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Watch the 2024 Worldwide Muster Roll Call for the Absent on Muster Live

Roll Call Tribute

Ronald "Ron" Sandford '65 September 23, 2021 3:01 PM updated: September 23, 2021 3:20 PM

Ronald David Sandford
March 15, 1943 – September 6, 2021

Ronald David (Ronnie, Ron, Dad, Papa) Sandford, self-acclaimed health nut, salmon lover and technology wizard, went to be with Mary Jane - his bride and the mother of his two sons on September 6, 2021. They undoubtedly reunited at the Heavenly Knights of Columbus Dance, much as they did on their first date in 1964.

His path to Heaven was filled with many adventures, no doubt mapped out on one of his oversized paperback road atlases which he swore worked better than any GPS.

Always an Aggie, always a businessman, Dad was also almost always dang near wonderful – most likely due to the fact that he loved everyone he met, and they loved him.

Although he left coaching as a profession more than 45 years ago (primarily so his family could eat) Dad was still drawing up a playbook for a life well lived. Mildly inappropriate at times – except to the person with whom he was conversing – his knack for weaving stories was so precise and well-crafted that he often felt the need to repeat said story over and over and over…

His love for his two boys was likely trumped by the 37 nurses who cared for him over the last few weeks of his earthly stay – all of whom were adopted and now are part of the Sandford family tree, bringing an interesting dynamic to future family reunions.

Speaking of family, his sons Blake and Jeff, along with their wives Kim and Sonia (who he considered daughters rather than daughters-in-law) along with his grandkids, Austin, Reagan and Carson, Logan & Cass and Mason, were always taught that if you were in his life, then you were family. That includes his sweet brothers and their wives (Tad & Ann, Paul & Mary and Byron & Susan), in-laws, outlaws, nieces and nephews and cousins. To his friends, companion (Dianne) and colleagues, know that you held a special place in his heart.

Speaking of which, Dad would like to be holding each of you in your time of need. So grieve, mourn, cry, then stop. Turn your frown upside down. He disliked whiners and people who felt sorry for themselves as he knew that it was a lot more fun to be happy (even if you were following behind him in his motor home on the interstate at a blistering 50 mph).

Live life to the fullest. He sure did.

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