Pictured: Kear w/the SDHS football program & the framed No. 26 for her years of service

By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor

To say that Rita Kear will be missed at San Dimas High School sporting events would be quite an understatement.

And I feel comfortable saying that for the Saints coaches, athletes, programs and for those of us in the media.

After 26 years of service and commitment to a school she loves, Kear retired in June.

Before going any further, it’s important to be crystal clear about one thing: Rita Kear loved and supported those who didn’t compete in sports just as much as the athletes who wore the San Dimas colors on a field or court.

In 22 years of doing this job, which has included time in Long Beach, the IE, OC and back home to the SGV, I could count on one hand the number of people that were as dedicated to their student-athletes as was Rita Kear.

And that includes her answering a reporter’s text message at 11 o’clock at night or during the weekend when I needed a final score, stat, photo or contact info.

What makes her contributions so incredible is the fact that Rita was an assistant principal at SDHS, and yet she was more reliable and helpful than 95-percent of athletic directors.

She never made you feel like you were wasting her time, because to Rita, providing pertinent information to shine a light on San Dimas athletes was what she’s all about.

So, where did it all begin?

Kear graduated from Denton High School in Texas.

She went on to earn her bachelors from Oklahoma State University, and that’s where she met Brad Kear.

The last step in Rita’s journey as a student was at Point Loma Nazarene, where she earned her masters.

Kear’s career in education began 40 years ago for the Guymon Public Schools in Oklahoma.

After one year there, she moved to California, and taught at Arcadia Christian and San Gabriel Christian, before she became a reading specialist for the Azusa Unified School District.

In 1995, Kear was hired as a counselor at San Dimas High School and 10 years later, she was promoted to assistant principal of athletics, activities and facilities.

The nobility of helping young people find their way in life through education and athletics is something that Brad and Rita Kear have in common, and just two months ago, they celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary.

Brad taught and coached at Azusa and Gladstone for 29 years.

He coached girls basketball for the Gladiators and boys hoops for the Aztecs.

Despite having to drag three young kids along, Rita was in attendance at almost every game to support her husband’s programs.

As mentioned, the Kear’s have three children, and as Rita put it, “our greatest accomplishments in life are our three kids.”

Oh, and each of the Kear kids were not only proud San Dimas High School graduates, they followed in their parents footsteps and have careers in coaching and teaching.

Kelsie Kear graduated in 2001, and went on to compete for the UC Davis gymnastics team.

Kelsie coached cheer at Temescal Canyon High for several years, where they claimed three national titles.

She even led the program to a CIF title in the first year cheer was a CIF sport.

Kelsie is married with four kids and her husband, Shamar, teaches and coaches football.

Casey graduated from SDHS in 2006 and played basketball, ran track and cross country.

He was both the 2006 SDHS Scholar Athlete of the Year and Athlete of the Year, and he would go on to run cross country at Point Loma Nazarene University.

Casey is the cross country coach at UC Irvine, where he and his wife Breelan live.

Breelan is actually the only non-educator in the family, but her career as an ER doctor isn’t too shabby.

Zak Kear is the youngest of the trio, and he earned his SDHS diploma in 2008.

He wrestled at San Dimas and Cal Baptist University, and is currently a teacher at Redlands Christian High School.

Zak is a wrestling coach at Redlands East Valley High, and his wife Macie is a teacher in Redlands.

How did Rita become so passionate about sports?

“I saw early on in my career that athletics and activities are the reason some kids come to school and graduate, I believe that kids need role models and coaches are those people who make the greatest impact on their lives. Kids want to be a part of a group on campus and sports and other groups give them that opportunity to make lifelong friends, memories and motivates them to keep up their grades and graduate and go on to college.

A great sports program helps to create school pride on the campus. Show me a great high school today and I would promise you they have a successful sports program. When you become an administrator you have a different role and relationship with students. I found that I could be that adult where my athletes knew I would be that advocate for them helping them with the struggles high school brings. It might be with a coach, teacher or a family issue, but they knew I would be there for them.”

What were some of Kear’s favorite moments over her quarter of a century at San Dimas?

She mentioned all the CIF championship games, Cheer National titles, Smudge Pot football games and victories over Bonita.

But there was one special moment that easily stands above all else.

“When my son beat the Northview wrestler his senior year, that will always be a favorite,” Kear said. “Sports is so much more than just winning. A few years back, we had a foster student come on our campus, and when I went in to introduce myself, I asked him what he wanted to do. He was a senior and he said he wanted play football. So, with the work of our AD at the time, Nicki Kosik, and coach Mark Holman and other support staff, we made that happen.

In the game he was finally cleared by CIF to play, it was at Diamond Bar. We had a big lead and Coach Holman put him in and he scored a TD. You would have thought we won CIF by the way his teammates, coaches and fans reacted. To see this kid’s dream come true was priceless. That night will always remind me of the amazing people that make San Dimas High School a special place. This past season was also special with Coach Jackson leading his girls to a CIF finals. He is one of the most student-centered coaches, and watching him coach for so many years and getting to the finals was special. I can’t wait to see what they accomplish in the future.”

Why was it the right time to retire?

“There were several reasons I chose to retire. My husband retired in 2020 and we wanted to travel and spend more time with our family. My husband was going once a week to help with our grandkids last school year and my six-year old granddaughter Kapri told me if I retired I could come too. She was right. I decided it was time to make memories with my grandkids and kids. Two of my granddaughters are competitive gymnasts and my grandson plays football and basketball. I now have the freedom to go and support them and be their cheerleader in the stands. I also now have time to go watch both of our sons coach their teams. My husband and I are a part of a new church “Sandals” in Azusa and we now have time to serve in our church together.”

Although its been just fours months since leaving her post at SDHS, does she miss anything about her old life?

Said Rita Kear: “There are two things I really miss. I miss my San Dimas people. I have made some of the best friends in my life at work. I miss the sports. This fall, I miss being on the sidelines of football games and cheering on my Saints. I have been back to one game and was given a lifetime pass, so yes, I will still attend games around my family and traveling.”

It is very rare for an administrator to be as popular as Kear was with the SDHS athletes, but it’s not surprising.

The selflessness of her efforts and actions, and the dedication she showed to the students and the athletes alike is something that has made Kear a beloved figure on that campus.

At just 62 years of age, Rita and Brad, 64, have more than put in their time and deserve the freedom to sleep in, travel and spend more time with their three children and grandkids.

They also enjoy attending Oklahoma State University football games.

As much as Rita will be missed, she’s cemented an unbreakable legacy of service and that’s something that generations of students at SDHS will be forever grateful for.

And this writer wants Rita to know that she is immensely respected and appreciated, and how the prep sporting scene would be so much better if every school had a Rita Kear.

Directly below are the thoughts of former or current San Dimas administrators, coaches, athletes and co-workers.

Quotable:

Former SDHS principal, Michael Kelly: “Rita has always been an advocate for kids, especially student-athletes. When she was a San Dimas High School counselor, she was the Athletic Clearing House expert. As Assistant Principal, she worked closely with the AD to guide Athletics and the Associated Student Body into an outstanding organization.”

San Dimas assistant principal, Jack Nance: “Everything she did was to raise the level of the perception of San Dimas High School and it’s athletic programs. The students were her kids. The staff and coaches respected her ability to lead. She always told the kids, “once a Saint, always a Saint” She lived this motto with all alumni that hallowed the halls of San Dimas.”

Bonita principal, and SDHS rival, Kenny Ritchie: “Competing against San Dimas was synonymous with competing against Rita. She was always very competitive anytime Bonita played San Dimas and we truly enjoyed the times our two schools met and competed in anything. Sometimes we beat them and sometimes they got the better of us, but regardless of the outcome, it was all in good natured fun and our competitiveness made the rivalry that much better. She truly bleeds blue and yellow, and she was always the biggest advocate and fan for all of her students. We miss seeing her on the sidelines, but we will always remember the incredible games we got to be a part of.”

San Dimas baseball coach, Mike Regan: “Mrs. Kear is a wonderful woman and has been the biggest supporter of San Dimas High School athletics since I have been here. I have to say it is just weird not having her around. As a counselor and administrator, she genuinely cared for all the students and faculty constantly striving to make things better for us all. When I heard she was retiring, I was selfishly sad, but happy she now has time to enjoy her family. She has meant so much to everyone here and has made such a huge impact at San Dimas I don’t really think words can describe how special she was to us all. Rita, we want to wish you a blessed retirement from the San Dimas baseball program and know that you are loved and missed!”

Former SDHS boys basketball coach, Gary Prestasater: “Rita did more for San Dimas sports than anyone I’ve ever been around. I think the reason she’s so well liked and respected is because she supports all of our programs and athletes, and she was great to me as a coach. I’ve ridden with her to Fresno, just to show our athletes that we support them. She also takes pictures and puts them on social media when the kids do well and that means a lot to the athletes and their parents.”

SDHS, Principal’s Secretary, Kim Lowary: “Rita Kear worked for 26 years and is a true San Dimas Saint. Under her supervision, the athletic program at San Dimas Dimas High school is a San Gabriel Valley powerhouse. I have never met anyone else that truly cared for and supports her students, student- athletes, associated student body, performing arts, coaches, counselors and teachers. Her favorite saying is ‘once a Saint, always a Saint,’ and that is how I will remember her at San Dimas High School.”

APU Hall of Fame basketball coach, Cliff Hamlow: “Rita Kear has a strong commitment to providing a high quality athletic program, because she believes in the importance of the athletic experience for each student-athlete. Rita truly cares about “her ” athletes and supports her coaches in providing the necessary environment for students to not only excel in their sport, but in their future educational opportunity. She brings an enthusiasm to the athletics program that is contagious.”

SDHS boys basketball coach, Jeremy Ketterling: “Rita has been a huge part of San Dimas athletics over the past two decades. In my time here, I don’t know of anyone else who has given as much time and energy supporting saint athletics. She has helped maintain a great athletic program that has been instrumental part of so many young peoples lives. Rita bleeds blue and gold.”

SDHS girls basketball coach, Gary Jackson: “Rita loves her San Dimas Saints. She was one of the most supportive administrators around. Rita supports the athletes on and off the field. She also took pride in putting on a top-notch scholar-athlete banquet each year to support our scholar athletes. It will be different not seeing her on the sidelines but I know she will be cheering for us.”

Former SDHS baseball player, Zach Jacobs: “Rita Kear, the recently retired assistant principal at San Dimas High School, is well-liked by all her students and especially her student-athletes. Mrs. Kear was the most supportive person on campus when it came to the Saints sports team. She was always at our baseball games rooting us on. She always saw the positivity in all of us, even when we had a bad game. As a Saint, you know who Rita Kear is, because she went out of her way to know each of one of students. If you weren’t a student at SDHS, you would think that Rita was the athletic director of SDHS, because she was at every sporting event and gave us athletes all the support we could ever ask for. The factor that separates Rita from all the AD’s in the world is that she follows your career after high school and it just shows that she truly cares about you as a person.”

Former SDHS baseball player, D’Andre Smith: “It meant everything to me knowing that I could look in the stands and see Mrs. Kear at every game. Not only was she always there, but she also took the time to build relationships with the student-athletes and their families. My family and I will forever be grateful for everything she has done for us and the San Dimas baseball program.”

GHS basketball coach, Gordon Hamlow: “Rita bleeds blue & gold. Whether it be athletics, arts, or academics, Rita is there for the kids. Her care for students and desire to see them succeed is unparalleled.”

Former SDHS football coach, Bill Zernickow: “I am a big Rita Kear fan! She was the ultimate Saint. She loved every student and gave her heart and soul to San Dimas. You will never ever see her wearing green.”

Longtime SGV area sports writer, Steve Ramirez: “Rita was always very helpful to any reporter who she came across, usually on the San Dimas sideline during football games. She made you feel important and was there to help whatever you needed. She definitely made my job easier. It’s always important to have school officials who understand the importance of a school’s sports team, and she was one of the best I dealt with.”

To view a photo gallery of Rita Kear through the years, click on the Facebook link here: Facebook