Every day is a gift. Every day another prayer answered became the mantra for our wonderful, husband, dad, son, brother, uncle and friend, Ronald Norman Glatz. He was born in New Britain, Connecticut on March 21, 1935 and sadly passed away, October 19, 2017, on Mercer Island. He fought a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer and is now resting at the side of his Lord and savior, Jesus Christ.

Ron was truly a self-made man in every sense of the word. He grew up the oldest of 5 kids of parents John Glatz and Ruth Peltzer Glatz Mirante. Growing up, food was scarce, money was tight and baths were once a week. He was always determined and dedicated to expand his horizons and make the most of his life. He diligently worked several jobs and was the first of his family to earn a college degree, become a member of the Theta Chi fraternity and graduate from the University of Connecticut (Go Huskies!)

After college, he was drafted into the Army and during this time, he met the love of his life, Mary Lou, at a USO dance in New Jersey. It wasn’t long after that first meeting, that they were married and both of their lives would be forever changed for the good.

Upon his honorary discharge, it was time to put his experience and education to use and pursue his career. Being ever resourceful, he grabbed the yellow pages, started with the “A’s” and began calling companies looking for employment… Ron was hired shortly thereafter, by Atlantic Refining Company (ARCO) and so began his life in the oil business.

As life would have it, Lou and Ron would have four children in five years and that meant for some very busy and memorable times. Combine that with many corporate promotions that lead to several homes in different cities across the county, the family eventually landed on Mercer Island. Everytime there was a “family meeting” in our home, we would wonder where we were moving next. The silver lining of moving multiple times is that Lou and Ron have many dear friends scattered all across the United States. Special friendships include a Wine Group, created by the Mercer Island Welcome Wagon, that has met once a month for the last 40 years.

Ron was promoted to president of Rossoe Energy Systems in 1977. At that time it was a subsidiary of Atlantic Refining and he worked there for 10 years before he was offered the opportunity to purchase the company with the help of his business partner David C Wyman. Subsequently, for the past 31 years they have had a flawless partnership. One of ease, mutual respect and prosperity. Rossoe was really Ron’s home away from home. His customers became his friends, and he loved all of his employees like family. It was a precious gift for him to go into the office, as much as he was able to, even in his very last days.

His love of the business world was only out-matched by the love of his family (or perhaps a stay in Las Vegas during the March madness NCAA basketball tourney.) and includes his adoring and devoted wife, Lou. He was a hero to his children, Douglas Glatz (Portland, Oregon.) Lori Holden Scott (Mercer Island) Lynne Jablonski (Anchorage, Alaska) and Sharon Scott (Mercer Island). His love extends to their spouses Pam, Allen and Jeff and of particular fondness to his grandchildren, who knew him by the nickname “Bubbie” Jaime, Mandy, Connor, Caley, Derek, Nick, Joey, Ryan, Parker, Shain and great-grand daughter, Charlotte.

Nothing put a smile on Bubbie’s face like (using miles) to plan yet another trip. Travel was his passion and he was lucky enough to visit so many amazing places both domestic and internationally, alone with Lou or with the entire family in tow. As early as April 2017, they were cruising the Mediterranean on a personal Glatz favorite, a Windstar Cruise ship.

May we all be so blessed to live as well, laugh as well, eat as well, love as well and travel as well as Ron Glatz. If you knew him or aspire to be like him, pour yourself a Maker’s Mark and Ginger Ale (The Ron) and toast to the beauty of life!

Services will be at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church on Mercer Island – 8501 SE 40th Street, Mercer Island, November 8th, at 3:30 with a celebration of life immediately following at Lou and Ron’s home – 7270 North Mercer Way. In lieu of flowers please send donations to help Purplestride to help fight pancreatic cancerhttp://tinyurl.com/vm-mass-attack