Former Tracy Mayor Richard Hastie addresses the crowd at the program celebrating Tracy’s centennial on July 24 in 2010. He died Friday, Aug. 10 at San Leandro Hospital at the age of 83. Press file photo
He died Friday, Aug. 10, in a San Leandro hospital after being stricken with heart failure while driving a friend home from the Oakland Airport.
Mr. Hastie was Tracy’s first directly elected mayor and driving force for the founding of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Tracy.
A native of San Luis Obispo, Mr. Hastie grew up in Tracy, attended Tracy schools and graduated in 1947 from Tracy High School, where he was student body president and center on the Bulldog football team.
While working as an insurance agent, primarily in life insurance, he was active in the Tracy Jaycees in the 1950s and 1960s and earned the title of Jaycee Senator for his service to the local club and those in other communities.
Mr. Hastie was appointed to the City Council in 1967 to succeed Manuel Rico, who died in office. He was elected to a four-year term in 1970 and served as council-elected mayor in 1969, 1971 and 1972.
After three bond issues to finance construction of a new City Hall were defeated, the City Council, with Mr. Hastie serving as mayor, voted to sell a portion of Wainwright Village for low-incoming housing, using the proceeds to finance a new City Hall. Mr. Hastie appointed a citizens’ committee to develop the plans, and the City Council named Mike Locke city manager to complete the project, which was dedicated in April 1973, while Mr. Hastie was still mayor.
Mr. Hastie left the City Council in 1974 when all incumbents up for re-election were turned out of office, but he returned in 1986 to serve a two-year term as the first directly elected mayor.
He chaired a series of community meetings before the City Council gave final approval to the residential and industrial specific plans, which charted Tracy’s growth and development in the 1980s and ’90s. While mayor, Mr. Hastie initiated the city’s involvement in the sister-city ties with Memuro, Japan.
In 1984, he formed a committee to establish the Boys and Girls Clubs of Tracy. He was active for five years raising funds — $600,000 in cash and $200,000 in labor and materials — and then hiring a staff and helping build the club’s main clubhouse on West Lowell Avenue, which was completed in 1989. Twenty years later, in 2009, the clubhouse was named in his honor.
In 2010, Mr. Hastie was active on the committee organizing the celebration of the city’s 100th birthday.
A longtime United Way volunteer, he served as president of the San Joaquin County United Way. Mr. Hastie was also president of the Tracy Chamber of Commerce, Tracy Community Memorial Hospital board and Tracy Rotary Club. He was named Tracy’s “Citizen of the Year” in 1976, and Richard Hastie Park on Tracy’s western edge was named for him in 2002.
For many years, Mr. Hastie was active in square dancing with his wife, the late Sue Hastie. He was an avid cribbage player, participating in tournaments throughout the western U.S. He also enjoyed playing poker at monthly Monday-night sessions with longtime friends. He was an avid reader who was especially interested in history.
Recently, he compiled a history of the Tracy Junior Chamber of Commerce, which was published in the Press.
After retiring from insurance sales, he traveled throughout the country in his recreational vehicle, visiting all the presidential libraries along the way and leading caravans of the Tracy Twirlers square-dance group.
For many years, he was Santa Claus in Tracy, arriving by train, fire engine or helicopter for the annual Santa parade and for service in the Jaycees Santa hut.
Survivors include three sons, Steve Hastie of Susanville, Dale Hastie of Honolulu and Bruce Hastie of Sacramento; two daughters, Rae Ann Ruiz of Tracy and Karen Harlow of Hillsboro, Ore.; 16 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Also surviving is a sister, Jeri Roberts of Sacramento.
Preceding him death were his wife, Sue Hastie, who died in 2006, and two brothers, Ralph and Henry Hastie.
Arrangements for Saturday’s 10 a.m. memorial service at the First United Methodist Church, corner of East and Acacia streets, are being completed by Fry Memorial Chapel. There will be no visitation.
Memorial contributions in Mr. Hastie’s name can be made to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Tracy, 753 W. Lowell Ave., Tracy, CA 95376; the First United Methodist Church, 330 Acacia St., Tracy, CA 95376; or Great Beginnings Preschool, 330 Acacia St., Tracy, CA 95376.
Mr. Hastie we will miss your positive but kind manner. GOD BLESS YOU.
When Dick came to Arizona in his RV and we visited and attended church in Gold Canyon, we were delighted to continue our warm family association for the last five years. Our last meal together a few months back was at Chen's Chinese restaurant in Gold Canyon, AZ.
Rev. Dr. Brad Bryant and Arlaine