Becky and family,  

I am so sorry that I will be out of town and therefore not be able to attend the service at DCC.  Your family meant so much to me at DCC. Ron always was willing to listen when I had a concern and his service as an elder was greatly appreciated. Your family was always so involved and I looked up to both of you.  It was fun watching your kids grow up and how truly proud you should be of the loving adults they have become.  Please know that you all will be in my thoughts and prayers.  Surely our loss is heaven’s gain.  Thankful that we will all see one another again someday. 

Blessings, 

Kathy Bartolomucci

 Ron was a dedicated family man who took great delight in his frequent visits with his children and grandchildren. He bore the brunt of his medical issues with grace and gratitude towards the staff of the Tucson Mayo Clinic. He met the clinicians and staff with dignity and kindness through several bouts of trying medical diagnoses and painful surgeries. 

 Ron bravely stepped into many difficult situations to give of himself. When his niece, Grace Koval, fell 70 feet off of a cliff on a school trip and was flown, near death, to an Arizona hospital, Ron dropped what he was doing and spent weeks with Stephen and Tracy Koval, helping them bear up under enormous stress at the time they needed him the most. 

 Most of our country heard about the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina. Ron met the moment. He bravely stepped into the tragedy and offered long-term psychological support to the disaster victims. He proved his dedication to the cause by moving to New Orleans to provide ongoing counseling to the community. Mayor Ray Nagin was so impressed with the quality of Ron’s services that he appointed Ron to the position of Mental Health director for the city at the time of its greatest need. 

 Ron returned to his hometown of Babylon, NY to be at his mother, Maria Koval’s bedside in her final weeks. 

 Ron is sorely missed by his family and large circle of friends. We offer our deepest condolences to Becky, Karen, Steve, Jason, Kyle, Megan and all the grandchildren. May you find peace and strength in the company of caring friends and the warm circle of family. 

 We remember the good times—the happy and proud father at family weddings and get-togethers, but we knew that beneath the happy and proud parent, he had as much love as was needed whatever the situation.

Being apart of Ron and Becky’s life since March of last year I can testify that Ron loved God, Becky and his family. He showed me what being a man of God looked like. I will miss him as he was a special person! To the family, my deepest sympathies and prayers for you all!

Matthew Fletcher 

CCV online Volunteer