CAFFROY, Richard Lee

The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona Tuesday, April 6, 2010 Richard Lee Caffroy, born Oct. 30, 1927, died Saturday, March 27, 2010, in Prescott, Ariz. Born in Pomona, Calif., Dick graduated from San Bernardino High School, where he enjoyed and excelled in baseball, lettering all four years. From there, he pursued his passion, eventually playing in the Brooklyn Dodgers organization on the team's first rookie team with some of the game's greatest legends. Eventually, Dick had to choose between his love of the game and the love of his life, Suenel (Slape) Caffroy, and the Caffroy family began. Dick and Susie were married on Aug. 7, 1948, and settled down in Ontario, Calif. The couple was the picture of the American Dream: a hard-working husband and a loving wife and mother raising a growing family. Dick worked in the printing industry for many years before moving the family to Beaumont to work with Susie and her father at the El Rancho, a well-known motel, restaurant and liquor store known to many who traveled Interstate 10 through Southern California. Dick balanced activities of a busy family life (summer camping adventures, coaching the kids' athletic teams and square dancing with Susie) with volunteering in the community (member of Riverside County Sheriff's Mountain Search and Rescue Team as well as a Reserve Police Officer in Beaumont) and the challenges of running a successful and growing business. Once the kids had all made it through school and headed out to start their own families, Dick and Susie sold the El Rancho, retired to Prescott and embarked on a new set of adventures: building their dream home in Arizona's high country and traveling regularly around the U.S. together... quite often to visit their grandchildren. And, of course, Dick had to plenty of time to get re-acquainted with his favorite pastime (baseball) again, this time from the stands, where he loved to call pitches and discuss strategy. Dick is survived by Susie Caffroy, his wife of 61 years; daughter Linda Rubert; sons Jim and Dave Caffroy; grandchildren Jill Hunter, Daniel Rubert, Amanda Rubert and Lindsey Caffroy; and great-grandchildren Carson Rubert and Brady Rubert, all of whom will always remember the good times we shared and the strength, leadership and devotion he brought to our family. Information provided by survivors.