There are certain people at Riordan whose presence becomes ingrained into the school itself, and over time they become part of the school’s identity–whether it’s in the dugout during baseball practice, in the classroom first as a student, and later as a teacher, or at school events that bring the community together. Edgar Beteta, Class of 1985, was one of those special people.
On Feb. 18, the Riordan community lost a teacher, coach, alumnus, and mentor whose influence reached far beyond his job titles. Beteta taught Spanish and History and coached baseball and football. What defined him was his consistency in showing up daily for his students, his players, and his fellow Crusaders.
As a member of the Class of 1985, Beteta once walked along the same hallways he would later guide his own students through. He lettered in both baseball and band as a Riordan student before returning years later, committed to giving back to the community that shaped him. Over time he became a renowned presence on campus, someone who students and players counted on for encouragement, leadership and enthusiastic commitment.
When asked to describe him in one word, close friend Ernesto Castillo ’87 responded without hesitation, “GENUINE!” before adding, “No one was more generous than Edgar. You knew where you stood with him at all times and he always kept it real.”
That authenticity was felt by many, especially on the baseball field. “Coach Beteta was an outstanding coach and an energetic person,” said Collin Barry ’27. “He will be greatly missed in our community.”
For Anthony Tentes ’26, Coach Beteta’s impact extended beyond practices and games. “Coach Ed would always be in our corners through baseball on and off the field, in the classroom, and just helping us out in everyday life,” said Tentes.
Those everyday interactions and encouraging words are what many students will remember.
For fellow faculty members, Beteta was equally respected as both a colleague and friend. Fellow Spanish teacher Armando Castillo said, “He was just an overall good guy. He was working on his masters and was almost going to complete it.”
Beyond the classroom and the field, Beteta’s life was marked with resilience. Diagnosed with Lupus as a teenager, he faced decades of medical challenges. The disease attacked his kidneys, and after years on dialysis, in 2007 he received a kidney transplant from a family member.
For 20 years, he took anti-rejection medication to preserve the transplant. Over time, the medication weakened his immune system, and he developed Lymphoproliferative Disorder.
Despite multiple rounds of chemotherapy, he continued to fight. “Edgar continued to battle and went through a couple rounds of chemotherapy; however, it did not completely kill the lymphoma cells, and they spread,” said close friend Randy Bickel ’86.
“Edgar passed quietly while sleeping, surrounded by many fellow Crusader brothers and family,” he said.
Bickel described his friend as “kind, loyal, friendly, caring, ethical, loving, fun, heartfelt, comical, strong, persevering, courageous, faithful, reverent, dedicated, loving, and giving.”
Outside of school, Beteta stayed connected to his Crusader roots. Castillo recalled playing in an adult softball league with him in San Francisco and winning a championship in the early 2000s.
Beteta was a Raiders fan, a loyal Cal Bears supporter, a passionate Giants fan, and a lover of classic Volkswagens.
Above all, he loved Riordan. “Edgar loved teaching at Riordan,” Bickel said. “He loved staying connected to the Riordan community and loved coaching.”
Though he is physically gone, his impact remains present in the classrooms he taught in, the fields he coached on, and the students he mentored. The example he set of authenticity, resilience, and brotherhood reflects the very spirit of a Riordan Crusader.
