Ronald "Ron" Whipp

Ron Whipp died at home of respiratory failure and progressing Parkinson's. He had just joyfully attended the Santa Cruz County Fair and despite ongoing health challenges, he maintained a positive outlook to the end. 

Ron was raised in San Diego and attended the University of Redlands where he met his future wife, Dukh Niwaran Kaur. He joined the Navy after graduating, serving on the USS Truxtun during Vietnam.  Ron and Dukh Niwaran married in 1970, settling in San Diego.  After he left the service, they took a 3-month trip across the country during peak fall and then moved to Pacific Grove.  His beloved son, Michael, was born in Monterey, and Ron was a devoted dad. 

Ron worked in Admin and HR for Monterey County before becoming risk manager for Santa Cruz County and, later, the Santa Clara Valley Water District. Among his accomplishments, he helped form a risk-sharing pool of public agencies to help counties that couldn’t get insurance. Ron served on the Live Oak School Board and was a founding and board member of Village Santa Cruz County.

Ron was a communicator, a negotiator. He mentored many people and treated everyone with dignity and respect.  He had a great sense of humor.  He loved to travel and was a passionate collector of old postcards and Greentown glass.

He is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, his son, brother Glenn, sisters-in-law Christine Whipp and Cynthia Gaskell, niece Katie and nephew Sean. The family wishes to thank caregivers Robbie, Haydee, Jonathan, Joseph and Daniel for the incredible care they gave him.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, Oct. 18 at 11:00 AM at Pacific Gardens Chapel, 1050 Cayuga Street, Santa Cruz. Donations may be made to Village Santa Cruz County. Interment will be at the California Central Coast Veteran’s Cemetery at Fort Ord, 2900 Parker Flats Road, Seaside on Monday, Oct. 20 at 9:30 AM.