Ronald 'Ron' Wasilewski

Ronald G. "Ron" Wasilewski, 76, passed away on Monday, January 29, 2018 at his home in Westchester, California. He was born on May 13, 1941 in Bayonne, NJ to Charles Sr. and Mae Wasilewski.
Ron grew up in Bayonne and graduated from Bayonne High School in 1958. After high school he attended Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ where he received a B.S. in Industrial Engineering and a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army through the ROTC program. Later, he pursued further education, receiving an M.B.A. (magna cum laude) in Business Management from Fairleigh Dickinson University.
Ron entered military duty shortly after graduation from college and served on active duty for two years with the U.S. Army Aviation Materiel Command with various logistical responsibilities in support of the readiness, deployment and maintenance of the Armys aviation effort during the Vietnam conflict. He attained the rank of 1st Lieutenant and upon release from active duty Ron continued service with the Army Reserve serving in a basic combat training instructional capacity, and was discharged in 1969.
Following his discharge from active military service, Ron began his engineering career in manufacturing with Singer Company in New Jersey as an Industrial Engineer where he worked for three years, before deciding on a preference to apply his skills in the service business sector with American Airlines. It was on a Management Engineering project assignment with American Airlines that Ron fell in love with Southern California, which eventually triggered his relocation to Los Angeles in 1972, taking a similar position with Continental Airlines, and subsequently assuming administrative responsibility for the corporate baggage handling operation. His subsequent affiliations in California included diverse technical and progressive management positions with Continental Airlines, Federal Reserve Bank, Candle Corporation, Coast Federal Bank, and Superior National Insurance. His latest affiliation was with Archdiocesan Youth Employment unit of Catholic Charities of Los Angeles where he served as Associate Director and Information Manager for the final 12 years of his career before his retirement for health reasons.
Throughout his business career, Ron carried with him a toolbox of skills that integrated analytical abilities, logical thinking, objectivity, and dependability with a personal sense of dedication and work ethic. He possessed a sense of humor that was often effective in taking the edge off intense situations, and was adept at knowing when to be funny and when to be serious. Ron received great satisfaction from influencing and helping others in the performance of their job responsibilities, and often assumed the role of mentor and intermediary on their behalf, at times at the expense of his own personal recognition.
Rons contributions were consistent throughout his career, applying analytical approaches to business situations and achieving enhanced performance effectiveness that began long before personal computers came on the scene. In the current age of high technology, he was quick to point out to the younger generation that he progressed through engineering school when the only available calculation aid was a sliderule. Ron was able to recognize opportunities for quantitative applications to business situations, and was particularly skillful at providing structure to almost anything and was adept at developing and presenting thoughts and information. The latter attribute carried over into his enjoyment for composing light-hearted humorous poems for special occasions and an annual humorous "family newsletter" each Christmas season. Ron didnt shy away from leadership opportunities (formal or otherwise) and would often say "If you are involved in something, you may as well have a large influential role in how its organized and run." However, he approached leadership involvement as an opportunity for service, as opposed to a means for recognition. Rons basic philosophy throughout his business career was "to be positively influential in whatever capacity you serve and to leave your job in much better shape than it was in before you got there." And for the most part, he contently felt that objective was fulfilled.
Following 47 years of bachelorhood, Ron married Louise Podrebarac in 1988 in Westchester, CA, after their having met two years prior at a company-sponsored dinner event when both were employed by Candle Corporation, a computer software development firm. Despite their relatively advanced ages at the time, neither was previously married and they shared an Eastern European family heritage (Polish vs. Croatian), which naturally blossomed into a great love of polka music and dancing.
Ron and Louise were parishioners at St. Anastasia Catholic Church, where they regularly served as Eucharistic Ministers at the 12:00 Noon Mass each Sunday for the past 26 years. From 1993-2003 they were active in the Catholic Worldwide Marriage Encounter ministry, where they served as community coordinators for the West Los Angeles area. For the past 25 years they have been child sponsors through the Children International program which provides financial support and encouragement to their "adopted" children in underdeveloped countries to assist their transition from a life of deprivation to one of accomplishment.
Growing up in an East Coast city environment in the days when automobiles didnt monopolize the roads, Ron was a product of the concrete playground that the city streets and sidewalks afforded. What began as a routine of "stickball" and touch football in the streets among neighborhood kids and basketball at the schoolyard fostered his interest in sports that eventually moved to the parks and more organized athletics in various city leagues. Considering himself somewhat of a "late bloomer" with respect to his admittedly mediocre athletic abilities, Ron continued playing softball and basketball competitively in city and company leagues well into his late 50s, often organizing and administering teams and leagues. He was an above-average bowler, and for 30 years Ron competed in a bowling league and served as President of his league for the last 15 of those years, before bowling lane closure took its toll. And, while golf was never his strong sport, Ron rarely missed a pre-church Sunday round with his "golfing buddies" at the local Westchester Golf Course, which he played weekly for 35 years before health issues forced his curtailment. While a "duffer" in the strict sense of the word, Ron enjoyed the continuous golf challenge and the comradery, and cherished the "miracle" of June 2, 2002 when he got "a hole in one" while also playing his lifetime-best round of golf (3 over par), a feat never close to being repeated. When not involved with sports, Ron could be found at the bi-weekly poker table with friends. He said he never considered it to be gambling in the strict sense of the word, since all we basically did is move the money around within the group from week to week, but had fun doing it
Ron was preceded in death by his parents, Charles Sr. and Mae Wasilewski. He is survived by his spouse, Louise Wasilewski; his brothers Dr. Charles (Margaret-Mary) Wasilewski of Williamsport, PA and John (B.J.) Wasilewski of Peachtree City, GA; and his nieces and nephews and other relatives.
A Mass of Christian burial will be held at St. Anastasia Catholic Church, 7390 W, Manchester Avenue, Los Angeles, CA at 10:30 am on February 17, 2017. A visitation will be held at the church from 9:30 am to 10:00 am the same morning. The family will be greeting friends and relatives following service during the reception being held at St. Anastasia immediately following service. Burial will take place Saturday, March 3rd at 10:30 in Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Kansas City, Kansas.
In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made to Project Angel Food. Condolences may be left on Ronald George Wasilewskis online guest book at www.holycrossmortuary.com
Ronald G. "Ron" Wasilewski, 76, passed away on Monday, January 29, 2018 at his home in Westchester, California. He was born on May 13, 1941 in Bayonne, NJ to Charles Sr. and Mae Wasilewski. Ron grew up in Bayonne and graduated from Bayonne High School in 1958. After high school he attended Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ where he received a B.S. in Industrial Engineering and a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army through the ROTC program. Later, he pursued further education, receiving an M.B.A. (magna cum laude) in Business Management from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Ron entered military duty shortly after graduation from college and served on active duty for two years with the U.S. Army Aviation Materiel Command with various logistical responsibilities in support of the readiness, deployment and maintenance of the Armys aviation effort during the Vietnam conflict. He attained the rank of 1st Lieutenant and upon release from active duty Ron continued service with the Army Reserve serving in a basic combat training instructional capacity, and was discharged in 1969. Following his discharge from active military service, Ron began his engineering career in manufacturing with Singer Company in New Jersey as an Industrial Engineer where he worked for three years, before deciding on a preference to apply his skills in the service business sector with American Airlines. It was on a Management Engineering project assignment with American Airlines that Ron fell in love with Southern California, which eventually triggered his relocation to Los Angeles in 1972, taking a similar position with Continental Airlines, and subsequently assuming administrative responsibility for the corporate baggage handling operation. His subsequent affiliations in California included diverse technical and progressive management positions with Continental Airlines, Federal Reserve Bank, Candle Corporation, Coast Federal Bank, and Superior National Insurance. His latest affiliation was with Archdiocesan Youth Employment unit of Catholic Charities of Los Angeles where he served as Associate Director and Information Manager for the final 12 years of his career before his retirement for health reasons. Throughout his business career, Ron carried with him a toolbox of skills that integrated analytical abilities, logical thinking, objectivity, and dependability with a personal sense of dedication and work ethic. He possessed a sense of humor that was often effective in taking the edge off intense situations, and was adept at knowing when to be funny and when to be serious. Ron received great satisfaction from influencing and helping others in the performance of their job responsibilities, and often assumed the role of mentor and intermediary on their behalf, at times at the expense of his own personal recognition. Rons contributions were consistent throughout his career, applying analytical approaches to business situations and achieving enhanced performance effectiveness that began long before personal computers came on the scene. In the current age of high technology, he was quick to point out to the younger generation that he progressed through engineering school when the only available calculation aid was a sliderule. Ron was able to recognize opportunities for quantitative applications to business situations, and was particularly skillful at providing structure to almost anything and was adept at developing and presenting thoughts and information. The latter attribute carried over into his enjoyment for composing light-hearted humorous poems for special occasions and an annual humorous "family newsletter" each Christmas season. Ron didnt shy away from leadership opportunities (formal or otherwise) and would often say "If you are involved in something, you may as well have a large influential role in how its organized and run." However, he approached leadership involvement as an opportunity for service, as opposed to a means for recognition. Rons basic philosophy throughout his business career was "to be positively influential in whatever capacity you serve and to leave your job in much better shape than it was in before you got there." And for the most part, he contently felt that objective was fulfilled. Following 47 years of bachelorhood, Ron married Louise Podrebarac in 1988 in Westchester, CA, after their having met two years prior at a company-sponsored dinner event when both were employed by Candle Corporation, a computer software development firm. Despite their relatively advanced ages at the time, neither was previously married and they shared an Eastern European family heritage (Polish vs. Croatian), which naturally blossomed into a great love of polka music and dancing. Ron and Louise were parishioners at St. Anastasia Catholic Church, where they regularly served as Eucharistic Ministers at the 12:00 Noon Mass each Sunday for the past 26 years. From 1993-2003 they were active in the Catholic Worldwide Marriage Encounter ministry, where they served as community coordinators for the West Los Angeles area. For the past 25 years they have been child sponsors through the Children International program which provides financial support and encouragement to their "adopted" children in underdeveloped countries to assist their transition from a life of deprivation to one of accomplishment. Growing up in an East Coast city environment in the days when automobiles didnt monopolize the roads, Ron was a product of the concrete playground that the city streets and sidewalks afforded. What began as a routine of "stickball" and touch football in the streets among neighborhood kids and basketball at the schoolyard fostered his interest in sports that eventually moved to the parks and more organized athletics in various city leagues. Considering himself somewhat of a "late bloomer" with respect to his admittedly mediocre athletic abilities, Ron continued playing softball and basketball competitively in city and company leagues well into his late 50s, often organizing and administering teams and leagues. He was an above-average bowler, and for 30 years Ron competed in a bowling league and served as President of his league for the last 15 of those years, before bowling lane closure took its toll. And, while golf was never his strong sport, Ron rarely missed a pre-church Sunday round with his "golfing buddies" at the local Westchester Golf Course, which he played weekly for 35 years before health issues forced his curtailment. While a "duffer" in the strict sense of the word, Ron enjoyed the continuous golf challenge and the comradery, and cherished the "miracle" of June 2, 2002 when he got "a hole in one" while also playing his lifetime-best round of golf (3 over par), a feat never close to being repeated. When not involved with sports, Ron could be found at the bi-weekly poker table with friends. He said he never considered it to be gambling in the strict sense of the word, since all we basically did is move the money around within the group from week to week, but had fun doing it Ron was preceded in death by his parents, Charles Sr. and Mae Wasilewski. He is survived by his spouse, Louise Wasilewski; his brothers Dr. Charles (Margaret-Mary) Wasilewski of Williamsport, PA and John (B.J.) Wasilewski of Peachtree City, GA; and his nieces and nephews and other relatives. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at St. Anastasia Catholic Church, 7390 W, Manchester Avenue, Los Angeles, CA at 10:30 am on February 17, 2017. A visitation will be held at the church from 9:30 am to 10:00 am the same morning. The family will be greeting friends and relatives following service during the reception being held at St. Anastasia immediately following service. Burial will take place Saturday, March 3rd at 10:30 in Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Kansas City, Kansas. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made to Project Angel Food. Condolences may be left on Ronald George Wasilewskis online guest book at www.holycrossmortuary.com
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SERVICES Graveside Service
Saturday, March 3, 2018 10:30 AM
Mt. Calvary Cemetery 38 & State Kansas City, Kansas 66102