We are all saddened to hear of the sudden passing of Ron. Ron was a GREAT coach. But first and foremost he was a Wonderful teacher. In his unique way, he brought out the best from every kid and every team he coached. He taught his students important lessons that would last a life time. He showed us winning is not everything, but how you play the game is more important. After every game, win or lose, and regardless of what had happened during the game, Ron would be smiling, and shaking hands with referees and the opposing team. His passing is a tremendous loss for the Cupertino community. Housing price should drop by at least 10%. Rest in peace Ron, we will always have you in our heart and in our conversations. Thank you for giving us some of the best moments of our lives. We will miss your Christmas, stealth delivery of sweet, spirit, and love.

I can't express how thankful I am that Ron was in my life. His influence impacted far more than sports and academics, but my capacity to understand myself and what was possible mentally and physically. Ron put his heart into everything. He never held back. If there's anything we can learn from Ron, it is to care, with great passion and tireless energy, for the things we love doing and the people we surround ourselves with, everyday.

Ron truly was a great coach, and taught me everything I know about water polo. He taught me to love the sport, and always challenged me to be the best I could. I can never truly thank him enough for what he did for me and all the other students who he's touched. One of my fondest memories of him was when we tried (and were somehow successful) to fit over 10 players in his car after an Aptos tourney at the beginning of the year. He made the sport fun and encouraged me to push my limits. Thanks for everything Ron!

Success in today's world is usually measured by money, power, or status. Another measure of value is influence. Calculated in that currency, Ron Freeman was Midas. His touch spread gold through the lives of thousands of young adults, especially young males, in a way too elusive to estimate in today's harsh light and will pay dividends for many years to come. At their most vulnerable kids enter high school; hoping to gain the tools they need to make their way in life. If they were lucky, they met Ron. If they were blessed they played for him. He nurtured each budding adult on his team with the diligence of a farmer. Giving them water, sun, fresh air, pruning carefully to encourage a bountiful harvest. He encouraged team, demanded and gave respect, instilled the worth of work, and embodied the word mentor. He challenged, supported, enlightened, and enriched. He will be missed. Not everyone is replaceable. Our family will always be thankful that Ron was part of our lives.

Ron Freeman. He taught EVERYTHING that our boys know about water polo, plus more. He modeled discipline (5:45 am workouts!), hard work (summer training at Bellarmine), patience (long speeches), fun (team dinners!), and camaraderie (more team dinners!). He helped our growing boys build muscle and made physical fitness a lifetime value. Ron set the standard high, and the boys stepped up to it. He made it a privilege and an honor to wear an MV speedo. Ron Freeman was an exceptional coach whom we all respected and loved. It was a great privilege for our family to have known Ron . . . a man with a big heart, a man who cared deeply about his students.

Coach Ron Freeman was a great man. I look back at his character and his diligence to being a great coach was truly inspiring. As much as I despised his screaming ("Screamin' Freeman"), he helped mold me into the man that I am today. My parents, brother, and I are deeply saddened by his loss and he will be missed by the community and the people he's coached over the years.

Ron Freeman was one of a kind and he will be missed by former/present athletes, students and families. We did not know for years who the "Secret Santa" was driving up to our house at 4 am on Christmas morning for years, and actually tried to catch him and missed every time. When Ron finally revealed that he was "Santa" we thought it was his way of saying goodbye to the yearly middle of the night driving on Christmas morning. But no, not Ron, because he never quit anything he started! We moved away from Cupertino over five years ago and how surprised were we on the first Christmas in our new home that there was a big box on the front door step! That box arrived like clockwork every year and usually on Christmas Eve. It was magic! He was so unbelievably generous in spirit and heart that it was never what he left on our doorstep but the fact that he took the time to do something special for so many people. We will miss Ron, his spirit and enthusiasm for teaching and nurturing all of the students who have come before him. If there is Water Polo in heaven he is already getting his team together!

I'm very saddened to hear that my friend Ron Freeman is no longer with us. It was nice to live around the corner from MV and go visit him when I would return home to visit my family. He was always joyful (even when the lane lines were broken or the heater not working). I appreciate him coaching me and his friendship later. It was partly because of him that I went on to coach professionally myself. Thank you Ron. May you now rest in peace. You left a great legacy of care and honor and helped many young men through tough adolescent years. I'll miss seeing you Ron. MV will not be the same without you. May this remind us all to take advantage of opportunities to say and do the things that matter most in life to the people we care about. We just never know when those special opportunities will be gone.

Dear Ron, I was taken aback when I read of your passing. It's been 22 years since we've seen each other, but I have often found myself thinking of you. You and your teams were fantastic rivals to the teams I coached. I will never forget your passion for the game, and for coaching and mentoring kids. It was always enjoyable watching you interact with your team, and especially the refs. Perhaps we'll meet again, and most likey in front of the 2 meter line struggling for that great hole shot. God Bless You and Your Family, Ron.

Among the outstanding teachers who comprised the faculty community at Monta Vista High School in the last thirty years, Ron Freeman left a memorable legacy. Ron had a genuine love for life and whatever it brought his way. He was a true friend to many and an example of the power of enthusiasm and the idea of giving all you have to improve the lives of others. Ron was someone who was willing to spend the time required to inspire students to go beyond limitations by reaching into that deeper place of excellence we all have within us. It was an honor to know him and we will miss him.

When I went to high school I always loved practices, I loved the game of Water Polo and I often was happy when practices were over and Ron would stop riding my butt. He never accepted second best. He yelled at us not for the sake of yelling but because he knew we could do better. He was convinced to take us to the next level. Practices were grueling and I often went home and just wanted to be left alone. I was exhausted. What I didn't realize was that Ron was shaping who I am today. He taught us to work hard, have high expectations and never stop reaching for the stars. Thank You Ron for always believing and for teaching those valuable lessons. You are missed. Rest in Peace!!!

I had the pleasure of being on Ron's 1st Water Polo team at Monta Vista. He took over the team from a legendary coach and was determined maintain a high quality program. He poured his heart and soul into coaching back then and it's clear, through all the tributes to his memory, that he did so throughout his career. He cared about each of his players and he gave up much of his personal time to support the team both in and out of the pool. Ron will be missed and just as he had big shoes to fill, his successor will have a lot to live up to! Thank you Ron!

I'm so sad to read this. Like a lot of us, I took for granted that Ron and his inimitable fashion sense (sorry Ron, I had to say it) would be with us for a much longer time. I wish I had a chance to tell him how much he meant to me, how much fun I had being around him in high school, how I still laugh when I think about 'stealing' his car from the 'Jim Otto' Burger King lot on ski trips (probably the most fun I ever had with my learners permit) or when we found the cache of lottery tickets in the glove box of his ole' Dart after he crashed it saving Jay's life up at Tahoe. I'll never cease to be amazed at how he never stayed mad at us for too long no matter what we pulled. Back then, I would do anything for Ron and somewhere in the back of my mind even then I realized that he did everything for us.
I wish I had taken the time to tell Ron that he was more than a 'coach' to me, that he was one of my best friends. I don't know if I've ever met anyone who believed in me more than he did. Without his encouragement and dependability, I don't know how I would have transformed from the awkward confused kid I was to the focused, confident, and successful individual I became. I'm pretty sure that he knew that I felt this way about him, but still I wish he was here, so I could listen to his stories and ask him for his advice one more time. Ron, I'm gonna miss you.