The Bob Bastian Baseball and Softball Complex pays tribute to a late beloved community member. Photo courtesy of Twin Rivers Unified Communications Department

RIO LINDA, CA (MPG) - The naming of Rio Linda High School's new baseball/softball complex is official.

Twin Rivers Unified School District announced on May 23 that the complex will now be known as the Bob Bastian Baseball and Softball Complex, honoring the cherished memory of the late Twin Rivers school board member and overall Rio Linda hero who died in 2022 at age 88.

 Bob Bastian and his daughter, Stacey, pose for a photo. Photo courtesy of the Bastian family

Trustee Stacey Bastian (his daughter), her children and Bastian’s wife, Susan Bastian, attended the May 21 school board meeting when the vote was taken and “were deeply moved” by this touching recognition, according to the school district.

 Trustee Stacey Bastian (center, Bob Bastian's daughter), her children, and Bastian’s wife, Susan Bastian, were appreciative of the dedication to Bastian. Photo courtesy of Twin Rivers Unified Communications Department

Bastian was widely known and adored in the Rio Linda community. Born and raised in the area, Bastian served his hometown his entire life. He had a passion for education and worked in the Rio Linda School District, taught at Lincoln High School and later served the Twin Rivers Unified School District.

In 1982, Bastian became the Rio Linda Education Association chair. In 1995, he was named Citizen of the Year due to his extensive amounts of community service. His list of contributions to the community only continues.

In addition, Bastian had a profound impact on the Rio Linda/Elverta Historical Society.

“Bob Bastian was one of the 10 founding members of the Rio Linda/Elverta Historical Society in 1991. He made it possible for us to hold meetings in the Rio Linda Schools and he became our first president,” said Joyce Buckland, Rio Linda/Elverta Historical Society treasurer. “He served as president for over 12 years and even after he stepped down, he continued to support the society in every way possible. He later served as our vice-president.”

“Bob’s connections with Sacramento County Regional Parks and our local park district made it possible for the society to lease the Dry Creek Ranch so that the society would finally have a ‘home’ in 1995,” Buckland added. “Bob and his cousin, Frank Weckman, organized the first annual Farm & Tractor Days event, the society’s one major fundraiser each year. The society greatly misses Bob and will be forever indebted to him for all of his non-stop support.”

The community remembers Bastian in many ways, including naming the high school baseball/softball complex in his name recently.

Bastian leaves behind an irreplaceable legacy to the Rio Linda/Elverta area. Having changed the lives of many, young and old, Bastian will never be forgotten and will now be a part of every single Rio Linda High School baseball and softball game going forward, according to community members.