Ron was born in Manhattan, New York, and grew up a huge fan
of the New York Yankees and playing stick ball in the streets with his three
brothers and other Italian boys. Asked one time who was the best at stick ball
among the brothers, Ron said, “If I have to be honest, it was me.”
Ron was drafted by the Army and served for a time in Germany
as a medical tech. He was discharged in 1957 and moved to Florida, reuniting
with his brothers and living with them for a time. The brothers had fine
singing voices, and a couple of them played instruments, so they enjoyed making
music together.
Around the time of his Army discharge, Ron would
occasionally show up to his older sister Sally’s hair appointment. The young
hairdresser was named Carol, and she would become Ron’s wife of 61 years. They
would raise six children and celebrate the arrival of eight grandchildren and 4
great-grandchildren.
Ron and Carol settled in Pinellas Park and became mainstays
at the Davis Fields ballfields, where all four of their boys were standout
athletes. Ron was especially adept at teaching the kids baseball, and he would
often hit his sons and their cousins fly balls in the Skyview Elementary School
field behind their house.
The family were longtime parishioners at Sacred Heart Church
in Pinellas Park and, later, at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in
Clearwater. After Carol’s passing in 2020, Ron remained very devout in his
faith. He moved in with his son, Paul, and daughter-in-law, Lourdes (Lulu), and
attended Incarnation Catholic Church in Orlando.
Ron was a jokester and a prankster – so much so that people
he worked with long ago at the General Electric plant in Largo still talk about
his antics today. He was famous for his unexpected animal impressions and his
relentless teasing of anyone who was a little tight with the dollar bill. He
was also known for his love of Notre Dame football and the great Italian
quarterbacks in the NFL, although he tired of the politics in big-time sports
and finally turned to the Golf Channel.
He always counted his blessings, but Ron experienced
profound sadness in his later years, losing Carol and three of their six
children. Ron’s three brothers and a sister also went before him, and they had
all been especially close. He remained close with his remaining children, his
grandchildren, and a niece, Amber Tidwell who visited frequently.
Two days before he died, great-granddaughter Gianna came to
visit and he erupted with joy. Together with daughter Debra, Grandchild Kara,
and sister Madeline, they laughed and sang and told stories until he fell
asleep.
Ron is survived by sons Paul (Lourdes-Lulu) and Steven
(Gina); daughter Debra; grandchildren Gregory Jr., Timothy, Johnathon, Megan,
Kara, Katelynn, Jon Paul, Nina, and 4 great grandchildren; His sisters Madeline
(Ed) Leberator and Faye Scaglione are also still living.
He is in preceded in death by his wife, Carol, sons Gregory,
Chris, and daughter Therese (Mike) Rickards, as well as brothers Vincent,
Louis, Anthony (known as Tex) and sister Sally.
A requiem Mass service will take place on March 14, 2024, at
7 a.m. at Incarnation Catholic Church, 1515 Edgewater Drive, Orlando, FL 32804.
Following the funeral mass, a small service will take place at 12 noon at the
Chapel at Calvary Cemetery , 5233 118th Ave. N., Clearwater, FL
33760. For those attending the mass, please allow an extra 40 minutes due to
very heavy traffic on I-4. Because the church was destroyed by a fire in
2023, the social hall has been converted to worship space. It’s the two-story
building on the right side of the church. Please enter through the doors
located at the center of the building from the sidewalk on Edgewater Drive.
In lieu of flowers, a donation for the re-building of the
church would be appreciated. Envelopes will be available at the mass.
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