Robert Reade; Fullerton High Assistant Coach

Robert Reade, varsity assistant coach for girls’ basketball at Fullerton Union High School, died Thursday after a seven-month battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 36.

Reade, a 1982 graduate of Troy High in Fullerton, was responsible for bringing head coach Respp Relatores into coaching four years ago. Relatores coached the junior varsity for a season before taking over the varsity alongside Reade, a high school classmate he had known for 22 years.

“From a personal standpoint, it’s a huge loss,” Relatores said. “For the program, he was a fun-loving guy who the parents and kids loved having around. He was a father figure to some, a big kid to others. He’s going to be missed. Really missed.”

A viewing will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Neel’s Mortuary in Brea. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Calvary Chapel in La Habra, with burial at Loma Vista Memorial Park in Fullerton.