Ronald John Lazar

OKLAHOMA - Ronald John Lazar, 68, passed away suddenly on November 8th, 2023 near his home in Guthrie Oklahoma, as a result of injuries received in a motorcycle collision. He was born on November 14th, 1954 in Youngstown Ohio 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 the Future Teachers of America. He was also a life-long motorcycle enthusiast and he followed that dream west relocating to Denver Colorado in the late seventies. He spent most of his twenties 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 dancefloor 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, RJ, lift a glass and a middle finger to everything in your way…cheers to all the storytellers out there!

Visitation will be 2 pm to 4 pm Saturday, November 25, 2023, at The McCauley Funeral Home, 230 Broadway, Youngstown, Ohio 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,

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ronald John Lazar, please visit our floral store.