Raised in Flushing, Ronald Shafran was the consummate “kid-that-made-good” from Queens. Loved by family and friends, respected by co-workers, Ron took great pride in everything he did and even greater joy in doing things for others.
While helping raise his younger sister Denise, he went on to become a National Merit Scholar and graduated with Honors from Queens College, earning both Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees.
He began his career as a teacher at Adlai Stevenson High School, where he became the youngest Department Head in the school’s history and an accomplished author of educational textbooks.
It was there that he met his “Beauty,” Phyllis, his wife of more than 50 years. Inseparable and dedicated to each other, their love story has been a real life fantasy.
Ron went on to work in government and politics, helping elect President Jimmy Carter before going on to serve as a Deputy Commissioner in the Koch Administration. In the private sector, he became an award-winning advertising executive and government relations consultant for 30 years before retiring.
But his proudest title was Dad to his son Austin. Coaching and attending every baseball game, from Little League to college and beyond, Ron was and forever remains his son’s best friend, mentor and hero. From taking him to Yankee games to playing together at the park, Ron never missed a day of his son’s life and was always his biggest supporter.
Later in life, Ron received his biggest and most cherished promotion, becoming a grandfather to Mason and Teddy. Lovingly known as “Pop-Pop,” whether it was going to Mason’s baseball games, playing “dinosaurs” with Teddy or giving out his famous shoulder massages, they were the center of his universe and he theirs.
Few people have touched the hearts of others the way Ron Shafran was able to. He is survived not only by his wife Phyllis, sister Denise, daughter-in-law Jennifer, son Austin and grandsons Mason and Teddy, but also the beautiful memories he left for all those whose lives he was a part of.
A funeral service for Ronald will be held Friday, April 26, 2024 from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM at Schwartz Brothers-Jeffer Memorial Chapels, 114-03 Queens Blvd, Forest Hills, NY 11375. Following the funeral service will be a committal service from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Mt. Hebron Cemetery, 130-04 Horace Expy, Queens, NY 11367.
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