Ronald Thomas Valenzo

Ronald Thomas Valenzo, age 84, passed away April 22, 2024, at his home in Centreville, VA. Born March 25, 1940, in Pittsburgh, PA, he was the first child of Mike L. Valenzo and Ann (McGuire) Valenzo. He grew up in the Bloomfield section of Pittsburgh, a city kid, riding trolley cars and watching Saturday movie matinees. As a teenager, his family summered at Geneva-on-the-Lake, OH, where they owned a home and rental cottages, and he worked many fun summer jobs on “the strip”. Ron worked his entire professional career for the Federal Aviation Administration as an Electronics Technician and Supervisor. First working at Washington National Airport in 1960, he then transferred to Dulles International Airport, and he was present at the grand opening dedication in 1962 by President John F. Kennedy. Ron maintained the operational function of the Dulles airport traffic control tower and occasionally took his family to see the planes, including the Concorde and Space Shuttle. After nearly 40 years, Ron finished his career at the Air Traffic Control System Command Center. Ron was a devoted husband, marrying his loving wife Kathleen on September 14, 1963, and they recently celebrated their Diamond wedding anniversary. They welcomed their daughter, Suzanne, in 1965 and their son, Michael, in 1967. Ron always put family first - taking them to explore the US on cross-country road trips, vacations to Disney, and family visits every summer at Geneva-on-the-Lake, making a lifetime of happy memories. At home, he coached his children's soccer teams and enjoyed camping with his family and friends. The ultimate handyman, if he wasn’t reading a book, he was restoring, repairing or building something or working on a project for someone else. Never one to give up on anything, there was no limit to Ron’s persistence in maintaining any item decades past its shelf life. Ron was happy, kind and thoughtful to all. We are proud to have had him as our husband and father. Ron is preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Joanne Pittenger of Geneva, OH. He is fondly cherished by his wife Kathleen, son Michael (Ann) Valenza, daughter Suzanne (Anthony) Alessi, granddaughters Angelina and Reyanne, younger sister Patricia Park and his Uncle Sam Valenza, as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins. In memory of Ron, please consider donating to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation.