Behind the Badge
He enjoyed his coffee with mounds of sugar, played a lot of golf, loved the coast and was an avid moviegoer.
Every stranger he met was a potential friend.
He was a husband, father, brother, son and friend.
Ron Castro also was a dedicated firefighter for 44 years, first with the Santa Ana Fire Department and then the Orange County Fire Authority, before cancer took his life Nov. 30.
He was 67.
Esperanza Castro, mother of Santa Ana/OCFA Firefighter Ron Castro, is escorted to the church by Stephen Horner at Ron’s memorial service at Calvary Chapel in Santa Ana on Tuesday, Dec. 6.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
A gathering of close to 1,000, including hundreds of his OCFA brothers and sisters and fire and police personnel from other agencies, attended a memorial service for Castro on Tuesday, Dec. 6 at Calvary Chapel in Santa Ana.
“For myself, as his sister, and my son, his nephew, I couldn’t have asked for a better brother in life,” said Castro’s sister, Cyndy Castro. “There are so many things I can say about Ron, but I don’t have the time. He had such a huge heart.”
Castro was memorialized with full honors, including an OCFA color guard, pipe and drum corps and a ceremonial “ringing of the bell,” a centuries-old tradition signifying that a firefighter is returning “home.”
Since Castro, a 1967 graduate of Santa Ana Valley High School, also served in the Army Special Forces during the Vietnam War, a military honor guard that included the playing of “Taps” and the folding of the U.S. flag also were part of the service.
Firefighter recruits stand at attention before family members pass by entering the church for the memorial service for Santa Ana/OCFA Firefighter Ron Castro.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
The words “kind” and “love” were spoken over and over by the family members, friends and colleagues who eulogized Castro during the service.
“How could you not love this man?” said Capt. Stephen Horner, Castro’s captain. “He was kind, loving and well respected. He was one in a million.”
Castro was drafted into the Army shortly after graduating high school.
After his discharge, Castro was hired by the Santa Ana Fire Department in 1972 and joined the OCFA when the Santa Ana FD merged with the OCFA in 2012.
Castro was stationed at OCFA Fire Station 33 at John Wayne Airport.
OCFA Chaplain Jim Gwaltney says a few words for Santa Ana/OCFA Firefighter Ron Castro during his memorial service Tuesday.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
While paying tribute to Castro, OCFA Fire Chief Jeff Bowman told the gathering he had visited with Castro in the hospital in April, shortly after the cancer diagnosis.
“We wanted to remind Ron that he had 1,300 brothers and sisters that would go through this ordeal with him,” the chief said.
Castro is survived by his wife, Michele; daughters Jennifer and Madison; son Brandon; parents, Cebie and Esperanza; and sister, Cyndy.
Cydney Castro told the gathering to keep her brother’s spirit alive by treating others the way he did.
“In the spirit of my brother, be kind to one another,” she said. “Make good memories. Extend your hand to somebody. Make it a better world for all of us.”
Members of the Orange County Fire Authority gather with family and friends at Calvary Chapel in Santa Ana for the memorial service of Santa Ana/OCFA Firefighter Ron Castro.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Members of the OCFA Pipes and Drums enter the church during the memorial service for Santa Ana/OCFA Firefighter Ron Castro.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
OCFA Chief Jeff Bowman talks about Santa Ana/OCFA Firefighter Ron Castro during a memorial service for Castro at Calvary Chapel in Santa Ana.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
OCFA Honor Guard member Bryan Dodson, left, salutes Cliff Bramlette during a memorial service for Santa Ana/OCFA Firefighter Ron Castro.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Cyndy Castro and Keo Castro, sister and nephew of Ron Castro, talk about their brother and uncle during his memorial service at Calvary Chapel in Santa Ana.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
OCFA Fire Capt. Mark Eide talks in front of a photo of Santa Ana/OCFA Firefighter Ron Castro during his memorial service at Calvary Chapel in Santa Ana.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Daughter Jennifer Mercer, son Brandon Castro and daughter-in-law Jaymie Castro share a happy moment about Santa Ana/OCFA Firefighter Ron Castro during a memorial service for Ron at Calvary Chapel in Santa Ana.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
U.S. Army Honor Guard members help fold an American flag to be presented to Santa Ana/OCFA Firefighter Ron Castro’s wife.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Ringing of the Bell, a firefighter’s tradition, is performed near the conclusion of a memorial service for Santa Ana/OCFA Firefighter Ron Castro.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
An OCFA Honor Guard carries the ashes of Santa Ana/OCFA Firefighter Ron Castro from the church with Ron’s family behind him at the conclusion of a memorial service Dec. 6.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Esperanza Castro, mother of Santa Ana/OCFA Firefighter Ron Castro, is escorted from the church by Stephen Horner at the conclusion of Ron’s memorial service at Calvary Chapel in Santa Ana.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
