He grew up in Las Vegas, NV, and enlisted in the Army after high school. It was there that he met his eventual bride of 24 years, Ann Graham. Ron was a heavy wheeled vehicle mechanic with the First Infantry Division (the Big Red One), and he and Ann served together at Army bases domestically and abroad. After being injured and medically discharged, Ron served as an government contractor, in a role which took him to Germany and to Bosnia in support of Army operations. After the Army, Ron and Ann eventually settled permanently in Jacksonville in 1998.
In Jacksonville, Ron became a baseball coach with the Mandarin Sports Association, working with teenage boys and helping to build the Junior and Senior baseball programs there. He coached countless kids, and eventually became President of the Board of Directors at MSA, a position he held for five years. He was also Assistant State Commissioner for the Babe Ruth League.
Ron was preceded in death by his father, John Briese. He is survived by his loving wife, Ann, his mother, Shirley Briese, his brothers, Chuck and Steve Briese, his sisters, Debbie Briese and Barbie Pearson, and a host of nieces and nephews and extended family members. He also leaves behind countless friends who took him into their hearts, and an even larger number of Mandarin area kids, whose lives he touched in one way or another.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, Saturday, January 8th at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, in the historical church, at 11730 Old St. Augustine Road.
Anyone wishing to memorialize Ron is encouraged to make a donation to the Mandarin Sports Association.
Arrangements are under the care and direction of Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home of Mandarin, 11801 San Jose Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32223. www.hgmandarin.com (904) 288-0025.
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