It is with profound sadness that we share with you the passing of Mayor Ralph Rubio. A fierce warrior for the City of Seaside. A lifelong resident, Mayor Rubio was the longest-serving elected official in the history of City of Seaside. Elected to the Seaside City Council as a council member, later elected as Mayor, his leadership improved the lives of so many during his 16-year tenure.

Mayor Rubio is a lifelong resident of the peninsula, born May 21, 1951, attended Seaside schools, graduated from Seaside High School, and attended the University of California, Berkeley. Mayor Rubio retired from the Carpenter’s Union after 39 years, having worked as a rank and file member for 23 years and for 16 years as the Senior Field Representative for Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties and other leadership positions. He was elected to the Seaside City Council in 2000 and elected Mayor in 2004. He finished his final term as Mayor in December of 2018.

He was a strong advocate of economic revitalization of the City, for increased access to city services, for the preservation of Seaside’s land control and he fought endlessly for a sustainable water supply for the entire peninsula. He was an ultimate advocate of multi-jurisdictional cooperation.

In addition to his employment and civic life, Mayor Rubio has served and served on numerous boards and commissions and volunteered for many organizations to include:

  • Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments (Immediate Past President – two terms)
  • Transportation Agency for Monterey County (Past Chair)
  • Fort Ord Reuse Authority (Past Chair)
  • Seaside Groundwater Basin Watermaster (Past Chair)
  • Monterey Regional Water Pollution Control Agency
  • Seaside County Sanitation District
  • Monterey Regional Water Authority
  • Local Agency Formation Commission of Monterey County
  • Carpenters Local Union 605, Monterey County
  • St. Francis Xavier Church in Seaside
  • Knights of Columbus, Seaside Council 5261
  • Knights of Columbus, Santa Rosalia Assembly, 4th Degree
  • Monterey Peninsula Y’s Men’s Club
  • Chair, Special Olympics Committee
  • Past Chair and Co-Chair of Laguna Seca, Scholarship, AT&T Event, Fire Work Sales, Jazz Festival Concessions, YMCA Christmas Tree Lot Committees
  • National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials
  • League of United Latin American Citizens
  • National Council of La Raza
  • National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
  • Seaside Pony Baseball

Ralph had a very private, and valiant battle with liver cancer since June of 2014. Despite the daunting diagnosis, he went on to win the Mayoral seat the following two terms during his cancer journey and treatment. He was a warrior, determined to stay the course and never allow it to be the focal point but instead kept his agenda as “Seaside first”.

Mayor Rubio’s love of the Seaside community is only surpassed by his love for his family. He leaves to cherish his memory his lovely wife Gracie, and his children daughter Michelle Rubio Moore, son-in-law Eric Moore and son Mayor Rubio and his grandchildren, Jazmin, Zachary, Alec, Kaleigh and Kianna and great-granddaughter Abigail.

Gracie would like to express her heartfelt gratitude for all the love and support given to Ralph and herself and the family.  “We feel very loved and supported by Seaside and the Peninsula community.”

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, there is no memorial public planed at this time. The family indicated one would take place at a future date.

His children Michelle, Mario and their children are intending to fund-raise to purchase playground equipment or another park improvement at Rubio Field, in memory of their father and grandfather.

Please join us in honoring the memory of Mayor Ralph Rubio for his longstanding dedication to public service and his role in shaping the City of Seaside. We commend him on his invaluable work as a public servant for over two decades and his commitment to serving the people of Seaside and the Peninsula.

Flags will fly at half-mast for 12 days, one day for each year served as Mayor.

It is with the greatest sadness we say goodbye to one of Seaside’s biggest champions.