01/30/2024
Many have a “living connection” to Clarke Massey. Coach Massey, particularly Elaine—though not a coach—served as a mentor for many. Elaine was not only a personal role model, shaping one individual’s perspective on the importance of women in sports, but she also guided their feelings as a coach.
Both Elaine and Clarke, associated with Cordova, made an enduring impact on numerous lives, transcending gender boundaries. Even before the introduction of Title IX, Elaine Massey played a crucial role, mentoring young women in sports and pioneering women’s sports at Cordova.
Elaine Dorothy Massey's life, marked by her birth on February 6, 1935, and her peaceful passing on January 1, 2024, is remembered with a sense of loss on this solemn day. Born as Elaine Dorothy Zanetta to Giovanni and Giuseppina Zanetta in Orangevale, California, she was the sixth of six daughters, growing up on a farm and dairy ranch.
Elaine's journey unfolded with graduation from San Juan High School and attending California State University Sacramento, where she met and married Clarke Massey in 1956. Their life together as educators and sports enthusiasts led them through various places, including Vacaville, East Sacramento, Foothill Farms, Rancho Cordova, and finally Folsom Lake, where they raised their two sons. Elaine took pride in being a devoted housewife and mother, a beloved teacher, and eventually the Vice Principal at Mills Jr. High School in Rancho Cordova for 25 years.
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