PLACERVILLE, Calif. — Richard Allen “Rich” Mason — affectionately known across El Dorado County as “Uncle Fuzzy” — died unexpectedly on May 11, 2026, leaving behind a community deeply intertwined with the legacy he spent decades preserving.
Known instantly by his long white beard, booming personality and devotion to California Gold Rush history, Mason became one of the most recognizable cultural ambassadors in Placerville and throughout El Dorado County. Whether teaching children how to pan for gold, greeting families dressed as Santa Claus during the holidays, or rallying civic leaders around historical preservation projects, Uncle Fuzzy embodied the spirit of the Mother Lode.
Community leaders with El Dorado Gold 1848 confirmed Mason’s passing in a public statement released this month.
“With great sorrow, the Board of El Dorado Gold 1848 was informed of Uncle Fuzzy’s unexpected departure from this life on May 11, 2026,” the organization stated. “Without Fuzzy, El Dorado Gold 1848 would not have been created.”
The nonprofit credited Mason with helping secure the historic Old Post Office building at 515 Main St. in Placerville and guiding the legal formation of the organization. Even after stepping away from the board, members said he continued supporting preservation efforts behind the scenes.
Mason’s influence stretched far beyond nonprofit work.
As founder and organizer of the United States Gold Panning Association, he championed competitive gold panning while elevating El Dorado County’s role in preserving living Gold Rush traditions. His most celebrated achievement came in 2016, when Placerville hosted the World Gold Panning Championships at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds.
The international event brought competitors and visitors from around the globe to the county, spotlighting Placerville’s historic connection to the discovery of gold in California.
“It was a stunning event with participants that came from around the world,” El Dorado Gold 1848 wrote in its remembrance. “Fuzzy has had a huge educational impact on the continuing of our rich gold rush history.”
Mason also became a familiar face at local heritage festivals, including Georgetown Founders Day and educational demonstrations throughout the region. Children often gathered around him as he patiently demonstrated the art and science of gold panning, turning history lessons into hands-on experiences.
In May 2023, Mason’s expertise earned national attention when he appeared on NBC Nightly News during coverage of renewed gold prospecting activity fueled by heavy Sierra Nevada runoff and flooding. During the segment, he discussed the enduring fascination with California’s gold country and the modern resurgence of recreational prospecting.
Outside the mining pan and history exhibits, Mason was equally known for his generosity and eccentric warmth.
During the Christmas season, residents regularly spotted him dressed as Santa Claus along Placerville’s Main Street, greeting families near longtime local businesses and spreading holiday cheer. He also mentored several local nonprofit organizations, including Bears By Your Side, where colleagues described him as both a trusted advisor and an enthusiastic encourager.
Mason frequently participated in El Dorado County Sustainable Economic Development, or SEED, meetings, where he became known for a favorite phrase that reflected his unconventional optimism.
“Dream like a child with all the creativity and imagination and think outside the box — but make sure you are out of the box,” he often told fellow community advocates.
Friends said the saying perfectly captured the man behind the beard: imaginative, energetic and impossible to confine to ordinary thinking.
Mason shared his life with his wife, Joyce Mason, his partner since 1983. The couple had been married for more than 28 years and were widely recognized throughout the community for their shared commitment to preserving local history and promoting Gold Rush heritage. Together, they raised a blended family that included five children, five grandchildren and several beloved pets.
Their family story carried its own historic roots. According to local historical features tied to the 2016 gold panning events, Joyce Mason’s grandfather reportedly made his fortune during the Gold Rush era before helping establish the city of Campbell, California — a fitting connection for a family so devoted to preserving California’s mining history.
For many residents, Uncle Fuzzy represented more than a colorful local character. He served as a bridge between El Dorado County’s past and present — someone who transformed history from museum text into living memory.
His absence now leaves a visible space along Main Street, at community events and beside the rivers where generations first learned to swirl a gold pan under his instruction.
“El Dorado County’s rich history had no greater cheerleader,” one longtime community volunteer said this week. “Uncle Fuzzy made people proud of where they came from.”
Memorial service details have not yet been publicly announced.
Uncle Fuzzy will be greatly missed.
