Dr. Ronald R. Steffani, 85, died July 12, 2021 with members of his family by his side in Ashland, Oregon. He was born May 4, 1936 to Margaret (Slemberger) and Rudolph Steffani. He was raised in Great Falls, Montana. He attended the College of Great Falls where he met and married his wife of 62 years, Darlene (Wadsworth). They moved to Joplin, Montana to teach high school where they welcomed their first daughter, Anita. Ron worked on his master’s degree with support from the National Science Foundation, completing it at the University of Utah with further study at Arizona State University. They welcomed their second daughter, Susan, in 1963. Ron joined the Math department faculty at Southern Oregon College (now Southern Oregon University) in 1964, retiring in 1996. He received his Ph.D. from Oregon State University in 1970. His legacy is the Southern Oregon Math League which he started in 1970. It continues to thrive to this day. Ron is known for his love of Lionel toy trains since the age of 14. He spent many creative hours building a layout and repairing trains for others. Ron’s other love was his family which includes his wife, 2 daughters, two sons-in-law (Rick and Don), 4 granddaughters (Kylie, Michalah, Shannon, and Angel), 1 grandson (Anthony) and 1 grandson-in-law (Caleb).
The family invites those who would like to remember Ron to his Celebration of Life which will be held at Our Lady of the Mountain Catholic Church in Ashland on July 31, 2021 at 2:00 pm.