Obituary of Ronald J. Kolodziej

Mr. Ronald J. Kolodziej, 81, of Fonda passed away peacefully on Monday, July 30, 2018. 

Born in Amsterdam on April 6, 1937 to the late Harry and Genevieve Kolodziej, he was a 1955 Graduate of Wilbur H. Lynch High School and later attended St. Bonaventure, graduating from Empire State College.  Mr. Kolodziej proudly served his country from 1960 to 1962 during in the Vietnam War, and in 1961 won Soldier of the Month. He was the first member of 523MP company in nearly 20 years to win an award. On July 21, 1962 Ronald Kolodziej was united in marriage to Marianne Reisinger, recently celebrating their 56th wedding anniversary. Later Mr. Kolodziej worked as the Human Resources Specialist for 35 years while employed at the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.

Ron was a parishioner of St Stanislaus Roman Catholic Church of Cornell St in Amsterdam. An avid hobbyist and outdoorsman, he wrote the Hunting and Fishing Column for the Amsterdam Recorder for 42 years, and was a lifetime member and past president of the New York State Outdoor Writers Association. Ron was a boat captain and fisherman (hosting a fishing show on local television for a time) and a member of the Post 701 American Legion as well as a member and past president of The Reid Hill Fish & Game Club; he was the fifth person in New York State to achieve the 6th Bird World Slam in Turkeys, as well as the second person in New York State to achieve the Mexican Slam in Turkeys. Ron was also and inductee into the New York State Outdoorsman Hall of Fame. He had a great sense of humor and deep knowledge of trivia and loved to travel, recently visiting Australia, Hawaii, Tahiti, the Mississippi River, and the Caribbean. Ron loved difficult word puzzles and practicing photography but more than anything he loved his family: wife, daughters, grandchildren, and his dog Madison.

He is survived by his loving wife, Marianne; daughters Deb (Bruce) Kaneb and Annette Williams; six grandchildren Brian, Kyle, Olivia, Kristen, Erika, and Holly; eight nieces and nephews and their families. He was preceded in death by his parents Harry and Genevieve, as well as his brother Robert Kolodziej and his wife Mildred.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Monday, August 6, 2018 at 11 o’clock at St. Stanislaus Roman Catholic Church, 50 Cornell Street, Amsterdam with Rev. O. Robert DeMartinis as celebrant.  Inurnment will take place in the parish cemetery.

Family and friends are invited to call Monday from 9a.m. until 10a.m. at the Betz Rossi & Bellinger Family Funeral Home, 171 Guy Park Avenue, Amsterdam.  Memorial Donations may be made in Ron's name to the New York State Outdoor Writers Association, St Stanislaus Church 50-52 Cornell St, Amsterdam NY 12010 or the Reid Hill Fish & Game Club.  Please visit the online memorial at www.brbsfuneral.com