Ronald George Precup

Ronald George Precup passed away on May 18 after a year-long battle with cancer. Born June 11, 1942, in Aurora, Illinois, Ron was the son of Emily and George Precup of Aurora. He obtained his secondary education at Marmion Military Academy there, operated by the Benedictine monks of Marmion Abbey. He earned his baccalaureate in Government from the Georgetown University College of Arts and Sciences in Washington, D.C. in 1964 and his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center in 1967. Ron served on active duty as a captain in the Army Judge Advocate General's Corps from 1968 to 1972.

In 1964 Ron married the former Alicemarie Veronica ("Ronnie") Mauro of New York. They have resided in Arlington, Virginia, since 1967, bringing up three children, and currently have four grandchildren in Virginia and New York.

In 1994, Cardinal James A. Hickey, Archbishop of Washington, invested Ron and his wife into the Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. They were promoted to Knight and Lady Commander in 2001, to Knight and Lady Commander with Star in 2005, and to Knight and Lady Grand Cross in 2011. Ron was appointed Lieutenant of the Middle Atlantic Lieutenancy by His Eminence John P. Foley, Cardinal Grand Master, effective September 26, 2010, and continued to serve in that role until his death.

Ron and his wife made pilgrimage to the Holy Land with the Knighthood in May 2009 and February 2013. Both musicians, they served as members of the resident Choir of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception for fourteen years, having the privilege of singing in Rome before the tomb of St. Peter and for Holy Father John Paul II during that period. They also sang frequently with the Metropolitan Chorus and Ron Freeman Chorale and performed in several operas with local companies. Most recently they sang with the Choir of the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington. Ron has a particular interest in liturgical music, especially chant and the motets of Renaissance composers. He was also the opera critic for Intermission Magazine in Washington from 1984 to 2010.

Since 1972, Ron engaged in the private practice of law in Washington, D.C., and Virginia, representing individuals and small businesses in areas such as corporate law, government contracts, trademarks and copyrights, and appellate practice. In recent years he devoted an increasing amount of his professional career to wills and estates, as well as protecting the rights and civil liberties of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran resistance to the current Iranian regime. His assistance facilitated the removal of their U.S. contingent from the terrorist list in the U.S.

He is survived by his devoted and beloved wife of 48 years, Alicemarie “Ronnie” Precup; his brother James Precup (Mary); his children Ronald, Jr. (Kelli), Liz (Daniel Saarie), and Peggy (Jason Marlin); and four grandchildren Madeline, Calvin, and Finnian Saarie, and Arcadia Precup.

The family will receive friends at Murphy Funeral Home of Arlington, 4510 Wilson Blvd, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday May 21 and Wednesday, May 22, 2013. Rosary and prayers will be recited at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, there will be a brief Vigil Service at 8:00 pm on Wednesday.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by the Most Reverend Paul S. Loverde, KC*HS, Bishop of Arlington, at the Cathedral of Saint Thomas More located at 3901 N. Cathedral Lane, Arlington, VA 22203 at 9:30 a.m., on Thursday, May 23, 2013. Interment will follow immediately at National Memorial Park, 7482 Lee Highway, Falls Church, VA 22042 .

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington or to the American Cancer Society.