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It was a sad and dark Columbus Day October 14, 2024 when the NSAA and RC’s extended family had to say goodbye to Ronnie Combs. He succumbed to a number of difficult maladies at his home in Simi Valley at the age of 77. RC was the 2nd member of the All Time Team (John B) to migrate to the Big Ballfield in the Sky.
(You may doubt this but Stephen Hawking says it can't be ruled out.)
He was a major leaguer in flag football too, logging 37 Sunday afternoons on the college upper. He always played barefooted and loved barking at Neil for “Extra hard, extra late” blocks or tackles. We played basketball too, utilizing different gyms around the Glendale-Burbank area with Creeper, Tom Kick, Fred C, Bennie Combs and Mike Cominsky taking part. RC turned out to be a great recruiter as well. He brought around Silvio N, Ray N, Rick Lipp, the Brain, Ross Bradley, Dickie Koller and Randy Carlson among others.
THE EARLY YEARS
During and after graduating HS at Crescenta Valley in 1965, RC hung out at Montrose Bowl. There he met a few guys who would eventually appear on the NSAA ball field, but none more important than a guy named Fred C. The "Fredder” was 7 or 8 years older than RC but the two seemed to hit it off big time. Fred was a very enterprising individual who was working two jobs, stocking shelves at Von’s market in Glendale during the week and hawking tip sheets for Bud Baedeker at Santa Anita and Hollypark on the weekends. All the while operating as an independent Turf Accountant. He would loom large for RC later in life.
A few years down the line in 1970, Ronnie married Jo Nichols when they eloped to the Little Chapel in the Desert in Vegas. (Fifteen months later, Jane and I would make the exact same trip.) Jo was the perfect gal for RC (apart from being cute as a button) because she realized he was a bit of a free spirit. Most wives seem to prefer a more authoritarian role (right guys?) but Jo just “kept him between the guard rails” ….masterfully, for 54 years. During that time, the pair produced three high-energy daughters, Hillary, Christy and Annie.
After being married and living in a La Crescenta rental for about 3 years, Jo signed off on hosting the 1974 NSAA Awards banquet. (More behavior rarely seen in wives.)
On that fatefull night, 23 tanked up ball players were given access to an earthquake condemned house out behind the Combs’ digs. A condemned house, a lot of booze and 23 NSAAers, gee what could possibly go wrong? Id have to refer those interested to the 74 Fall newsletter or to the La Crescenta police blotter achieves.
Don’t know if they were asked to move, or did it on their own, but shortly thereafter they bought a house out in Simi Valley, for an amount less than Neil’s latest Cadillac, where they lived out their entire marriage and raised three kids.
RC had a varied professional life. He was in fast food at Jack in the Box and Jessups Dairy then moved on to Ralph’s market for a 10 year gig as a butcher. Fred C then stepped in and hired him as an OTC stock trader down on LA’s Wall Street. He worked there for 4 years then did some house painting with Bill Doo before moving on to an 18 year stint at the Post Office. He also dabbled in sports betting along the way with both Fred and his nephew Ray N.
JO RELATES THAT RONNIE OPTED FOR NO FUNERAL.
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UP THE HILL Combs not only could play all the sports, he stayed on top of the world of sports too, including, of course, horse racing. I don’t think there was anything he enjoyed more than discussing sports, politics, UFOs and the latest point spreads while plopped on a bar stool at his favorite La Crescenta watering hole, Up-The- Hill.
One day, when RC failed to show for a softball game he swore he’d make, Bif advised Commish, I don’t think you realize the power a bar stool and a tall-cool-one have over Ronnie after a long day at work. Proof? He made 307 evening softball games in his NSAA career, yes, but also passed on 800 others. .
Ronnie was generous to a fault. I can't remember how many times I saw him pull a wad of bills out of his jeans, peel off a fiver and give it to some poor panhandler sitting on the street corner. Furthermore, he was always kind to animals and he donated an enormous amount of time subjugating himself to the wacky whims of Eddie Lee.
But if I had to tab the Nirvana spot for the boy it would be the Del Mar motel. He did 24 junkets there, including 18 in a row before missing in 1991. The strange thing was you never knew ahead of time if or when he was gonna show up or when he might just up and leave. If pressed he would always say, “You know I don’t like to plan stuff too far in advance.”
On one junket, RC rolled in hours late and claimed he’d already lost his luggage. He had us all searching for a brown suitcase with red trim. Unable to find it anywhere, we learned later that it was a Ralphs bag.
Checking old newsletters, I can’t find RC on any of the TJ runs, even tho there must have been at least a dozen made with most of them in Dave’s step van. Given all the debauchery that transpired below the border, (nothing good ever happens in Tijuana) this shows what a strong character he had……..OR… he was reluctant to put his life in the hands of Mr. Toad.
It goes without saying how much this boy is gonna be missed, so lets do this:
Using the tune from the old SARA LEE CUPCAKE commercial, sing after me:
EVERYBODY DOESN’T LIKE SOMEONE------ BUT NOBODY DIDN’T LIKE RONNIE COMBS.
Truer words were never spoken.
Steve S, Neil B, Bill Doo and Joe S contributed to this story.
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As early as 11 years old, RC was deemed to be the 2nd best looking of the 3 Combs brothers.
Fred reunited with RC in 1982 and hooked him up with a stock trading job in downtown LA. 
With Jo, Sharon and Creeper at Junior's wedding 1986.
Skullduggery was afoot early at the 74 Awards Banquet.
RC attained the Gold Standard for sluggers when he popped one into the tennis courts at Wilson one night.
BIF: RC you're red as a lobster. Better get out of the sun.
"As soon as I finish this lobster tail, I gotta story for ya."
NEIL: "I got the first five in the Pick 6. Gotta get over there. RC: "Are you serious, bra?"