Ronya Kozmetsky

Ronya Kozmetsky passed away peacefully at her home on October 25, 2011, and joined her beloved husband George, the former Dean of the University of Texas at Austin business school and co-founder of Teledyne, Inc. Ronya Kozmetsky was born in Harbin, China on June 8, 1921. At the age of two, she immigrated with her parents to Seattle, Washington. She learned her work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit from her mother Fania who started life in America cleaning hotels before opening cafes in Seattle and Olympia. Growing up, Ronya attended both public school and Russian School where she learned to read and write in her native language. True to her adventurous spirit, she also learned to fly a plane and would buzz George as he played tennis during their courtship. In 1943, Ronya received her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Washington. In that same year, she married George thus beginning their loving 59 year journey together.

Ronya worked as a social worker during World War II while her husband was in the army. After the war they moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts where she gave birth to her son Greg in 1946 and her daughter Nadya in 1948. Ronya and George took the leap from academia to industry in 1952 when they moved to Los Angeles where their youngest son George Michael was born in 1953. While George started Teledyne, Inc., Ronya raised their children, kept the home fires burning, and also earned her teaching credentials from UCLA. During the tenuous launch of Teledyne, it was Ronya's teaching salary that supported the Kozmetsky family. She taught junior high social studies classes until the family moved to Austin, Texas in 1966 when George was appointed dean of University of Texas College of Business Administration and the Graduate School of Business. It was in Austin that Ronya managed the family's investments and developed her philanthropic spirit. With George she founded the RGK Foundation.

Ronya spent her life as a champion of children, women's issues and opportunities. She was instrumental in the establishment and success of several organizations – both non-profit and for profit – including SafePlace women's shelter and the First Women's Bank of California, a pioneering institution to provide women banking services including access to credit to enable them to start their own business. Additionally, she is a Co-Founder of Leadership Texas, Leadership California, and Leadership America – a network of accomplished women, dedicated to advancing the leadership role women play in impacting business, social issues and public policy. Ronya was also involved in many organizations including: the Center for Child Protection, The Austin Project, Covenant House, the Austin Symphony and Symphony Square, and the CEDEN Family Resource Center. She was a Visiting Committee Member at the School of Social Work at the University of Washington, Advisory Committee Member of the Women's Resource Center in Waco, Member of the Governor's Task Force for Equal Opportunity in Employment for Women and Minorities, and on the Board of Directors of the Texas Foundation for Higher Education. She also served on the City of Austin Child Care Council and the Texas State Treasurer's Asset Management Advisory Committee.

For her accomplishments, commitment and efforts, Ronya received numerous honors and awards including: Doctor of Humane Letters, Honorus Causa, by St. Edward's University; induction into the University of Texas College of Business Administration Hall of Fame; "Outstanding Texas Woman" by the Austin Women's Chamber of Commerce of Texas; "Women in Business – Advocate of the Year" by the Austin Chamber of Commerce; "Austinite of the Year" by the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce; The Ronya Kozmetsky Centennial Lectureship for Women in Management established by The College of Business Administration at The University of Texas at Austin; "Getting Better Every Year" award by The Women's Fund; "Exceptional Award for Honorary Alumnus" by Leadership Austin; John Ben Shepperd Outstanding Texas Leader award; "Stewardship of Texas Values Award" by the Texas Lyceum Association; "Leadership Award" by the University YWCA; and the Ma Ferguson Award for Excellence in the area of public service given by Austin Chapter of Executive Women International. Ronya was also a lecturer and author of many articles, and two books including Women in Business: Succeeding as a Manager, Professional or Entrepreneur (Texas Monthly Press, 1989) and Making it Together: A Survival Manual for the Executive Family, co-authored with George (The Free Press, 1981).

Ronya will be missed by her son Gregory Kozmetsky and his wife Cindy of Austin; her daughter Nadya Scott of Santa Monica, CA. Surviving members of her family include her grandchildren: Aaron Kozmetsky and his wife Tracey of Dallas; Bethany Scott Herwegh, and her husband Chip of Manhattan Beach, CA; Daniel Kozmetsky, and his wife Kimberley of Austin; Jordan Scott, and his wife Laila of Austin; Sarah Kozmetsky Miller, and her husband Chris of Dallas; Taylor Scott, and his wife, Suzanne, of Santa Monica, CA; and Caitlin Scott of Santa Monica, CA; and her great-grandchildren Jack, Will, Claire, Mason, Chase, Cole, Natalie, Toby, Allie, Callum, Taylor, Austin and Ariella. Ronya was preceded in death by her son, George M. Kozmetsky and by her beloved husband, George.

A Memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, October 28, 2011 at Tarrytown United Methodist Church, 2601 Exposition Blvd.

Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to: Center for Child Protection, 8509 FM 969, Building 2, Austin, Texas 78724, www.centerforchildprotection.org, SafePlace, P.O. Box 19454, Austin, Texas 78760, www.safeplace.org, or Leadership Texas, 25 Highland Park Village, Suite 100-371, Dallas, Texas 75205, www.womensresources.