Ronald Ostrowski

1939 - 2017

Dr. Ronald Stephen Ostrowski, 78, of Sherrills Ford, NC, passed away on Thursday, November 16, 2017. He was born on March 3, 1939 in Chicago, IL, to the late Stephen and Julia Salinski Ostrowski. Ron grew up in Chicago's South Side and graduated from De La Salle High School. He was a proud veteran of the U.S. Navy. After service to his country, he received his B.S. and M.S. degrees from Northern Illinois University and his Ph.D. from the University of Notre Dame. He worked as a Professor of Biology specializing in Genetics at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte for 34 years, retiring in 2005. During that time, he mentored many students in biology and pre-med. He also had many other professional activities that included serving on the Planned Parenthood Board of Directors, consulting for the Association for Sickle Cell Disease, and collaborating with the Clinical Genetics Program at Carolinas Medical Center. Since 1992 he enjoyed working as a DNA consultant and expert witness in the court system. Ron enjoyed gardening, remodeling and home projects, ballroom dancing, classic old movies and fifties music (especially Doo Wop) - he would sing along to every song. He was a wonderful teller of stories - and oh the stories he told! (He had many adventures in his life!) He had a strong love and loyalty to his family and his many, many dear friends. He will be greatly missed. In addition to his parents, Ron was preceded in death by his first wife, Carol Dressel Ostrowski. He is survived by his loving wife, Linda McNally; daughter, Beth Ostrowski Kooby; grandchildren, Dylan and Sienna Kooby; mother-in-law, Nellie McNally; brother-in-law, Steven McNally (Karen); sister-in-law, Cheryl Woodburn (Mark); cousins, William "Bill" Ostrowski (Kathy) and Diane Wilson (Larry); and extended family and friends. The family would like to thank Dr. Timothy Kuo and the staff at Lake Norman Oncology in NC, as well as his physicians and staff at Emory Winship Cancer Institute in Atlanta, GA, for their care and compassion throughout Ron's illness. We have special gratitude to the many dear friends who have been on this journey with us and helped us along the way. A chapel service will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, November 25, 2017 at the Rago-Baldwin Funeral Home, 520 East St. in Baraboo, WI with Pastor Thomas Dunbar officiating. Visitation will take place at the funeral home from 10:00 AM until the time of service. Burial in Walnut Hill Cemetery will follow the chapel service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, The Salvation Army, 501 Archdale Drive, Charlotte, NC 28217 or the charity of your choice. Cavin-Cook Funeral Home & Crematory of Mooresville, NC and Rago-Baldwin Funeral Home of Baraboo, WI are serving the family. Condolences may be made to the family at www.cavin-cook.com and www.ragobaldwinfuneralhome.com.