A devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather, Ron was a Korean War Veteran in the United States Navy, where he played in the Navy Band. A longstanding member of AFM Local 369- Musician’s Union of Las Vegas, and onetime member of AFM Local 47- The Musician’s Union of Los Angeles and AFM Local 802- The Assoc. Musicians of Greater New York, he was a professional touring and recording musician whose tenor sax playing graced the stage and recording studio with the likes of Si Zentner, Claude Gordon, Russ Morgan, Tex Beneke, and Doc Severinsen, among many others. His playing is featured on Si Zentner’s "Up a Lazy River", a Grammy Award winner for 1961.
Ron eventually set down roots in Las Vegas, playing for several “house” bands on the Strip during the town’s famed “Rat Pack” era. When he wasn’t playing gigs, his beloved local “kicks” bands at Hemmings’ and community concert bands brought him joy. Ron was a student at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, and a graduate of Westlake School of Music in Los Angeles, and later at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he earned an advanced teaching degree while supporting a family of five driving taxi and dealing craps. He was an award-winning junior high band director for 19 years in the Clark County School District, eventually retiring in 1993.
After retirement, Ron and his wife enjoyed dealing antiques and books at the Red Rooster Antique Mall, Broadacres Swap Meet, or online. He was proud of his Norwegian/Viking heritage, and as such many Christmas seasons with the family were accompanied by lutefisk, lefse, and Swedish meatballs. He had a dry sense of humor and a relevant anecdote or story for nearly any topic, and often kept his family in stitches. A man of quiet Christian spirituality, he was kind, gentle, and generous to both family and friends.
Ron was preceded in death by his wife, of 39 years, Norma Gail Brandvik, and stepson, David Lyle Frisk. He is survived by a daughter, Mary Ann DiLoreto; sons: Carl Christian Brandvik and Mark Lee Brandvik; brother, Paul Brandvik; along with seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
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