Obituary of Ronald John Koval

Ronald John Koval, 83, passed away on January 10, 2021 in Bradenton, FL. He was born in Cleveland, OH on September 21, 1937, the only child of Marie (Matusky) Koval and Stephen John Koval. Ron attended St. Vincent de Paul Grade School, followed by his graduation from St. Ignatius High School in 1954. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Detroit in 1958 with a B.S. in Mathematics and a minor in Education. He taught math and science at St. Edwards High School (Highland Park, MI) and then at Sacred Heart Seminary (Detroit, MI) from 1959-1960 while continuing his education at the University of Detroit, where he was awarded an M.A. in Mathematics in 1961. Ron moved to Seattle, WA and joined the aerospace division of The Boeing Company in 1961. He combined his mathematical skills with the new, emerging technology of computers and helped others apply these tools to business management issues. In 1967, Ron was a member of the management team that formed a Boeing subsidiary, Boeing Computer Services. At the same time, Ron continued his secondary education and in 1966 was awarded his second M.A. degree in Econometrics by the University of Washington. In 1973, Boeing selected Ron to be their MIT Sloan Fellow. He joined 49 other business executives for an intensive year-long study program leading to an M.S. in Management from The Sloan School of MIT in 1974. On returning to Boeing Computer Services, he held various management positions in Chicago, Morristown, NJ, and McLean, VA. In 1984, Ron left BCS and became involved in the new technology of Personal Computers. In 1986 he helped acquire ownership of Software Shop Systems, where Ron served as Chairman and CEO until 1990. In 1991 Ron joined Best Programs in Northern Virginia, a PC software company where he led the acquisition of Abra Cadabra Software. Ron semi-retired in 1995; for the next five years he provided management consulting services to a variety of companies, working from his office in Bradenton, FL. Fully retired after 2000, Ron enjoyed his love of reading, sports, and the company of the families’ dogs, who helped Ron pursue his interest in landscaping and maintaining he and his wife Marilyn’s home on the Manatee River (the dogs helped with any and all digging projects). Starting in 2000 he also served as a reader representative on the Editorial Board of the Bradenton Herald. Ron was passionate about the Arts and encouraged his grandchildren to take advantage of them whenever they could. They feel very lucky to have had a grandfather like Grandpa Koval. Ron is predeceased by his parents, Marie and Steve Koval. He is survived by his wife, Marilyn Uffinger Koval; his daughter Katherine Koval Faria (Bryan) and their children Elizabeth and Madeline; his son Steven Koval (Anne Marie) and their children Elizabeth and Zachery; and the mother of his children, Merry Lou Rhoades. He is remembered by friends and family as a successful man, a sound advice giver, a loving husband, father, and grandfather, and full of jokes if you needed a smile. A celebration of Ron’s life will be held in May of 2021. In lieu of flowers, Ron requested that a donation be made to St. Ignatius High School (if possible in the amount of $54.00) online at www.ignatius.edu/give or at 1911 West 30th Street, Cleveland, OH 44113.