Ronnie Tassin 24 Memorial Scholarship

Ronnie Tassin was my best friend, a great friend to many others and one hell of a guy to hang out with.   Although I lived out of my home state of California for many many years, he was the first one I contacted after my parents each time I came home for a visit.  

Friends knew what a huge heart Ronnie had.  It's almost as though he felt he had to win people's friendship, and nothing could have been further from the truth.  Ronnie was so likeable and so much fun to be with, people lit up when he entered a room. 

In addition to being funny, warm and generous, he was comfortable with people and made them feel welcome and at ease.  Nothing stagnated when he was around and everyone became part of the action.

Ronnie was a very successful owner of a granite and marble fabrication business.  As his business grew it required him to move his inventory to bigger warehouses.  During one of these moves, Ronnie was operating  a fork lift with a heavy load of granite.  The unbalanced fork lift tipped over and threw him partially from the cab.  He did not survive his numerous injuries.  

Ronnie as many of you know was a very good overall athlete in and out of the water.  He also inspired his friends in many ways.  He approached all his task with a competitor and hustle attitude.  For this we will name the scholarships we want to create"the Ronnie Tassin competitor and hustler scholarships" in the sports of football swimming , water polo and HB State Jr. Lifeguards.  Please donate to his cause and memory....


Paddle out photo Monday October 19, 2015

Ronnie started as a wide receiver for the 1979 football CIF and State crowned Champion Edison High Chargers.  He later went on to star as a running back for Santa Ana Jr. College.  Ronnie was also a very good tennis player and an excellent skier.  He spent many skiing seasons in Colorado and won several "Bump" contest in local competitions. 

In 1974, RAT (Ronnie), began his lifeguard career as a Huntington Beach junior lifeguard.  From 1980 to 2000, he was a lifeguard at HBSB.  He was a highly regarded CPR and First Aid instructor for lifeguard training.

He had a cool head, quick reflexes and was an exceptionally strong swimmer.

Those quick reflexes helped him effect more than 1,000 rescues during his 20 years as a seasonal guard, according to his former supervisor.

Some of Ronnie's (RAT's) past lifeguard competition accomplishments include: 1986 USLA Landline Team champion, 1987 National Champion Flags, 1987 Taplin Relay Champion (Dory Leg), 1998 USA representative in the Lifeguard World Games in Australia and earned several medals and trophies in the Run/Swim/Run, Surf Ski and long distance swimming events.

Once, while at a resturant with friends, a man at a nearby table began choking and turning blue.  Ronnie put down his fork, strolled over to the table, applied the Heimlich maneuver, then sat down and, without a word, resumed eating.


My friends, your friends and friends of Ronnie are being counted on to keep his memory alive yearly by donating to his scholarship fund ("competitor and hustler scholarships") to help at need student athletes at his high school (Edison in Huntington Beach, CA) and Huntington Beach Junior Lifeguards with participation fees.

For many of us participation fees where never needed for school activities.  But the times we live in now are different.

Remember these donations are for at need students:

Football, $900 for each student x 3 = $2,700
Swimming, $250 for each student x 2 = $500
Water Polo, $250 for each student x 2 = $500
HB State Jr lifguard, $410 for each x 2 = $820

Portion of Ronnie's parents plane ticket from Texas for his remembrance celebration October 19, 2015 = $350

We are seeking donations of $10 and above....
Those who donate $25 and above.... will receive a commemorative beverage mug and be recognized  at the teams football banquet and in the Edison football program each year....

Please add your high school name, location and class


10 Year High School reunion photo

Along the way he did plenty of partying with friends.  

His dream had been to be a permanent lifguard.  
But when that didn't come to pass, he became partners in a janitorial cleaning service that ended up specializing in granite and marble restoration and fabrication.  That led Ronnie to form his own company, Marble Man Stone Shapers in Corona.  He sold that company and began to import granite and marble from China.

He vowed to make a million dollars.  He hadn't made his million yet, but believed he was well on his way.  

What he did end up making and having was a richness of friends....

10 years after his passing, the goal of his friends should be to keep his memory alive at the start of each school year and football season in helping young students with their needs....

His Edison letterman jacket and championship ring will hang in the locker room.  His many lifeguard competition medals will forever be displayed at Huntington Beach lifeguard headquarters.


As the sun sets on the 10 year rememberance celebration for you October 19, 2015, we, your friends will rise each day to keep your memory alive my friend.... 

You can view a memorial video of Ronnie at youtube.com.  Enter the URL: Jk63y1jx4bw

Love and Thank you all,
Kerwin K. Bell