Big Ron and Little Ron

I want to say a few words about a co-worker of mine who is no longer around. He was a manager at my place of employment, and I spent many an hour working alongside of him. Unlike other fly-by-night losers with nametags that read "Manager", Big Ron was the real deal.

Officially, my job status is "below" that of the managers, yet Big Ron knew the value of myself and the other office workers who shared the same work space. He never pulled rank and we never felt condescended to. Ron knew what his job duties were and what everybody else's were and let things take care of themselves. No micro-managing and no petty bullshit.

Why was he "Big Ron" ? Well, he stood 6'11" and was approximately 275 to 285 lbs. Fit and muscular with a gleaming, handsome bald head that drew the ladies' eyes most everywhere he went. He could be intimidating when the situation called for it (he was an ex-bouncer), but we rarely saw that side. Mostly he was laid-back Ron with a no-fuss attitude.

Unfortunately, we won't be enjoying his company anymore. Last Saturday, he collapsed at work and was taken to a hospital where doctors failed to revive him. He had suffered a massive heart attack at the age of 31.

Finally, the saddest note of all. A note about "Little Ron". Yes, he left behind a smaller (for now) version of himself named Ron Jr., who is only 7 months old. He will never know how cool his Dad was. He will have no memory at all of him. But his mother will have pictures and stories, as will we - the people whose lives he touched. And someday, we can share them with him. And remember.