Rich Alderson was born December 25th, 1946 in Franklin, Missouri, but spent
most of his childhood and his whole adult life in California. Rich earned his bachelor’s degree and teaching credential from Long Beach State and then earned a master’s degree and administrative credential
from the University of San Francisco. Rich spent 20 years teaching high school biology and ESL and was a high school football and
baseball coach.
Rich had several school administrator positions in Riverside and North
San Diego Counties before becoming the principal of Rancho Buena Vista
High School in 1999. Rich’ accomplishments at RBV were numerous but some of his most important achievements were:
Taking leadership of RBV following a very disruptive and controversial
administration and restoring academic excellence and school pride. He
restored camaraderie and team building. He believed in shared
leadership and trusted his educational leaders to make decisions. He
encouraged and supported educators to think out of the box and develop
highly successful programs.
He oversaw the highly successful AP and IB academic programs.
He enjoyed record setting academic and athletic scholarships of his
graduating seniors. Scholarships totalling more than a million
dollars.
He greatly expanded the AVID program, a program to assist first
generation and under-represented students attending college.
Besides a focus on academic performance, Rich supported award winning
performing arts programs in drama and dance, as well as encouraging
the highly touted RBV Baile Folklorico.
Rich steered the Longhorn Foundation to fund-raise and build the
Longhorn Stadium in order to accommodate crowds for sports
competition and graduation ceremonies.
Rich also worked with the Longhorn Foundation to provide funding and
support for under funded sports programs and facilities at RBV.
Probably his best known success was the development and mentoring of a
dozen future principals that would move on to other sites in the
District. Some would move on to the District Office.
Rich would move on to become a Superintendent at the Julian School
District as well as return to serve on the Vista Unified School
District Board of Education.
After retiring as a school administrator Rich became an advocate for
students with special needs. In his time as an advocate he worked
with dozens of students and families to help them get access to the
support they would need to become successful students and accomplish
their educational goals. Rich was also a member of the Juvenile
Justice Commission for 4 years and in his term on the commission he
was focused on helping troubled youth get access to the educational
support they would need to become successful students and prepare them
for their future.
Rich’s hobbies varied. He was a lifelong athlete, but golf became one
of his favorite pastimes and even COVID could not stop him from going
to the course once or twice a week. He loved traveling with his wife Sue.
The two of them visited Mexico frequently, but were able to
visit Europe once or twice to see their youngest son. Rich loved
being a coach and coached his sons and grandchildren in many different
sports. Rich took great pride in all of the accomplishments of his
friends and family. The common thread between being a coach, teacher,
principal, School Board Member, advocate for students with special
needs, father, and grandfather was that Rich was invested in seeing
the people he influenced reach their maximum potential.
Rich is survived by his wife of 26 years, Sue Alderson; daughter,
Stephanie LoCasio; sons, Zachary Alderson, Ariel Castaneda, and
Joachim Castaneda; his mother, Betty Temme; sister, Nancy Alderson;
brother, Bob Temme; and 7 grandchildren.
Rich passed peacefully in his sleep on February, 6 at 3:29 pm
There will be a zoom service on February Saturday the 13, at 2:30 , after a short service you are invited to share your memories of Rich
Zoom informations for Saturday
https://us02web.zoom.us/s/
83724888014?pwd
R1NTRkJDZ1lyNGZCRWFVaGFMdHZCQT09 Meeting ID: 837 2488 8014
Passcode: 33999
A montage is being set up and it will start
at 2:00 pm
If you have any pictures to share, please send them to
RichRemembered@gmail.com
A scholarship fund is set up in Rich’s name
Please mail your donations to
VTASF
c/o Paul Farrar
18218 -165 Paradise Mountain Rd
Valley Center,CA 92082
