Memorial for longtime Citrus Heights Little League coach draws hundreds

By Sara Beth Williams–
Local residents impacted by the life of Jerry Garcia gathered in the shade at Garsh Field in Rusch Community Park on Saturday to celebrate Garcia’s long legacy within Citrus Heights.

Garcia, known as “Garsh” or “Coach Garsh” passed away on July 30, 2024. He was 75 years old. Throughout the Aug. 31 memorial, longtime friends from across the Citrus Heights community spoke about the impact Garcia had on their lives.

Several former players and coaches with Citrus Heights Little League who spoke during the memorial said Garcia was a “huge influence” on their lives as they grew up in the little league. Former player Rob Fuller called him a “shining example” of what little league baseball represented to him.

Terry Malone, who played in a handful of bands with Garcia at Steve Cook’s Fireside Lanes, said Garcia had a love for “bowling, baseball, cars, and guitars,” though he also played drums when he played with the Retronauts, a band that plays “surf music.” Garcia also played with two other bands, the Rebel Creek Band and One Night Stand.

Malone’s daughter, Katy Affleck, sang on occasion with the bands and said she “literally never had a negative interaction” with Garcia. Affleck also said observing Garcia and his wife together was a “great testament” of what an ideal marriage looked like.

During the memorial, visitors were able to tour a line of classic cars parked along the outfield in honor of Garcia, who was a fan of classic cars. John Diaz with the Thunderbolts Capital Auto Club said Garcia had been involved with the Thunderbolts classic car club for over two decades.

Sacramento Autorama Butch Gardner Clubhouse Manager Ed Gardner said he had the honor of inducting Garcia into the Legends of Autorama for the Sacramento Autorama. Garcia was inducted in 2017, according to the company’s website. Gardner played under Garcia from 1979 to 1982, and said Garcia and his dad were friends who first met “because of hotrods.”

Former Citrus Heights Little League board member Mara Crist, who organized the memorial, estimated that at least 350 people were in attendance on Saturday. Crist said Garcia served on the little league’s board for 54 years, up until his passing. The softball field at Rusch Park was renamed Garsh Field four years ago in honor of Garcia’s 50^th anniversary serving with the little league, Crist said.

Tahoe Arbogast, current president with Citrus Heights Little League, called the turnout for the event “incredible” and said that the life Garcia lived was worth celebrating.

“There is an incredible legacy left behind,” Arbogast said. He encouraged current coaches and players to take whatever knowledge they learned from Garcia and pass it on to others.

“That’s how a legacy carries on,” Arbogast said.

A GoFundMe fundraising page for Garcia’s surviving family was established following his passing and has raised over $2,300 as of Sept. 5.