Early in the morning on October 1st 1942, Frank and Stella Uchacz welcomed a boy into the world. Ronald Edward Uchacz was born at Beth Israel Hospital, Manhattan, NY at 3:00 am October 1, 1942. From early on he was a vibrant cheerful boy. Ronald, or Ronnie or even Ron, as his friends fondly called him, grew up in downtown Queens. In his early years he was a healthy and happy baby, being raised in a small downtown apartment by his mom Stella while his dad Frank worked at the bar they owned. As Ron grew up he enjoyed playing stickball in the streets with the local boys and walking the Coney Island pier with his parents. The family was joined by another son, Eugene Uchacz. Ron and Gene grew up together in a small apartment in Jackson Heights, Queens, NY. Together they spent years sharing one room, with Ron often sleeping on the couch of the small apartment. It was often told by Ron’s mom Stella, that Ron enjoyed jumping from rooftop to rooftop with his Jackson Heights friends.

It wasn’t until the young Uchacz family moved into an area of New York called Garden City that Ron began to expand his horizons. As a growing boy Ron always balanced having fun with a sense of right and wrong. He was charismatic but humble, kind and adventurous. Even from a young age Ron was the type of friend who was loyal and fun loving, but still cautious and reserved at times. He enjoyed being with friends but not needing all the attention to himself. According to his friends he was often found in the middle of the laughing and good times. He enjoyed many sports and had a love for the ocean as a young child.

Ron attended Stratford Middle School and eventually Garden City High School. He enjoyed playing sports. He often shared that he enjoyed being taller and more broad shouldered than other boys during those years, which gave him some advantage competing. During those times there were a few stories of him “accidentally” roughing up some other boys on the football field.

Throughout high school Ron was active playing basketball, tennis or any other sport that might be available. While not on the golf team he would often take in a round with his friends playing Bethpage and other local courses. Ron always enjoyed competing. Competition was high in that area too, as several players that Ron played against went on to play pro careers.

Ron’s high school days were similar to many other kids at the time. He enjoyed hanging out with his guy friends at Jones Beach, dating a couple girls and working the pump room at the local pool. As he neared the end of his High School days, Ron began to focus more on his future career. He graduated from Garden City High in 1960 and enrolled in Tufts University, a private college in Medford Massachusetts. There he began his degree toward engineering.

In High School Ron was a good student who worked hard; however, soon after his first semester it became evident that engineering might not be the best fit. He quickly dropped out of engineering school and enrolled in a degree toward government. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts on June 6th 1964. After college Ron was often spotted in his favorite car, a convertible burgundy LeMans Pontiac.

Ron’s college years were spent in similar fashion to his high school years, sports, school, laughing and having a good time with friends. Ron joined Delta Tau Delta fraternity after his second year. He served as the secretary for his fraternity, mainly to pad his resume. Both in and out of the fraternity Ron was active in several sports including football, lacrosse and soccer. On the side he spent time refereeing games, which added some beer money to his pocket. He was a part of the group called the Luigis which set up events and gatherings around the university.

After graduating in 1964 Ron went to Boston College to pursue his degree as a doctor of Jurisprudence. During that time he stayed active in sports and worked downtown with his father in their family owned bar. In 1967 Ron passed the Bar exam and officially became an attorney.

Ron enlisted in the Army in 1967. He served as an Aide to the Staff Judge Advocate at Arlington Hall Station, Va in 1968. In 1969 after being commissioned as Captain in the Army Judge Advocate General Corps he was stationed at Ft. Meade, MD as a defense counselor. Ron served as Assistant Staff to the Judge Advocate in Arlington Hall Station Maryland from May 1969 to June 1973, During that time he distinguished himself by acting as Defense Counsel for personnel  returning from AWOL status, and helped formulate rules and guidelines for this new area. He defended or prosecuted over two hundred criminal cases. Captain Ron was awarded an Army commendation medal for his service with the JAG.

Ron always considered himself one of the “lucky” ones, which included marrying the love of his life. Ron and Mary Karen Healy met in July of 1968 on a blind date orchestrated by his brother Gene, as luck would have it. They married one year later on September 20th 1969 in Youngstown Ohio. They moved into a small apartment in Laurel, Maryland where they enjoyed activities together and spent time with friends while Ron focused on his career at the National Security Agency.

Ron and Karen moved to Millersville Maryland in 1973 after the birth of their first child Autumn Joy Uchacz on October 18th 1972. On September 15th 1976 they were welcomed by their second child Bradford Tyler Uchacz. Ron took up coaching and spent many weekends on the Chesapeake Bay in their boat named KRAB (Karen Ron Autumn Brad). Ron credited working together with Karen on their Amway business as one of the highlights from the early years of marriage. Ron and Karen moved back to Laurel, Maryland in 1986 where they continued to raise their family.

Ron spent the better part of the 80’s and 90’s serving as assistant deputy general counsel at the National Security Agency. While much of his work was classified, it was well known that he approached his work with the same character which had been instilled in him at a young age. In 2002 Ron was able to punctuate his career working for the government as he was loaned out to the White House to serve in the White House Ethics department. Ron greatly enjoyed his assignment as the senior advisor to the young staff. As a tall, bald man with broad shoulders he was often saluted walking down the hallways as people mistook him for high ranking military officials. In 2007 Ron officially retired from public service.

Throughout his lifetime Ron never retired from being a Dad or husband. He enjoyed spending time with his daughter Autumn at Army Navy games, he fondly recalled the All-Star game with her at Camden Yards, sending her emails which he always led with princess and was overjoyed when she moved closer to him and Karen. He enjoyed sending cards to his son Brad, reminding him to never give up, to work hard at marriage and being a good father and to be kind to his mother. He encouraged his kids to do their best, to laugh and love and show respect to those around them. Ron and Karen built a relationship on the tenets of love; Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres (1 Corinthians 13,4-7).

Ron and Karen enjoyed the retirement years together. While Karen continued to work part time, Ron elected to stay fully retired and resisted the callings to consult for other companies and agencies. Within the first year of retirement Ron and Karen moved to Cary, North Carolina. Throughout retirement Ron took many cruises with Karen, enjoying concerts around the US as well as community parties and events. He enjoyed playing with his three grandchildren and offering sage advice to his daughter and son. During retirement Ron accomplished one of his life goals. On April 17th, 2018 during a frigid day in NC, he hit a low flying golf ball ninety nine yards on the 12th hole of the Raleigh Golf Association Course and the ball sank right in the hole for a hole in one.

The goal closest to his heart however, was to celebrate 50 years of marriage. Ron and Karen celebrated that goal together on September 20, 2019. Ron knew the importance of a commitment and two people sticking together through the good and the challenges of marriage. To reach 50 years meant he was in the same company as his mom and dad. Ron and Karen made their goal, ultimately celebrating 51 years of marriage.

Ron's story came full circle on October 28th 2020 as he went home to rejoin his mother, father and brother. While this chapter may have ended, his story lives on in the hearts and minds of those that carry his joy and love with them including his wife Karen, daughter Autumn and son Brad. Ron will always be remembered for his tireless love of those around him, his passionate belief in community and faith, his affinity to play practical jokes and infectious laugh and smile. Each life touches another and Ron’s, thanks to the grace of God, touched more lives than most.

In celebration of a humble and loving man in life and death who blessed the many lives he touched.