Clarence Muirhead Passes. Was Member of Old Coronado Family.

Clarence "Sonny" Muirhead
1932-2014

   CORONADO - Through his long life and extensive travels, Clarence Muirhead’s fondest memories remained those of growing up in Coronado. Known as “Sonny” to his family, Clarence William Muirhead passed away March 24th at a senior living facility in Lafayette, CA. He was 81.

   Clarence was born in San Diego on May 16, 1932 to Clarence and Mary Muirhead, residents of Coronado. He graduated from Coronado High School in 1950.

   On his path towards graduation from San Diego State University (SDSU) Clarence learned about “business machines,” his nickname for early computers. He went on to work for National Cash Register (NCR), as well as other mom and pop business machine companies.

   After graduating from SDSU, his business card read “Clarence Muirhead, Teacher.” He was serious about teaching. Beginning in 1967 he taught mathematics at Apple Valley Junior High. In 1972 he taught for a year in Australia.

   Upon returning, Clarence taught at Hesperia Junior High and also coached cross-country for a number of years - a job he really enjoyed. He also taught at Apple Valley High School. Clearly, teaching was his passion. Thumbing through class yearbooks, the family discovered that his students had great love and admiration for their teacher, “Mr. Muirhead.” He retired from teaching in 1992.

   Throughout his youth in Coronado, Clarence and his brother Mike Muirhead (who was four years younger) found the island to be the perfect playground. The ferryboats still carried cars across the bay as the primary point of access to Coronado. Many a time the Muirhead brothers would ride the ferryboats all day, or explore areas of San Diego on adventures that began and ended on the ferryboats, and sometimes were only as far as a bicycle would carry them.

   In later years, Clarence and his brother Bruce (who was 12 years younger than Clarence) hiked and climbed their way into trouble at every opportunity. Their uncle Bruce worked for the Coronado Public Works Department and seemed to know everyone in Coronado. He often shared stories of exploits from his youth growing up in Coronado – tales of Tent City and the early days at the Hotel del Coronado.

   Years later, when Uncle Bruce retired, Clarence and Bruce would dutifully take him around the country to reunions of his World War II ship, the USS Aaron Ward. This gave them one degree of separation from a view of history on the actual decks of ships at sea, at war, and under attack by Kamikaze aircraft. Reliving WWII through the eyes of their Uncle Bruce gave them an appreciation for history both locally and globally that Clarence and his brother nurtured throughout their lives.

   Clarence had called the Mojave Desert home since 1967, and only recently moved to Danville, CA to be with his brother Bruce and family, altering plans to return to Coronado because of ill health. He never tired of his Lucerne Valley hillside view overlooking the desert. Clarence had many close friends, though his closest neighbors were coyotes, bobcats, quail, and cottontails. One of his hobbies was manicuring his desert landscape. He also helped out with a little “yard work” at St. Paul’s Parish.

   Clarence enjoyed hiking into the High Sierra early in the 1950s. He did a lot of biking, completing 300 miles last August. He rounded out these outdoor activities with skiing, mountain climbing, birding, travelling and exploring. He was fortunate to be able to do these things with family and friends, and to do so around the world.

   Clarence is survived by brothers, Michael (Barbara) of El Cajon and Bruce (Denise) of Danville. He leaves nephew Richard (Jodi) and their children Ariel, Benjamin and Jillian of Santa Clara, CA; nieces Valerie (Victor) Tiscareno and daughter Madeleine of Issaquah, WA, and Amy (Bob) Weas and daughter, Rosalie, of San Diego. Clarence will be buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in San Diego. There will be no public services.

   The family would like to thank Dr. Jewel Johl and staff at Diablo Valley Oncology, the Lines, Infusions, and 5A Oncology Teams at John Muir Hospital in Walnut Creek, and his Vitas Hospice Team.

   In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made “In Memory of Clarence Muirhead” to one or more of the charities he most admired: Earth Justice, Friends of the Gorge, National Wildlife, the Sierra Club or Salesian Missions.