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From the San Jose Mercury-News
In Loving Memory
James Francis Root
Jun. 30, 1939 - Dec. 20, 2015
Jim Root, a wrestling coach and instructor at West Valley College for 36 years, who began his career at Blackford and Westmont High Schools, passed away in Chandler, AZ with his beloved wife by his side. The sport of wrestling has lost a great coach, friend, and pioneer of California wrestling, who spent over 47 years coaching and developing the sport in California at the high school and college level.
Jim was born in San Francisco, CA, graduated from Hayward High School, and received degrees from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and San Francisco State. He is survived by his wife, Betty of 32 years, daughter Shelly Root of Napa, son Terrence Root of Campbell, stepsons Christopher Bradler of Chandler, AZ and Chad Bradler of Huntington, IN and 12 grandchildren. A Celebration of Life will be Feb. 5, 2016 at 5:31 p.m. at West Valley College.
The family requests that memorial gifts be made to one of the following: West Valley Mission Foundation, Jim Root Fund, 14000 Fruitvale Ave., Saratoga, CA 95070; California Wrestling Hall of Fame, 21712 Superior Lane, Lake Forest, CA 93630; Mayo Clinic in support of Lewy Body Research, Department of Development, 13400 E. Shea Blvd., Scottsdale, AZ 85259.
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Don Hoyt
I met Coach Root at Blackford High School. He was a reserved but high energy guy. He convinced me to try wrestling my junior year at Blackford. Jim was very encouraging and never made us less skilled wrestlers feel inferior or demeaned. Even when we were going to make the change to Westmont, Coach Root asked me to join him at Westmont on the wrestling team. I knew I was not high talent wrestler, but that did not matter to the Coach. I would never have met Carlos Zaragosa and other fine people if it were not for Coach Root's encouragment, humor and direction. Coach Root helped make the change to Westmont easier for me. Coach Root was a fine example of what teaching could be and was.
Don Hoyt, Florence, OR
Russell W. Denea
Jim Root was my wrestling coach during my senior year at Westmont and easily the best coach I had for any sport. He supported and encouraged us all and was especially kind and inspiring to me. He even loaned me a pair of his wresling shoes to encourage me to win. I had hoped to see him at the reunion and am very saddened by the news of his recent death. A kind and wonderfully supportive man I will always remember.
Russ Denea