Jimmie Lee McClure
April 27, 1942-May 18, 2023
Brentwood, California

Jimmie McClure, 81 of Oakland, Pleasanton and Groveland, California passed away peacefully surrounded by family on May 18th, 2023

Jimmie’s early life was spent living in El Centro and Brawley, CA; enjoying the country/ranch life before moving to Oakland, CA with his mother. He attended school at Fruitvale Elementary, Bret Harte Middle School and Oakland High School, where he developed many lifelong friendships.

Jimmie played baseball in high school and was a part of his Oakland High School’s Oakland Athletic League Championships during his senior year; he continued his education and baseball career at Oakland City College, where his team found success competing in the finals of the 1960 CCCAA Community College League of California College Championship his freshman year. The following year he signed to play baseball with the Los Angeles Dodgers organization and traveled to Vero Beach, Florida for spring training; While there he saw all the great Dodgers players of the time. He was assigned to the Great Falls Electrics in Great Falls, Montana and played in the Pioneer League. Jimmie played 2nd base and his team went on to win the Pioneer League that first season. He also had the opportunity to play for the New York Mets organization in Salinas, CA.

During his first year in the minor league, he met, dated and eventually married his former wife, Robin Olson (an attendant at the Pioneer League ballpark in Billings). He made the decision to return home to Oakland to finish his college education at Merritt College and California State Hayward (Cal State East Bay). He earned degrees in both Physical Education and Biology. While finishing college, he married Robin and started a family.

He was a lifetime educator, counselor and coach. He began his teaching career at Hamilton Junior High in Oakland, where he eventually shifted his focus in the field of education to a school counselor and discovered a passion for coaching sports. In 1971, he moved his family to Pleasanton and eventually changed school districts to be closer to home at the new high school in town. He started working at Foothill High School in 1975. During his many years at Foothill, he worked as a guidance counselor and enjoyed getting to know the students outside the classroom helping them discover their life interests and career paths. Over the 20+ years at Foothill, he also coached several sports - Football, Baseball, Track & Field and Basketball. Jimmie thrived on teaching the skills and knowledge of the game, he cultivated confidence by challenging the players to have a strong work ethic, and brought them together as a team to achieve more than they could ever do on their own. His longest coaching stretch was as the Girl’s Head Basketball Coach, helping steer them to their first EBAL Championship in Foothill’s history. He loved teaching life skills through sports and became a touchstone to many throughout his lifetime.

Shortly before retiring from Pleasanton, he returned to the classroom at Harvest Park Middle School, and taught PE and Biology and coached the Girls’ Basketball team. He retired from Pleasanton Unified School District after 24+ years.

Once retired, Jimmie moved to Groveland, CA, where he was able to build his dream home in the mountains at Pine Mountain Lake. Retirement did not last long and soon he was involved in Tioga High School as a part-time counselor. Jimmie enjoyed being involved in the community and being around the energy of working at a school. In addition to working at Tioga, in his part-time retirement, his favorite things were to relax on his deck observing nature at its finest in the pine trees and think about life. He loved being in nature and often reflected on his life and all the amazing experiences and people that he felt lucky to have been involved with in his lifetime. He looked forward to spending time with friends and family and dreaming of things to do. He was a kind, gentle and loving person who always had a smile and a kind word to share as he continued to observe human nature.

Jimmie is survived by his two children, Shannan (George Bell) and Sean (Mary Moreno), his two grandchildren, Brody and Riley.

A celebration of his life will take place at:

Veteran’s Memorial

301 Main St, Pleasanton, CA 94566

Saturday, August 12, 2023

2:00-5:00pm

All who remember him are welcome, please come enjoy some food and share a story or just enjoy visiting with longtime friends.

Tags: teacher/educator