Ralph Haslam

We are sad to announce the passing of Ralph William Haslam of Pollock Pines, CA. Ralph died at the age of 76 surrounded by his loved ones on July 6th, 2023.
Ralph was born in Napa, CA on September 30, 1946. Soon, his family moved to Garberville, CA, where he attended elementary and high school, graduating in 1964. Ralph earned his BA from Chico State in 1968 and his teaching credential in 1969, and later earned an MA and administrator’s credential from Sacramento State.
Ralph met his wife Donna while they attended college. They were married on August 30, 1969, and celebrated nearly 53 happy years together.
Ralph was a teacher and vice principal for 10 years in Vacaville, CA. In 1980, Ralph and Donna moved to Pollock Pines so he could become principal in the Pollock Pines school district, a role he worked in at different schools for the next 31 years. Ralph loved science and getting kids interested in the field and visited K-4th grade classrooms as “the Principal of Science” to perform interactive experiments with them (Ralph also loved a pun). Ralph retired in 2011.
In Ralph’s recent years, in his spare time he enjoyed reading, tinkering at his workbench, volunteering at the Snowline Hospice Thrift Shop, and being a collection counter for St. Patrick’s in Placerville. All the way into his 70s, Ralph enjoyed camping, fishing, and family gatherings. He held a special reverence for the outdoors, fostered by time in the Humboldt redwoods where he worked as a park ranger in his youth.
Ralph is predeceased by his parents Frank and Eunice Haslam and his in-laws John and Betty Soletti. He leaves behind his wife Donna, his son Alan (fiancée Brionna), his son Matthew (wife Laura), and his step-granddaughters Hannah and Makenna. He also leaves behind is brother-in-law John Soletti (wife Irene) and sister-in-law Patsy Hough ( husband Tom). Ralph will always be in their hearts.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, August 10th at 11am at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church with a luncheon reception to follow. A private family burial will be held at the Mt. Shasta Memorial Chapel.