Don Christie, first principal of Rincon Valley Middle School, dies at 98

Don Christie, a longtime Santa Rosa educator and the first principal of Rincon Valley Middle School, was more than a decade into his teaching career in the county when he made an announcement over the school speaker system that former students remember vividly to this day.

It was Nov. 22, 1963, and Christie, a Vermont native known as a warm person with a winning sense of humor, had chilling news to share with those at Santa Rosa Junior High.

President John F. Kennedy had been shot, he told students and teachers.

Joan Perry, a student at the time, recalls sitting in the school office while Christie made the announcement. “I can still feel myself turning to look at him,” she said.

Christie, who started as a local teacher at Santa Rosa Junior High - now Santa Rosa Middle School - in 1950, died at his home June 4. The cause was complications from heart failure, according to his wife. He was 98.

Born in Manchester, Vt., in 1916, Donald Louis Christie chose a career in education following his service in World War II in the 10th Mountain Infantry Division ski troops, for which he received a Combat Infantry badge, two battle stars and the Bronze Star. His experience as one of an elite number of national ski patrolmen prior to the war helped prepare him for the military experience.

He earned a bachelor’s degree from Brown University and studied at the University of Wisconsin before earning a master’s degree from the University of Vermont. He taught at Montclair Academy in New Jersey and Atlantic Air Academy in New Hampshire before opting to teach in public schools. He moved to California and eventually to Santa Rosa, where he taught math and social studies at the junior high.

In 1965, he helped start Rincon Valley Junior High - now Rincon Valley Middle School - as its first principal. The school was rural enough at the time that a sign on campus requested, “Please don’t ride horses on school grounds,” recalled his wife, Gloria Christie.

“He loved that school,” she said, adding that the faculty became like family during his tenure. Christie served as the school’s principal until he retired in 1979.

He was an avid and talented golfer, following in the footsteps of his father, Andrew Christie, who was a professional golfer born in the reputed home of the sport - St. Andrews, Scotland. Christie also received offers to become a professional golfer, but his father discouraged that path in favor of a career with greater stability, Gloria Christie said.

Golfing, however, was always a part of his life. He played for years at the Santa Rosa Golf & Country Club, where he was a founding director, won the club championship three times and held the competitive course record of 8 under par in 1964. Later, he played at Oakmont and then the Bennett Valley Golf  Club.

In retirement, he traveled widely and golfed regularly - three times a week up until his last year, Gloria Christie said. The couple were regular parishioners at First Presbyterian Church in Santa Rosa, where they served donuts and drinks in the coffee room. Christie always wore a smile, said Perry, the former Santa Rosa Junior High student, who also attends the church.

“We lived a wonderful life,” Gloria Christie said. “It makes it easier to let him go.”

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his son, Donald Andrew Christie of Texas; his daughter, Ann Christie of San Diego; his stepsons, Steven Wall of Visalia and Mark Wall of Campbell; and two grandsons.

A memorial service is set for 1:30 p.m. June 20 at First Presbyterian Church in Santa Rosa. Donations in Christie’s name may be made to the church for camp scholarships or to Memorial Hospice, 439 College Ave., Santa Rosa 95401.