Ron Przybylinski

1953 - 2015

Przybylinski, Ron 61, of St. Charles, MO (formerly of South Bend, IN) passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends on Thursday, March 12, 2015 at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, IL. He was born on September 15, 1953 to Casimir and Helen (Jaworski) Przybylinski in South Bend, IN. His father preceded him in death. Ron was a Science and Operations Officer at the National Weather Service Forecast Office in St. Louis, MO. During his NWS career which spanned 35 years, Ron made major contributions to operational meteorology with his work in the identification of radar structures and patterns that were associated with strong and damaging winds and in his research efforts which improved detection of tornadoes. He published numerous scientific papers and was honored by the American Meteorological Society with the 2011 Charles L. Mitchell Award for outstanding service through performance of exceptional forecast services, having distinguished himself and brought credit to his profession. In 2013 the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration honored Ron with the Distinguished Career Award For his work, which has improved our understanding of severe weather threats to our Nation, including damaging straight-line winds and tornadoes. Ron graduated in 1972 from Washington High School in South Bend, IN. He earned his B.S. and M.S. in Meteorology at Saint Louis University in 1977 and 1981, respectively. Ron began his full-time public service career at the Indianapolis NWS Forecast Office in 1981. In 1991, Ron was selected as the first Science and Operations Officer at the National Weather Service Forecast Office in St. Louis, where he remained for the rest of his career. However, Ron's contributions extended far beyond both Indianapolis and St. Louis. In the late 1980s, Ron was instrumental in helping bring new, life-saving technology to operations by serving as a project leader on the Operational Test and Evaluation of the WSR-88D Doppler radar. He studied linear thunderstorms and their associated winds and tornadoes throughout the 1980s, writing a seminal paper on bow echoes in 1995. He was an organizer and key participant in the Bow Echo and Mesoscale Convective Vortex Experiment from May 20 to July 6, 2003. Ron's intense curiosity about the science of meteorology, his selflessness in working with countless young scientists across the country, and his unwavering dedication to public service will live on in all those fortunate enough to have known him. Ron will be missed by the many that had the privilege to work with him over his long and very productive career in the National Weather Service, and we extend our condolences to his family. Ron is survived by his mother, Helen Przybylinski of South Bend, IN; two sisters, Janice Rowan and Joan (Gary) Kasznia, both of South Bend, IN; six nephews, William Bokhart, Matthew Bokhart, Andrew Rowan, Steven Kasznia, James Kasznia, and Cole Kasznia. Services: Family and friends will gather from 2-4 & 5-8 p.m. Friday, March 20, 2015 at Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 N. Bendix Drive, South Bend, IN, where a Parish Rosary will be prayed at 5:30 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, March 21, 2015 at St. Hedwig Catholic Church, 331S. Scott Street, South Bend, IN. A graveside service will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery. To send online condolences, please visit, www.kaniewski.com.