Ramon “Sugar” Rodero, who was a familiar face at BIIF sporting events as an official and touched many with his gentle soul, died on Friday, Oct. 20. He was 85 years old.
Rodero was a referee or umpire for basketball baseball, softball, and volleyball for nearly five decades, one of the longest-serving BIIF officials. He was still officiating volleyball until midseason this year.
Rachelle Hanohano has been around BIIF volleyball for 30 years, and whenever she ran into Rodero it was always a heartfelt moment.
“He was a kind and caring person. Every time he came into the gym he would talk to us about the kids,” she said. “His heart was always with the kids all the time. He’ll be missed.”
Rodero has volleyball roots that trace back to the late Raymond Rowe, the local legend from Keaukaha. His son Kenneth Rowe remembers the history, but what stands out is Rodero’s character qualities.
“Ramon assisted my father Raymond Rowe Sr. in both boys and girls BIIF volleyball in 1969, and he continued until 2017,” Kenneth Rowe said. “He also officiated basketball, baseball, and softball until late 2015. In terms of volleyball, he was the longest active, continuous volleyball official.
“He was reliable, dependable, fair, firm, and consistent. He was a true ambassador for youth athletics.”
Rodero graduated from Hilo High in 1950 and grew up in the sugar plantation community of Wainaku camp 2 outside of Hilo. He was Santiago and Antonia Rodero’s second son of eight children.
He worked for Hilo Sugar Co. in the fields and lab then transferred to the Hilo Coast Processing Company upon the sale from Hilo Sugar Co. He retired upon the closing of the plant.
Though he didn’t play sports as a Viking, Rodero played sports while in school and after his graduation. He was an all-star in the American Legion League as an outfielder and played for the Puueo softball championship team. Rodero also played baseball and basketball for the Wainaku Beavers in the C. Brewer Sports Leagues.
Rodero was a chief umpire for the Kupuna Softball Tournaments and was honored by the county for his contributions. When he had spare time, it was put to good use. He was in the National Guard as a sergeant in engineering.
He had the perfect nickname to fit his personality, recalled his sister Sen. Lorraine Rodero Inouye.
“He was a soft-spoken person and always said, ‘Sugar’ to comment. If he erred on something, he would say, ‘Oh sugar, sorry yeh! He loved dancing and singing,” she said.
Pat Pacheco, 73, has been a BIIF official for 43 years and often worked with Rodero, who was noted for his patience.
“Ramon was a quiet guy and knew how to handle situations. It would take a lot to bother him in way of his officiating,” Pacheco said. “We were at a basketball game, and one coach was complaining. At halftime, I asked, ‘Why are you letting that coach ride you? In the third quarter, he told the coach, ‘I had enough of you.’ And that was that.
“He showed respect to players and coaches. He was humble, and it would take a lot for him to kick anybody out of a game.”
Mark Osorio is another BIIF volleyball official and summed up Rodero in classic fashion.
“He was an awesome person, always good for a laugh and a great story. He will be missed,” Osorio said.
Rodero gave Pacheco a good laugh at his expense. Rodero was at a mainland softball tourney, forgot his equipment and that turned into a great story.
The borrowed face mask was too big and kept moving around. Rodero had to hold the face mask while calling balls and strikes.
“I started to crack up,” Pacheco said. “From that time, he never forgot his equipment. He said he was lucky that the game was during the morning.”
While Rodero grew up in Wainaku during the plantation days, Pacheco was raised in Amauulu.
Back in the day, Wainaku was known for its baseball prowess while Amauulu was home to the hoopsters.
When the topic between the old friends turned to bragging rights, Rodero would just flash his gentle soul.
“I would tell Ramon we were good in baseball but better in basketball,” Pacheco said. “Ramon would say, ‘We were good, too.’ That was Ramon. He would say, ‘Oh, sugar,’ and not let anything bother him.”
Arthritis later took a toll on Rodero, who was still reliable and dependable and kept showing up for games.
“You have to have the four Ds: determination, dedication, discipline, and desire,” Pacheco said. “He had that and the drive and fight to go on.
“You have to have thick skin and can’t have rabbit ears to be an official. Nothing would faze him. He’s going to be missed. He was a short guy at 5 feet 7 but a giant of a man. You miss guys like that.”
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Memorial services will be held Friday, Nov. 17 at St. Joseph’s Church in Hilo. Visitation is from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and mass at 10 a.m.
He is survived by daughters, Ramona (Alfred) Pestrello and Robin S. Rodero of Hilo; step-daughters, U’ilani K. (Karen) Jerrils-Gomez, Christine Pi’ilani (Noel) Namahoe-Loo and Une Kapualani Namahoe of Hilo; brothers, Albert “Benny” Rodero of Puna, Richard “Boby” (Beryl) Rodero of Hilo and Alex Rodero of Oahu; sisters, Lorraine (Vernon) Rodero-Inouye and Vivian (Dominador) Coloma of Hilo, Anita Rodero of San Francisco, California; numerous grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.