Ronald Robert Reif

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Ronald (Ron) Robert Reif, at the age of 80 on May 23rd, 2025. Ron was a beloved husband, father, stepfather, grandfather, brother, and friend. He was a faithful, dedicated man of God and a kind, compassionate person who spent his life helping those around him. He was a fixer, a builder, and a creator who never turned his back on a challenge, especially if he could make someone else's life easier in the process. Born in Miami Beach, Florida to George and Betty Reif, Ron was the youngest of six children. Brother to Dick, Arlene, Jean, Joan, and Roger, he grew up in Florida where he began working at the age of 10, doing everything from mowing loans to sewing handmade advertising banners that he and his close friend flew from a plane over the skies of Miami. Ron graduated from North Miami Senior High School before serving for four years in the US Navy. He later worked as an Engineering Technician for the Federal Aviation Administration for forty-three years at airports in Miami, Memphis, and Ft. Lauderdale. Until retiring at 2016, he left the house each morning at 4AM to make sure he had freshly brewed coffee waiting for his co-workers when they arrived. A dedicated Catholic, Ron served as Master of Ceremonies helping to officiate mass at multiple churches, including St. Robert Bellarmine Church in Miami and St. Michael's Parish in Hardy, Arkansas. For the last nineteen years, He was a loyal congregant of Queen of the Most Holy Rosary in West Palm Beach where he even helped to build the altar. Ron's hands, strong and perpetually calloused, were always working as he joyfully sang along to his favorite golden oldies. He built homes, cars, and just about everything else from the ground up, often from sun-up to sundown—and often on projects for others rather than for himself. In fact, his favorite red Avanti and his '34 Ford Coupe sat unfinished in his garage because he paused so often to put other's needs before his own, active nonstop until he suffered a stroke in February of 2020. A caring, giving family man, Ron was a loyal and devoted husband to his wife Suzanne, a loving father to his daughter Kristi and his stepchildren, and a loving grandfather to his grandson Cooper and his twelve step-grandchildren. Ron is survived by his wife of 31 years, Suzanne Reif, his siblings Dick Reif, Arlene Reif, and Joan Northcut, his daughter Kristi Laguna, his stepchildren Dino Pizza, Gina McDonald, Sarah Phelps, Sunshine Phelps, Jesse Phelps, Alex Luna, Sergio Luna, Ilianna Luna, his grandson Cooper Laguna, and his step-grandchildren Owen, Cyrus, Finn, Sarah, Margot, Wil, Oliver, Zoë, Brielle, Alexandra, Phoenix, and Zadie. He was preceded in passing by his parents George and Betty Reif, sister Jean Smith, brother Roger Reif, and stepson Dan Pizza. Ron will be dearly missed.