Ronald Leoni, 61, loving husband of Deborah Leoni, of 36 years, passed away Tuesday, June 30, 2020, from complications of Multiple Sclerosis at Hospice in Branford.

Ron was born March 11, 1959, he was the son of the late Orlando and Grace (Avanzato) Leoni. He was a student at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School and Platt High School in Meriden. When Ron was employed at General Electric in Plainville, he bought and rebuilt his "baby" a 68' Pontiac Tempest, he would spend hours cleaning it inside and out. In 1978 he met his wife, Debbie, they had a very special relationship. It started by Debbie asking Ron on their first date. They knew each other so well; they would finish each other's sentence. They never argued, and loved each other to the fullest. They were inseparable Ron and Debbie, had two children, a son, Ronald and a daughter, Samantha. They treasured their Dad. He taught them values, how to play fair in sports and be a team player. He loved to play basketball, horseshoes, badminton, volleyball, games, or just chase them around for hours in their younger years. Ron and his children had usual games of fun, most people didn't understand, but the three of them would laugh so hard sometimes they couldn't even talk, like the wrestling move "The Charleston Chew."

Ron was employed at Pratt & Whitney in Middletown for five years, and was a driver at Classic Tile in New Jersey, he never missed a day of work in over 17 years. Even though Ron was diagnosed in 2009 with MS he still mowed his lawn, planted a vegetable garden, cleaned his vehicles. He would even shovel snow from his wheelchair. Every Christmas Ron would shake and squeeze every gift that his kids gave him and try to guess what it was, which he usually got right. Opening gifts could last over an hour.

Ron loved sports, whether he was playing or watching; at one point in his life, he was on three softball teams, two in Plainville and MASA in Meriden for 25+ years. His absolute favorite sport was football he was one of the "Sunday Football Fathers," that played every Sunday for 25+ years, no matter what the weather. They would sometimes have the field plowed so they could play after a snowstorm.

In the last six years, Ron found a new hobby; woodworking, he loved to make pens. One Christmas he made a pen for everyone in his family, 35 of them exactly. Some of his other favorite things were Klondike bars, Hershey kisses, M&Ms, but his only addiction was to Skippy. The family always said Ron could eat anyone under the table. He did not eat to live, he lived to EAT!

Besides his wife, Debbie, Ron is survived by a large extended family; his son Ron and wife, Katy (DeRosa,) and his grandsons, Ronnie, Jr., and Everett; his daughter, Samantha and her husband, James Woodside; his sisters and brothers-in-law, Diana Lagace and her husband, Edward and Maria Dow and  her husband, Jonathan; his brother-in-laws, Ted Bartley, Tom Barrett and his wife, Susan, and Ken Filipowicz; sisters-in-law, Dona Lynn and her husband, Mike and Tammey Scott and her husband, Danny; nieces and nephews, Ed Lagace and his wife, Michele, Heather Tangredi and her husband, Mike, Carisa Lynn, Ken Filipowicz II, Ryan and Melissa Filipowicz, Justin Lynn, Jessica DiRoma (goddaughter), and her husband, Giancarlo, Courtney Bryans and her husband, Joe, Danielle McBride and her husband, Kevin, Ashley Bartley (goddaughter), Dana Osso and her husband, Brian, Amanda Nickerson and her husband, Andrew, Nichole Lynn, Lizz Scott, Chris Rish and his wife, Melaney, Jimmy Barrett, Tom Barrett and his wife, Virginia; many, many, great-nieces and nephews; many aunts and uncles; so many dear friends, too many to mention.  Let's not forget his fur baby, Brandy. Besides his parents, he is predeceased by his father and mother-in-law, Donald (Sparky) and Carol Anthony; and his sister, Patricia Leoni; his sister-in-law, Marie Filipowicz; and two nieces, Michelle Angelo and Melanie Dow.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Ron, may be made to the National MS Society at www.mssociety.org/donate . Calling hours will take place Friday, July 3, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Stempien Funeral Home, 450 Broad St., Meriden. Funeral services will be private and at the convenience of the family. To send an online expression of sympathy please visit www.stempienfuneralhome.com .