Gary von Raesfeld unexpectedly passed away on December 17, 2022 at 59 years old.
Von Raesfeld was a true legend among the entire St. Vincent de Paul community. No job title will ever describe how much he did for the school.
“Gary’s impact on the school really can’t be put into words. It always amazes me how much knowledge he had,” Mustangs athletic director Heather Campbell said. “He was always willing to go the extra mile.”
Anytime someone came to St. Vincent de Paul for a sporting event, they would see Von Raesfeld. Gary, nicknamed GVon by students and faculty, had a deep love for high school sports and always looked forward to an athletic contest. He spent his final full day helping host a basketball tournament.
Von Raesfeld spent every football game this past season on the sideline keeping track of offensive stats, and this is just one of many ways he contributed to the Mustangs impressive 12-1 season. He was also with the team when they won the North Coast Section Division 7 championship the year before.
“Gary helped with so many off the field things, and the things he did will never be duplicated,” St. Vincent de Paul head football coach Trent Herzog said. “He will be extremely missed and will never be replaced.”
Von Raesfeld was also known for being incredibly friendly, both with people from his school and those of opposing schools. He respected every team of every sport and was always accessible if someone needed assistance. Everyone also knew of his legendary sports memory, as he could name any stat from any point in St. Vincent sports history.
“GVon had an encyclopedic memory of not only St. Vincent, but of the entire Redwood Empire,” St. Vincent de Paul wide receiver/strength and conditioning coach Cameron Eisenhauer said. “I always admired his positive attitude, work ethic, and the pride he had for the school.”
Von Raesfeld gained so much respect from anyone that he ever met. Any person to have known him would have nice things to say about him, as he truly always did his best to make others happy and satisfied.
“Gary was a genuinely kind human being,” Campbell said. “He made me feel welcome here from day one. I wish he was still here so I could continue to learn from him.”
Gary von Raesfeld will be missed dearly, and is truly an irreplaceable piece of St. Vincent de Paul High School.
