October 28, 1950 – July 12, 2024. Rest in peace, Dad.
Some of the live music (embedded below) he loved to play, and obituary (click here to leave a memory). I’m still at a loss for words to express how much he meant to me, but I hope everyone who met him got to feel that spark, as well.
Copy of obituary from SpilkerFuneralHome.com, written mostly by my mom and uncle:
On July 12, 2024, Ron DiUbaldi, passed away peacefully with his wife and family at his bedside in their Cape May summer home. He was a gentle, loving husband, father, brother, grandfather, uncle and friend who will be sorely missed by all who knew him.
Ron was born in Newark, NJ. By his early teens, his family moved full-time to their beach house on Long Beach Island, NJ. In his senior year of high school, he picked up his brother’s neglected guitar and the rest is history. He went on to play locally with fellow musician friends, forming bands and playing at local bars while also going to school and working heavy construction. A few years later, he met his future wife, a girl from the Philly suburbs who was working the proverbial summer job at the beach. He intended, as was the usual, to say goodbye in September to “these girls”. Unfortunately, or was it fortunate, that Terry had other plans? It was love at first sight for her, this Italian Stallion; he told others it was her tenacity that won him over; three years later they married.
He dreamed of going to Colorado to school, so they moved there briefly in 1973 where he attended and excelled at Colorado State University. However, not wanting to take on more college debt, he transferred to in-state NJ’s Rutgers University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. His career was technical in aerospace, cable and top security design work; later he moved into management. He was known for his quick wit, hard work, commitment to his employees, and meticulous design knowledge. This carried over later in his love for guitars and singing; duos and garage bands, a spell with The Capers and open mics at the Mad Batter in Cape May, and the last few years, teaching retirees at his Bonita Springs’ Pelican Landing community in Florida.
After his college graduation and a few years working at a small firm in S. Plainfield, NJ, which set his career in motion for electronics, the now growing family moved back to Terry’s hometown of Media, PA. He loved spending time with his two sons, particularly as a leader in Boy Scouts in the small haven of Rose Valley, PA; there he revamped and streamlined the troop’s annual fundraiser of selling Christmas trees. While Ron tended towards the quieter side, he was always there, in his quick-witted way, to offer guidance, support, and encouragement.
In these earlier years, what was afforded were large multi-generational vacations with Grandma and Grandpa Tex (who he loved dearly), visits to LBI to cherished Nanna and Poppop DiUbaldi, timeshares coast to coast, family and friends’ camping in the pop-up, biking trips around bed and breakfasts, Wallingford tennis friends, all-inclusive trips to the Caribbean, as well as bird watching. Later in retirement, Terry and Ron built their dream home in Cape May. Post-COVID, after a month’s rental on the gulf coast of FL near good friends and family, on a whim, they purchased a condo, becoming snowbirds. They continued the good life in a tropical paradise, creating more special friendships. Ron (as he did in Cape May), could bike to the courts, have a good game of tennis and end the morning with extended conversations with his buddies.
His life-long passion, however, has always been his love of guitar and singing. He shared his musical and technical expertise, lyrical knowledge, extensive set lists and enthusiasm with others.
In more recent times, Ron enjoyed watching kickboxing on tv and hours of YouTube videos, learning about guitar and amplifiers, as well as vintage rock documentaries on musicians and their instruments. He spent many hours in his tech man cave in Cape May, tinkering with electronics and then began designing and building “stomp boxes” which he freely gave away to his guitar buddies.
Last late spring, he and Terry had just started to add more cruises to their travel plans, having just gotten back from the inner passage of Alaska with friends and then a wonderful stay in Bruges and river cruise throughout the Netherlands. A few weeks later, back in Cape May, he became jaundice and eventually diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer.
Ron is survived by his wife, Terry (née Knight), sons Nicholas (spouse Denise of Concord, NC) and JJ (partner Aimee Harmon of Louisville) and grandchildren Reese and Alex. They are also joined in sorrow by Ron’s sister, Marianne T. Kirchner and extended family including John and Linda DiUbaldi as well as John, Julie, Jim and Barbara Knight. Those preceding him include brother Rocco A. DiUbaldi and sister Sylvia A. Judick.
Terry and her family would like to extend their gratitude to everyone this past year for their loving and generous support including Ron’s good friend Dutch for his personalized attention both in NJ and FL.
A service at First Baptist Church in Media, PA, is tentatively set (due to special circumstances) for Friday, October 25th, 11am.
On Saturday, October 26th, 2024, at 1pm, there will be a celebration of Ron’s life with his musical friends and family. This will also act as a fundraiser for Pancreatic Cancer Research in his behalf. Light fare, beer and wine will be served. This will take place at the West Cape May Fire Hall. 732 Broadway, West Cape May NJ 08204.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations may be made in Ron’s memory to Lustgarten Foundation (Pancreatic Cancer Research), 415 Crossways Park Dr, Ste.D, Woodbury, NY 11797 or online https://lustgarten.org/donatenow/
Locally, donations will also be gladly received for the Cape May Elementary School music program. (Checks can be made out to Cape May City Education Foundation – attn. Music Department, 921 Lafayette St, Cape May NJ 08204).
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