In Memory

Ronnie Ash

Ronnie Ash



 
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12/24/14 10:54 AM #1    

Sylvia Maldonado (Colburn)

Ronnie was Kind, 

Soft-Spoken, Thoughtful, Thought-Filled, Sage, 

Yet always Humble  

We who knew him are Better people because of him.  

Sylvia A Maldonado Colburn

 

 

 

 


12/26/14 12:52 PM #2    

Mary (Aka Maria) Novelly

My strongest memory of Ronnie was him as a writer - that story which I remember having the title 'US 47,' especially that last stirring line where the narrator, contemplating a future at college and suburbia, decided to leave the freeway and explore the eponymous highway: 'looked into the vibrating rear-view mirror, merged into the right lane, and took the exit.' Fantastic talent with a great heart and so lucky we were to share it.


12/26/14 02:46 PM #3    

Cyndi Grieder (Armstrong)

Ronnie Ash was a free spirit who loved adventure.  His creative genius led him to create and build boats, which he loved.  His gifts were many!  He was devoted to his family and friends and was a loving son and sibling.  He will be missed by all of us!     

Ronnie's Quote to his family & Friends:    "May The Star of Christmas always light your path"

                                                                      " Ride on! Ride on in Majesty!"

                                                                      ""Love and Peace,  Ronnie"

I am Thankful and Blessed to have know Ronnie Ash

Cyndi Grieder Armstrong


12/27/14 03:26 PM #4    

Joe Brandon Rabke

Ronnie’s short story,"US 47", about a young man facing important career and life choices made a strong  impression on me and I often thought about it in the years after I graduated from Churchill.  If I remember correctly, I believe the story even won some kind of national award. Just as the character in his short story ultimately decides to do, Ronnie took a less traditional path with his life. Though very intelligent and quite capable of succeeding in college, I think Ronnie ended up joining the Merchant Marine and making a living as a sailor.

 

I lost contact with Ronnie in the years right after high school, but our paths crossed again in the late seventies.  I had just accepted a job as a research assistant for the UT Marine Geophysical Lab in Galveston. My new job would require me to spend some time at sea on research gathering cruises, and, before leaving Austin, I had arranged with my new boss to move directly on to the lab’s research ship, instead of finding a place to live in Galveston. As we would soon be departing on a months-long research exploration of the Middle America Trench, in the Pacific Ocean near Central America, I wouldn’t be needing an apartment for a while. I still remember pulling up to the dock in Galveston to unpack my car and load gear into my quarters aboard the ship.  As I was walking through the galley, I heard a familiar voice and saw a familiar face.  It was none other than Ronnie Ash! Ronnie and I would spend the next two months together working aboard the Research Vessel Ida Green, he as a member of the ship’s crew, and I as a member of the scientific party.

 

Sorry to hear about his passing.

 

Joe (Brandon) Rabke


01/02/15 09:41 AM #5    

John Kovacs

My favorite memory of Ronnie was when I was riding with he and Jody Peacock in the wrecked car that they had turned into the worlds largest go-cart. we were flying down Blanco road (middle of nowhere) in that thing. No windshield, just 2 seats, and a beer keg tied on for a gas tank. Ronnie was driving while wearing motorcycle goggles and that crazy Bugs Bunny smile of his. we had so much fun that day! I will never forget those times with Ronnie and Jody. Hard to believe we have lost them both.


01/03/15 11:50 AM #6    

Sylvia Maldonado (Colburn)

So many things…..

Ronnie was Adventurous; that’s for sure.  But what I’ll miss most was hearing him tell the short (and sometimes Long) stories from his life. The modest way he effectively conveyed those moments.

In talking about his days as a Tug-boat captain across vast seas, he said something like ‘it was endless hours of agonizing, drip, drip, drip boredom, punctuated with moments of stark, seeing your whole life pass before your eyes, TERROR.’

Relating a long-planned kayaking expedition with his folks, among Gulf Coast, bird-filled islands; the currents began pulling them out to sea and the weather was taking a change for the worst. He described the calming words he used to try to encourage and uplift his dad and mom’s confidence, contrasted them against the COLD, irritated looks his dad gave him so he’d just Shut Up and get them back to shore.  The way he told it, you felt the rush and the fright of the struggle and yet the humor of his carefully-crafted words of encouragement falling far short of his dad desire to just get the Hell out of there. 

Oh, how I’ll miss such stories conveying his talent for language, alongside his ever-humble, self-deprecating essence.

 

 

 


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