Celebration of Life scheduled for Ronald Parks, first mayor of Temecula, who passed away at 79
TEMECULA, CA – With sincere condolences, Temecula Mayor Maryann Edwards announced that Temecula’s first Mayor, Ronald Jack Parks (“Ron”) passed away on August 10, 2021.
The City’s deepest sympathies are with his wife, Debbie, Uncle, Edwin Nix a/k/a “Duke”, three children, Dan Parks, Erin Parks, and Lisa Parks, two stepchildren, Kelly Shirey and Eddie Spetz, and eleven grandchildren.
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Mayor Maryann Edwards states, “The City of Temecula grieves the loss of a dear friend, colleague and kind soul who was instrumental in Temecula’s incorporation. His more than 17 years of dedicated service as Council Member, Mayor and City Engineer were devoted to the establishment of the guiding principles and tenets that provided the foundation for the Temecula we know and love today and envision for tomorrow. Personally, Ron was a dear friend and colleague who loved people and loved our City. His jovial nature, warm personality and a mischievous twinkle in his eye made him a perfect fit for Temecula’s first, and in my mind, Temecula’s “forever” Santa. His wisdom matched his wit, making him a highly respected leader and advisor. I am a better person and Council Member for having known him and worked with him.”
“Ron was a dear friend and colleague who loved people and loved our City,” Temecula’s current mayor Mayor Maryann Edwards said after the passing of Temecula’s first mayor, Ronald J. Parks. “His jovial nature, warm personality and a mischievous twinkle in his eye made him a perfect fit for Temecula’s first, and in my mind, Temecula’s “forever” Santa.”
Mr. Parks was the first Mayor of the City of Temecula and was elected to two terms on the City Council where his leadership and vision for a high-quality, world-class City shaped Temecula in its formative years from 1989 through 1996. Starting in 1997, Mr. Parks employed his civil engineering degree and love for Temecula to serve as the City’s Deputy Director of Public Works until he retired in 2006. As Deputy of Public Works, during the height of Temecula’s exponential growth, he oversaw infrastructure for developments such as Harveston, Paseo Del Sol, Paloma Del Sol, the Auto Mall, the Promenade Temecula Mall, Wolf Creek, Home Depot, entitlements for Sommers Bend (formerly referred to as Roripaugh Ranch), and the first expansion of Pechanga Parkway including its much-needed bridge, among many other projects. After retirement, Mr. Parks reflected humbly on his years at the City and stated, “We made the best decisions we could. I’m very proud of what we did.”
Temecula City Manager Aaron Adams states, “I appreciate what Mayor Parks did in setting such an important foundation for a brand-new City in 1989. As a long time City of Temecula employee, I had the privilege to work alongside Ron when he brought his civil engineering talents to the City’s Public Works Department after he served on the City Council. Temecula remains a very special community due to leaders like Ron who loved this City, gave back selflessly, and had vision and high expectations for their City. The City of Temecula is better because it had such a leader in Mayor Ron Parks, may he rest in peace.”
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Mayor Edwards adds, “Ron is a hero to Temecula. His involvement and leadership continue to make our community the best place to live, work and raise a family. He touched the lives of many people with his integrity, wisdom, generosity, and extraordinary sense of humor. Ron Parks, the “real” Santa Claus, gave us the best gift of all. He gave us Temecula as the City’s Santa Claus in the annual Holiday Parade for many years.”
Mr. Parks died on his 79th birthday, August 10, 2021. The public is welcome to attend a funeral Mass to be held in honor of Ron Parks at St. Martha Catholic Church in Murrieta on Tuesday, August 31, 2021, at 10am, and a Celebration of Life Reception to follow at Temecula City Hall starting at 11am.
OBITUARY, August 20, 2021
Ronald Jack Parks
79 years old
Murrieta, CaliforniaOur community lost a pillar on Tuesday, August 10, 2021 when Ronald Jack Parks passed away at home after complications from heart surgery. Ron’s contributions to Temecula Valley are deep and manifold. Born in Oklahoma City in 1942, Ron moved with his parents to Bellflower, California in 1948. He earned a degree in Civil Engineering at Cal State Long Beach and moved to Rancho California in 1972 to work for Rancho California Development Company as an engineer and grading contractor, helping to build the Valley’s civil infrastructure. In 1985 Parks created his own company, Ramtek, with Merrill Purves, and worked on a number of engineering and development projects in the area. Ron was elected as the first Mayor of Temecula in 1989 and served two terms on the Temecula City Council. From 1996 to 2006 he was the Deputy Director of Public Works for the City of Temecula. Ron took great pride in solving problems, building consensus, and enhancing the quality of life in his community. He was honored with the Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008.
Beyond his professional life, Ron always made time for community service. He coached Pop Warner Football and took his team to the national finals in Hawaii in 1982. Parks was a Charter Member of the Rotary Club of Temecula, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Southwest Riverside County, and FOS Golf Club. Ron’s favorite hobby was golf, and he played many rounds with friends over the years. A devout Catholic, he attended mass regularly and had a profound commitment to his faith. He lived in Murrieta with his dear wife, Debbie, for 21 years, and they vacationed at their homes in St. Petersburg, Florida and Palo Verde, California on the Colorado River. They also enjoyed trips to Tahiti, Panama, and Europe together. Ron had a wonderful sense of humor and made Debbie laugh every day. Whether dressed up as Santa Claus during the holidays or as Ernest Hemingway in a look-alike contest, Ron always brought cheer into peoples’ lives and lived life to the fullest. He was a loving husband, father, and friend with a warm spirit, sharp wit, and kind heart. Ron will be greatly missed by many. He is survived by his wife Debbie, uncle Edwin Nix a/k/a “Duke,” three children, Dan Parks, Erin Parks, and Lisa Parks, two tepchildren, Kelly Shirey and Eddie Spetz, and eleven grandchildren.
A funeral Mass will be held to honor Ron Parks at St. Martha Catholic Church at 10am on Tuesday, August 31, 2021, and a Celebration of Life Reception at 11am at Temecula City Hall. Memories and condolences may be sent to the family at Murrieta Valley Mortuary www.MurrietaValleyFuneralHome.com.
Submitted by: City of Temecula
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Trevor Montgomery, 50, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source (RCNS) and Shasta County News Source (SCNS).
Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County-based newspapers Valley News, Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; the Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County; and Mountain Echo in Shasta County. He is also a regular contributor to Thin Blue Line TV and Law Enforcement News Network and has had his stories featured on news stations throughout the Southern California and North State regions.
Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)
During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.
Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.
Trevor has been married for more than 30 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 18 grandchildren.