RONALD L. ZAITZ

Ronald L. Zaitz, 79, of Weaverville, passed away peacefully with his family at his side on Feb. 5, 2010, at Shasta Regional Medical Center in Redding, after a sudden illness.

Mr. Zaitz was born March 30, 1930, in Cleveland, Ohio. He grew up in the Chicago suburbs before moving to Port Washington, Wis., where he graduated from high school in 1948. He turned down congressional appointment to Annapolis in favor of attending the University of Wisconsin, where he graduated as a metallurgical engineer in 1952.

Mr. Zaitz joined the Air Force and was stationed in Japan during the Korean War as a first lieutenant. Until 1957, he worked at Allison Gas Turbine Division of General Motors in Indianapolis. He moved to the San Francisco Bay Area, married Carol, and joined Lockheed in Sunnyvale in 1958. He partnered with four other engineers to start an aerospace materials testing lab; he then worked at Eitel-McCullough and Varian Associates in Palo Alto. After living in Saratoga for 12 years, the family moved to Weaverville in July 1970 and purchased a small home improvement retail business.

Mr. Zaitz obtained his license as a professional engineer in the state of California, joined the Lions Club, the Lewiston Moose Lodge No. 1850, became a Weaverville volunteer fireman, and was a Weaverville fire commissioner for several years. He joined the E Clampus Vitus fraternal organization in 1971 and was Humbug (president) in 1978, was named a Proctor (governing board), and became the Sublime Noble Grand Humbug of all chapters of ECV.

In his retirement years, Mr. Zaitz created and maintained Web sites for various groups and individuals in Trinity County. He was Web master for many years for the Alfa Romeo Owners of Oregon and was an enthusiastic Alfa owner and driver.

Mr. Zaitz, who had no siblings, is survived by his wife of 51 years, Carol; sons Douglas Zaitz of Spokane, Wash., and Dave Zaitz and Scott Zaitz, both of Redding; and dear friends Doreen Albaugh and Dexter Rice, both of Redding. He was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Irma Zaitz, longtime residents of Weaverville.

At Mr. Zaitz’s request, there will be no funeral, but a celebration of his life will be held from 2 to 5 p m. Saturday, March 27, at the Golden Age Center in Weaverville. Interment will be at the Northern California Veterans Cemetery in Igo, Calif.

Donations would be appreciated to either the Golden Age Center, P.O. Box 1413, Weaverville, CA 96093, or to E Clampus Vitus Chapter 62 (for the Trinity County High School Scholarship Fund), P.O. Box 384, Weaverville, CA 96093.

The family thanks Allen & Dahl Funeral Chapel for its assistance, and extends sincere gratitude to the doctors and nurses in the Critical Care Unit of Shasta Regional Medical Center who gave such excellent care and support.