Ronald J. Lazar 1954-2023

He was born Nov. 14, 1954, in Youngstown, and is survived by his older brother, George Lazar; his daughter, Olivia Kay Lazar; his partner, Patty; and a great number of close friends.

Ron was preceded in death by his sister, Diana Jean Bittner; his brother-in-law, Gary Bittner; his sister-in-law, Mary Lazar; and his parents, George Lazar Sr. and Eleanor Lazar.

A son of Youngstown’s West Side, Ron was the youngest of three siblings. He graduated from Chaney High School as class president in 1972, where he was a member of HI-Y, the thespian club and Future Teachers of America. He was also a lifelong motorcycle enthusiast and he followed that dream west, relocating to Denver, Colorado in the late 1970s. He spent most of his 20s working heavy construction, building up Denver’s massive infrastructure. Eventually leaving manual labor behind, Ron became one of the top salesmen of Rocky Mountain Harley-Davidson, a position that combined his encyclopedic knowledge of motorcycles with his warm, gregarious nature. Ron quickly became a local staple and was known widely. He sold motorcycles to everyone from weekend warriors, to true-blue bikers, to local celebrities and sports stars, several of which played for his favorite team, the Denver Broncos.

Ron was a free spirit, quick with a joke, the first on the dance floor and the last one to leave. He could be found at the bar buying rounds for anyone who returned his infectious mirth, trading laughs, finding as many ways to have fun as possible. He would make the festivities about you, not himself, like some kind of high-octane one-man fan club — inspiring, daring and cajoling you to let loose. Ron caused fun. A true biker, he loved the open road and would put in thousands of miles a year crisscrossing the West making friends wherever he went. Ron’s love for life was infectious; his was a life lived in pursuit of enthusiasm and passion. He had little time for fear, but plenty for laughter, music, people and their stories. He was an explosion of a man, warm, bright, loud and bigger than life; yet in spite of all of the bluster, he was also very tender and sweet.

Nothing illustrates this more than his love for his daughter, Olivia Kay Lazar. Anyone who met Ron heard stories of her. You could watch the years melt from his eyes when he would speak about her. From the day she was born, Olivia was the biggest source of pride and joy in his life; “Happiness is having a sweet daughter like her!” he would say.

Like many bikers, Ron could seem rough and intimidating at first, but the second he could bring Olivia up in conversation he would become as soft as a teddy bear — pulling out pictures and going on and on about her achievements. He loved her more than anything and he let everyone know it.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that all who loved Ron, a.k.a. Ronald John, Ronnie pr RJ, lift a glass and a middle finger to everything in your way …. cheers to all the storytellers out there!

Visitation will be 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, at The McCauley Funeral Home, 230 Broadway, Youngstown, OH 44504.

Thoughts and condolences can be sent to the funeral home website www.mccauleyfuneral.com.

The McCauley Funeral Home privileged to serve the Valley for more than 121 years.

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