Celebration of Life Ceremony set for Haggin Oaks Golf Complex on Sun. August 26
Sacramento, Calif.- Throughout his life, PGA Teaching Professional Ruben Samaniego touched the lives of countless human beings. Born February 26, 1943, in Visalia, Calif., Ruben "Ru" Mata Samaniego, age 64, lost his five-year battle with cancer on August 8, 2007, while at home in San Antonio, Tex., with his wife Milita at his side.
Samaniego was a dedicated PGA golf professional and highly respected member of the Northern California Section of the Professional Golfers’ Association (NCPGA), and most recently a member of the Southern Texas PGA Section.
A Vietnam Veteran, Samaniego was a Navy Corpsman assigned to the Marine Unit at Chu Li. He began his work in golf at San Jose Municipal Golf Course (San Jose, Calif.) following a 20-year career in retail sales and management. While at the busy San Jose city-owned course, Samaniego founded the American Deaf Golf Education Foundation, establishing the first West Coast course to provide golf instruction in American Sign Language (ASL).
In 1993, he moved to New Orleans, La., where he continued his passion for teaching. He was involved with the New Orleans Junior Golf Association, and was appointed golf program director for the Mega City Special Olympics. He returned to California in 1998 and served as director of golf at William Land Park Golf Course (Sacramento, Calif.), working closely with the Sacramento Area Youth Golf Association (SAY-Golf), known today as The First Tee of Greater Sacramento.
Samaniego’s fondest memories were long days teaching on the range at Haggin Oaks Golf Complex (Sacramento, Calif.). His passion for teaching often gravitated to working with juniors and golfers with disabilities.
Samaniego served as chairman of the NCPGA Physically Challenged Committee. He helped lay the foundation for FORE Golf Sacramento, Disabled Sports USA, and Sacramento’s Project Gain, programs designed for golfers with disabilities. In 2001, he assisted in the development of the Saving Strokes Golf & Fitness Program, a collaborative initiative between the American Stroke Association (division of the American Heart Association), Northern California PGA, Morton Golf, Inc., and the City and County of Sacramento.
In 2002, Samaniego was featured on CNN and was also a speaker at the NCPGA Player & Teacher Development Forum, in efforts to help increase awareness about learning opportunities for golfers with physical challenges. Samaniego’s ongoing contributions to community youth through golf, provided ample reason for his 2003 induction into the Mexican-American Sports Hall of Fame. During his tenure at Haggin Oaks Golf Complex, he was recognized as Most Inspirational Employee, Clubfitter of the Year and Teacher of the Year. In 2004, Samaniego was named "The Best of the Best" by Sacramento Magazine, and in 2005, the Northern California PGA presented him with the President’s Award, a rare distinction for a PGA member. In 2006, he was inducted into the prestigious Sacramento Golf Hall of Fame.
In addition to his dedicated work through the game of golf, for the past five years Samaniego continued to counsel and lend support to individuals combating the disease of cancer, while he too, quietly, yet valiantly, faced the same battle.
In October 2005, Samaniego and his wife Marie E. Milita Rios-Samaniego relocated to the San Antonio area, where he accepted an assignment as a PGA teaching professional at Lackland AFB Texas. His last days in the business were spent working for Golf Galaxy and as a golf coach at St. George Episcopal School in San Antonio, Tex. Until his last breath, he remained deeply involved with programs and initiatives that advanced learning and playing opportunities for all golfers.
He is survived by his wife Maria E. Milita Rios-Samaniego, his mother Mary Samaniego, and his brother and sister, three children, five grandchildren, one great-grandchild, and numerous nieces and nephews.
A "Celebration of Life" for family and friends will be held Sunday, August 26, 2007 at 11.00 A.M. in the Pavilion at Haggin Oaks Golf Complex in Sacramento, Calif. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Saving Strokes Program of Sacramento or to FORE Golf Sacramento. Donations can be sent c/o Haggin Oaks Golf Complex, 3645 Fulton Avenue, Sacramento, Calif., 95821.
Contact:
PGA Head Professional Mike Woods
E-mail: mwoods@hagginoaks.com
(916) 575-2526
Media Contact: Emmy
E-mail: EmmyPGA@aol.com
Phone: (530) 902-8181
