Neighbor News
City Manager Sharon Ranals Retires: Endurance, Resilience, Charm Secrets
South San Francisco City Manager of 45 year of service receives multiple commendations, resolutions, awards. What's her secret sauce?
On December 9 , 2025 during Reorganization of Council via nominations where Mayor Eddie Flores transferred power to Mayor Mark Addiego and Vice Mayor Nagales , with all Council Members approving including Flor Nicolas and James Coleman , another event followed to recognize the retirement of City Manager Sharon Ranals.
While presenting a resolution to Sharon Ranals, Former Congresswoman Jackie Speier said, “It is truly so remarkable that a person would give 45 years of their life in public service to just one community , people tend to move and move up or out but 45 years is what Sharon has given to our great city of South San Francisco.”
I’ve known Sharon for sometime since I was appointed ar the Cultural Arts Commission by late Mayor Jack Drago; the first employee I met was the then Parks & Rec Director Barry Nagel who attended Commission meetings but when he couldn’t attend, he sent the manager Sharon Ranals.
Find out what's happening in South San Franciscofor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The first time I met her, something clicked , she reminded me of someone. I snapped my fingers. Of course, the actress Jean Simmons. Sharon, a young lady with the raven-haired short bobbed style and cheekbones resembled Jean Simmons without thick makeup.
If you don’t believe me, here’s Jean Simmons at Guys and Dolls movie serenaded by Marlon Brando( saw free movie on YouTube , what a surprise Brando famous as Godfather singing?) . A serenade for Sharon “Eyes of A Woman In Love”. click link
https://youtu.be/5w2rxL9Ixz8?si=WWMBSVNBvpzCu649
I emailed five questions to her, some descriptions give clues to her long standing perseverance.
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Sharon received her BA from Reed College in Portland, Oregon, majoring in Sociology, in 1976; later earned Master’s Degree in Public Administration at San Francisco State University.
Sharon started part-time for the City of SSF in the Parks and Recreation department in 1980, full-time in 1984 where she worked in different positions over the years from staff to Manager, Director and liked each position for different reasons. She wrote: “ One common denominator was being able to see the direct community impact of local government services and projects, improving the quality of life for residents. I most enjoyed problem-solving and collaborating with the very smart, talented, and dedicated group of City employees I have worked with over the years.”
I’d like to write on part of her persona not covered on the night presentation of awards in the Council chambers , no one mentioned that she is an artist, specifically a calligrapher. During my conversations with her, she surprised me she knew big names or master calligraphers like Alan Blackman, Georgia Deaver, Ward Dunham; a casual observer wouldn’t know those details. I didn’t know she was from Reed, she later took an intensive calligraphy workshops: “After graduating from Reed, I moved to San Francisco to attend a one-year intensive program at the Calligraphy Center on Cole Street in the upper Haight neighborhood of San Francisco. “
As Sharon recalled , “During my years at Reed almost all students tried an introductory calligraphy course”.
In his famous Stanford Commencement speech , Steve Jobs a Reed College dropout credited calligraphy for the success of his Mac models which led to the first trillion most valuable company. Out of the Art fields, Jobs didn’t pick Sculpture, Oil Painting, Architecture but the field of calligraphy focusing on creating tiny letters or symbols as the inspiration for his creative ideas, for example the tiny iPhone , though handheld carries an entire universe of knowledge.”
Because the Cultural Arts Commission is under Parks and Rec, Sharon had a hand in the creation of Sculpture Garden , Sculpture installations, Youth Art Shows, Art Classes, Bonsai culture, ongoing Art Exhibitions, Art Scholarship, several cultural events like free movies, concerts in the park.
She helped approved the fundraising workshops Shodo(Sensei Kawahatsu, who blessed the opening of the Asian Art Museum), Rustic(Judy Detrick), Engrosser Script and she even enrolled in Spencerian(Ex White House Chief Calligrapher Rick Paulus).
Herman Zapf dubbed by the New York Times as the “Michelangelo of Calligraphy” wrote a credo on the Art of Calligraphy, an excerpt
“We don’t create things to earn fame. We put no scratches on the globe, but perhaps with our gentle art, we add a few little dabs of joy to life in nicely written praise of our Lord , written with the complete engagement of our heart.”
One of Sharon’s secrets, she adds “a few little dabs of joy with the complete engagement of her heart.”
Director of Parks and Rec Greg Mediati said, “We have a very good City Manager.”
Sharon received plaques/awards for her 45 years of service: *** see YouTube link near the end of article for detailed descrption.
Senator Alex Padilla from DC sent a certificate of “special recognition presented to you on the occasion celebrating your many years of service and dedication to our city. “***
Ex-Congresswoman Jackie Speier, current San Mateo County Supervisor said,
“ the transformations in the city's parks and facilities that she oversaw the opening and renovation of the dynamic community assets ….enhancements in capital improvements across South San Francisco . …City Council appointed her as the first permanent female city manager in March of 2023 after serving after serving with distinction in roles including the assistant city manager and director of Parks and Recreation truly Sharon you are a gift to this community .”***
Sarah Phelps representing State Senator John Becker , Assembly members Diane Papan and Catherine Stefani had a plaque too, “ we wish to congratulate and thank you so very much for you service , beautiful thanks, thank you very much.”****
Former City Manager Susan Kennedy represented Congressman Kevin Mullin - a House of Representatives tribute to Sharon Ranals “ Mr. speaker I asked my colleagues please join me in congratulating Sharon Ranals for an exemplary record of service to the city of South San Francisco commending her for her tireless dedication of time and talent and wishing her all the best in the years ahead…” ****
Vice Mayor Mark Nagales surprised her with the planting of a young oak tree that will grow into a beautiful reminder of Sharon’s loyal service to the city. Council Member Eddie Flores added beautiful words and flowers to Sharon’s inexhaustible knowledge of information and SSF projects.****
***To see the entire City of South San Francisco Council Reorganization 2025 and presentation of awards to Sharon Ranals, please click on link below.
https://www.youtube.com/live/RA_42dFrz9o?feature=shared
After receiving her awards, Sharon thanked Council and congratulated incoming Mayor Addiego, Vice Mayor Nagales, she introduced her family(daughter Sofia, sons Skyler , Cole & partner Michelle, grandson Jackson), thanked her staff and colleagues Management Analyst Marie Patea, City Attorney Sky Woodruff, Asst Attorney Lindsay D'Andrea, Assistant Manager Rich Lee, and her staff and colleagues for their support.
After retirement, she looks forward “to taking care of her new grandson Jackson at least two days a week, get house in order, plan to visit family in Colorado Springs her hometown, where she owns a small cottage next door her sister , campaign for causes she cares about.”
She also plans to put her hobbies into action like sewing, gardening, creating interactive displays. Plus “I may even get back to practicing calligraphy, although my hand is not as steady as it once was.”
On behalf of the South San Francisco residents, we Serenade Sharon to have a Life in Pink or La Vie En Rosé after she retires on December 30, for a job well done. After all , she’s a woman in love with life. As the Bible states, “ Love never fails.”
