Ralph Barkey’s wife, Diane Peery, was his Bakersfield college sweetheart.
Sadly, Ralph, who was recognized for his contributions to UCSB, passed away on January 23, 2025, at 89.
Highlights
- Ralph Barkey died on January 23, 2025, at 89 due to an undisclosed reason.
- Barkey was married to Diane Peery Barkey in 1956 and were blessed with two children and four grandchildren.
- His wife, Diane Peery Barkey, died on April 20, 2011, due to cancer.
He participated in basketball and golf at UCSB for three years (1955-58), earning various All-Conference and All-American honors and being inducted into the UCSB Hall of Fame as an “Athlete.”
Barkey entered coaching at UCSB as an assistant to head coach Art Gallon in 1958.
He served two years as an assistant while completing his Master’s Degree and was appointed the Head Basketball Coach at the College of San Mateo in 1960.
In 1962, he was asked to return to UCSB as top assistant. He served in this capacity for four years, and after Coach Gallon’s retirement, he was named head basketball coach at his alma mater in 1966.
He remained UCSB’s head coach for 12 years, compiling a record of 169-144. It was UCSB’s first year as a member of the NCAA’s Division I level.
Barkey was inducted into UCSB’s Athletic Hall of Fame a second time in the “Coach” category.
Ralph Barkey And Diane Peery Were Married For 55 Years
Ralph Barkey met an eleven-year resident of Lincoln, Diana Peery Barkey, at Bakersfield College and later tied the knot in 1956 after transferring to UCSB.
Sadly, their married life ended following the tragic death of Diane Peery due to medical complications related to cancer on April 20, 2011, at 9 p.m.
Diane’s memorial service was held on Saturday, April 30, 2011, at 1 p.m. in the Presentation Hall of the Kilaga Springs Lodge at Sun City Lincoln Hills.
Diane attended UCLA and performed professionally as a dancer, auditioning for the Don Arden Dance review at the Moulin Rouge in Hollywood.
She has also professionally modeled and appeared in two films produced by Christina Films, Inc.
While living in Rohnert Park, Diane owned a Gift Basket Business and won three gold medals at the Simoma Fair.
Hall of Fame Ralph Barkey And Diane Peery Had Two Children
A year after marriage, Ralph and Diane were blessed with their first child, a daughter, Leslye Barkey, 68, in 1957.
Leslye attended Dos Pueblos Senior High School and later studied Nutrition science at UC Davis. She currently lives in Davis, California, with her husband and children.
In 1963, they welcomed their second child, a son, John Barkey, 62. He studied MBA, BS, Finance, and Economics at the University of California, Irvine.
John served as the Vice President at Pulte Homes from October 2003 to December 2006 and as the Division President at Morrison Homes from January 2007 to December 2007.
He served as The Wiseman Company, LLC’s Chief Financial Officer from August 2009 to June 2024.
Currently, John is serving as the President at Wiseman Commerical, Inc.
During the interview with Noozhawk, John said his mother was the story of his life, and his father, Ralph, had many difficulties after Diane died in 2011.
According to the source, Ralph and Diane had four grandchildren.
They are currently mourning the loss of their supportive and devoted father, Ralph Barkey.
Additional Information
- After leaving UCSB in 1978, Barkey entered athletic administration at Cal State Fullerton and then UC Irvine in 1979 before accepting the athletic director’s position at Sonoma State University in 1981.
- Ralph retired in January 1997 and was inducted into Sonoma State’s Athletic Hall of Fame in March 2003.
- He was born to his father, Rueben Ralston Barkey, and his mother, Vivian Marie Barkey.
