One day at Candlestick Park some forty-plus years ago I introduced myself to a fellow fan. We became fast friends and shared many events and adventures together over the ensuing decades.
Last week I lost my friend. Ron Blaj died unexpectedly at age 68. An engineer by training, Ron kept the most meticulous scorecards you have ever seen (he scored most games he attended). They were marvels of economy and precision. Ron was an early contributor to this blog but he was not suited to on-line forums. You had to know the flesh-and-blood man to appreciate his humor, warmth, and generous spirit. Not to mention his deeply weird goofiness.
As a fan he loved the unsung guys. Stars and big names did not appeal to him. He rooted for the backups. The subs and the scrubs. The guys just barely hanging on to a roster spot. He loved to say some youngster, after a good showing, was "serving notice" that he should be a starter. He'd burst out with Yiddish in the middle of a tense moment, exclaiming "I've got shpilkes" to the bewildered folks around him. I learned it meant 'pins-and-needles' or 'ants-in-your-pants' which suited him as he was always full of energy and enthusiasm.
Ron discovered yoga some years back and was so taken with it he became an instructor. He was a dedicated birdwatcher. He played and coached softball. He was really smart and had a prodigious memory. He could explain all the world's major sports to you as well as some of the obscure ones, like rowing. He spoke three languages. He'd lived in or been to more places than most people could name. He loved David Letterman, the Grateful Dead, Scrabble, smoothies, and pistachios.
He was a construction manager for UCSF and his coworkers gave him the perfect farewell:
Ron was a son, a brother, a husband, and a father. He was a friend to many. I was lucky to be one of those friends.
I'm sure as hell going to miss him.
Go Giants!
--M.C.
10 comments:
R.I.P. Ron. Maybe you can help out our beloved team from the other side.
I'm counting on it!
R.I.P. Ron. Super professional, polite, warm person. Always including people. Martin.
Heartfelt tribute MOC. Lovingly crafted. To toss in other Yiddish phrase for our friend….he was the quintessential mensch.
If it wasn’t for both your gregarious nature and Ron’s joyful presence , Section 30, Row 18 of the bleachers at The ‘Stick wouldn’t hold all those tragically, freezing arse cold and bonding memories watching our Giants lose for years. The wake in the parking lot - after over 100 losses??? - Who else does that!!!???
As you said last week or so “ in Buster we trust”. Love you Ron. Will miss you forever and do my best to spread your shpilkis down here as long as I can.
An excellent tribute to an excellent guy and great friend.
Mensch. Excellent guy. Great friend. Yes, we lost all those things!
We'll have to come up with some appropriately nutty Ron Ritual to do at ballgames in his honor.
A perfect tribute to the guy we loved. This really captures his spirit. A massive loss for all that knew him. ❤️
Excellent job capturing his passion and energy. Hard to believe such a force of nature is gone. His box scores were museum quality.
Thank you for publishing this tribute to Ron! I only knew Ron from Saturday hot yoga classes. He made us all feel so Levi as l and created a yoga community like no other! We already miss him ❤️
Hi Mark - Thanks for this lovely tribute to your good buddy and my big brother. When I saw the photo of the Jumbotron the day of the game I thought, he’s truly died and gone to heaven! You’ve captured his essence perfectly. Tami
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