To write about Ron is especially emotional and difficult. There are too many variables. He was my oldest sibling. When I was young he always seemed so much older than just the nine years that separated our ages. We never went to the same school at the same time, but everyone knew he was brilliant.

Our interaction did accelerate as we got older, and he and Alida moved to Washington for school and eventually work at Weyerhaeuser. I don’t remember once where Ron called me by my first name. He would greet me with a smile or laugh and ask “how are you littlest sister?” I know he did know my name. One Christmas vacation, he tutored me in my introductory calculus, which he knew like the back of his hand. Although I never had a clue what this information was used for, he was an excellent teacher, and I aced the final. He was knowledgeable in most subjects and contributed deep information as well as trivia to all conversations. He also had a continuous habit of tapping my foot with his when we were at our folks house watching TV or talking with family. It wasn’t annoying , but rather a confirmation that we were family. He had a devotion to all cats that was a staple in his life, stemming from our parents and extending into most of our lives.

Ron was especially proud of his family, and when anyone complemented his children, he would just reply, “of course they are.” Alida and his children, spouses and grandchildren are such a wonderful contribution to this world. Raj and I and our family send our love and prayers to each of you always.

There are too many things and stories that I could say about Ron, but all I can think about now is that I miss him. I love you biggest brother.

I'm glad this site sends reminders of arrangements as I can post a memory at this later date. 

One of Ron's duties was helping in the area of the laboratory which performed analyses which are part of  Standard Methods. These are required by State and Local authorities. Some of them were developed perhaps 100, or more, years ago. A few require oxidation/reduction cycles prior to forming unusual complexes which are colored so the analyte can be determined photometrically at a known wavelength.

Each step must be performed exactly and in order for this to work. It is difficult to explain why this very arcane chemistry must be done just so.  I was curious, so I asked. Ron went to his bookcase and pulled out a textbook from perhaps the 1920s. Back then, authors took the time to diagram the chemistries around the colored complex formation.  Modern texts often gloss over it in favor of instrumental techniques. Not only could one always count on Ron himself, but also his library was impressive.

He also assembled various contraptions; for example, to collect trace ammonia from soils over long time periods.  Forestry folks needed to verify if time-release products really would do the job in the forests over weeks of time. Naturally, they turned to Ron. Just one example of decades of service. I missed him when he retired and offer condolences to his family and friends.

Ron is my oldest brother, so I have known him all my life. It is an impossible task to summarize what he meant to me, but I want to share some memories since I am unable to attend his memorial service.

From my earliest memories, Ron demonstrated intelligence, curiosity, an unquenchable thirst for reading, high memory capacity, and incredible mathematical ability. He had an analytical mind and conducted his own experiments as a boy. He read the entire World Book Encyclopedia and the Bible from cover to cover and seemed to recall details easily. He loved both science facts and science fiction, and it seemed clear to everyone that he was destined for a career in science. I was in awe of his abilities.

What many do not know, is that he also enjoyed literature, music, and wrote poetry. He loved his wife, children, grandchildren,  parents, and siblings deeply. For example, in 1972, when Ron and Alida were living in Seattle, I went to their apartment after leaving a bad date, and I asked Ron for a ride home to Tacoma. He immediately agreed, and I appreciated that he did not ask for details as he cheered me up talking about other things. It was a kind and loving act. Those who were close to Ron knew that he could sometimes sense things that others missed.

Ron’s family was a source of pride for him. He often would share some achievement that one of his children had done, or a project that Alida had completed. Because Ron sometimes set impossibly high standards for himself, he was hard on himself. He played games to win and worked to discover ways to control the outcome. Wrestling was a passion for him, and he enjoyed his volunteer work supporting young wrestlers. He also  volunteered at Lakes High after retirement helping support student learning in the science labs. 

However, in spite of Ron’s best efforts, his diabetes was hard to manage and impacted his overall health. He miraculously survived a near fatal heart attack and had a difficult recovery.  At the same time, he seemed to have an even greater appreciation for his life and family. Alida took care of him and he took care of her. Their love began as “table-mates” in a high school science lab and lasted close to 60 years. 

I know Ron’s death was heartbreaking for Alida, as well as their five children and six grandchildren. I send them my love and deepest sympathy.

 I have never known anyone like my brother Ron. I loved him and I truly miss him. We both had fun sharing old memories when we talked. He also enjoyed having a good debate and routinely replied to my questions with a question. If I asked,“How are you, Ron?” He’d reply with a chuckle, “Compared with what?”

He was known as "Ron I. the science guy" among his coworkers.  Ron was our go to person for something needing an explanation, help with problems in the lab, or general questions.  He was a great teacher with a wealth of knowledge about analytical chemistry and I learned so much from him over the years.  Ron had a big heart and I have very fond memories of the two decades of working with him.

Ron was always so caring at work. He taught me so much about analytical testing. He always remembered seeing issues that were solved in the past so we did not have to reinvent the wheel

I'm so sorry that I won't be able to attend Ron's celebration of life (I will be in Italy). Ron was such an influential character in my early career. He was always full of great stories, good advice and he genuinely loved his work and the people around him. My life is better having known him, and he will be missed!