San Jose State University Sports Hall of Fame member Rich Donner's contributions to the sport of water polo particularly in Northern California are generational and wide-ranging. From his playing days at Sequoia High School in Redwood City, Calif., to San Jose State College and San Francisco's Olympic Club, to a lengthy coaching career at the College of San Mateo and co-founding the Peninsula Referees Association to provide officials for high school matches, Mr. Donner was immersed, yet buoyant in water polo.
Mr. Donner's buoyancy ended on February 28, 2021 at age 81.
Born in San Francisco, Mr. Donner graduated from Sequoia High in 1954 and attended Menlo College before enrolling at San Jose State in 1956. The two-sport star was best known as a versatile player on the Spartans' state championship water polo teams of 1956, 1957, and 1958. His teammates included Peter Ueberroth and San Jose State Sports Hall of Fame members Dale Anderson, Art Lambert, Roger McCandleless, and Lee Walton. Even with the star-studded lineup, Mr. Donner was the team captain his senior season and Most Valuable Player as the team goalkeeper and a field player when legendary coach Charlie Walker wanted to change the Spartan game plan.
Team captain Rich Donner is holding the ball in the 1958 team photo.
With water polo as a fall sport, Mr. Donner also competed for the Spartan men's swimming and diving during the 1958 spring semester. He was the State College champion in the 100-yard breaststroke and was part of school record 400-yard medley relay swims that season.
"Rich was part of our really rich history of the sport (water polo) here in the '50's. He was a very, very good player and went on to have a great career after San Jose State playing for the Olympic Club (of San Francisco)," said San Jose State men's water polo coach and Spartan Hall of Fame water polo player Bruce Watson.
Mr. Donner never seemed far from the pool deck. He accepted a position as a physical education teacher at the College of San Mateo (CSM) and eventually added the duties of men's water polo and men's swimming and diving head coach. In 16 seasons coaching the 1963 through 1978 men's water polo teams, CSM won six Golden Gate Conference championships. Add two more conference titles in swimming and diving in nine seasons.
Mr. Donner returned in 2015 for the Spartans' first home match in 34 years.
"He understood the game and he was good with the guys. He was strict with them and a lot of his ex-players loved him and loved playing for him. I can think of 20 players right now off the top of my head that were good players and played for Rich," Watson said.
Mr. Donner's coaching career also included coaching the 1969 and 1973 United States teams to gold-medal performances at the World Maccabiah Games for athletes of the Jewish faith.
By several estimates, Mr. Donner officiated at least 1,000 high school boys and girls water polo matches. Realizing a need for quality officials in the sport, Mr. Donner co-founded the Peninsula Referees Association which grew to more than 100 members. The service area spread from San Francisco to Monterey.
Mr. Donner also was inducted into the halls of fame of the San Francisco Olympic Club, Sequoia High School Athletics, and the College of San Mateo Athletics.
He is survived by his wife, Emilie; daughters Kathy and Janet (Abel), and grandchildren, Brian and Jamie.
Donations in Mr. Donner's name can be made in his name to the Sequoia High School Scholarship Fund and sent to 1201 Brewster Avenue, Redwood City, Calif.