very dear to you.
Wishing you strength going forward, and solace in the happy memories that you shared.
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