Ronald J. Motta J.D. ’59 was born on Nov. 28, 1933, to Italian immigrants Joseph and Clara Motta who came to America for a better life. Ron spent his earlier years in the Bronx, N.Y. Italian was his first language and he could speak little English his first day of school. Ron was very bright and at an early age. He excelled in school, later graduating from Iona Prep, then Holy Cross followed by a law degree from SCU. Ron strove to be “Christ-like” his entire life. His parents would say admiringly that he was special; he was very smart, very nice, and generous to a fault. Ron truly lived his life in service to God, his family, his friends, and his community. He was a noble and respected attorney, who helped innumerable people along his way. Known as a sweet, sweet man, most of his good deeds went unnoticed. He was always volunteering at various charities wherever he lived, including starting the Fremont Boys Club in the 1970s and serving on the Alameda County Board of Education and Easter Seals Board. He taught skiing to blind and developmentally disabled children, served on Legal Aid, and volunteered at different courthouses in different capacities. He was honored by the naming of the Ronald J. Motta School for the Developmentally Disabled in Fremont in the 1980s. Extremely witty, bright, and charming, Ron made everyone feel at ease and loved. He made it a priority to single out and advise those in need, no matter who they were or where they came from. His sense of humor was infectious, and people were drawn to his warmth, his empathy, and his sincerity. He had so many dear friends and treasured these relationships his entire life. Ron was happiest when he was with his family and his great friends. Just a few days before he left, he reminisced, “We had a million laughs.” Ron met Marilyn on a blind date when he was a deputy with the Alameda County district attorney; they were later married in Dunsmuir, California, raising their four children in Fremont, where Ron had a busy law practice. Once retired, they moved to the Sierra Nevada in Arnold, California, and then more recently to the Oakmont Community in Santa Rosa. A husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, great-grandfather, godfather, colleague, and cherished friend, Ron left us after a valiant and courageous fight with cancer on Dec. 2, 2015, while surrounded by loved ones. He is survived by loving wife, Marilyn, of 54 years; his children, Joe (Donna), Michele Rouse (Tom), and Christina Motta Horvat; his grandchildren, Sara Barker (Justin), Stephen, Elizabeth, Dominique, Ronny, Tony, Nicky, Joey, and Gabriella; and newest family members and great-grandchildren Amelia and Matilda. Ron is also survived by a loving and grieving family throughout California and as far away as Italy.