Ronald William Sporing

Ronald W. Sporing (89) passed away on September 28, 2021.  He was surrounded by loved ones his last days and passed peacefully.

Ronald was born in Freeport/Long Island, N.Y, the only child of William C. Sporing and Emma (Wuest) Sporing.  He graduated from Hempstead High and went on to study electrical engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).  Ronald met his future wife, Lillian “Micki” Sheehan at a fraternity party and their relationship was interrupted when the US Army came calling.  Ronald served briefly with the army before transferring to the US Air Force.  He honorably discharged from the service  and returned to his MIT studies.

End of summer 1954 Ronald married Lillian “Micki” Sheehan of Duxbury, MA.   He graduated from MIT with his electrical engineering degree and the young Sporing family began with first daughter, Lisa, born in Plymouth, MA.  In 1956 the three of them drove across the country to Santa Monica, CA where Ronald began his professional career with Douglas Aircraft.  Ronald was proud of the defense work he did, most especially the Skybolt project.  

Ronald continued his education at USC and was awarded his Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering.   The family moved to Canoga Park, CA and had a second daughter, Suzann and later settled in Huntington Beach, CA where they had twins, Christopher and David.

Ronald enjoyed family time social dancing, traveling with Micki, designing the family’s mountain cabin, building model airplanes, restoring a 1966 Mustang, attending Dodger baseball games and driving a motor home across country with his wife, four children and two dogs for a month.

Ronald retired from McDonnell Douglas after a 37 year career.  He and Micki retired to Fallbrook, CA where he enjoyed volunteering at The San Diego Air & Space Museum.

Ronald is survived by his steadfast wife, Micki, daughters Lisa of Fallbrook, CA, Suzann (Sporing) Kortenkamp of Redondo Beach, CA, sons Christopher and David of Fallbrook, CA and granddaughters Sonia and Anna Kortenkamp of Redondo Beach, CA.  Ronald is preceded in death by son-in-law, Paul Kortenkamp of Redondo Beach, CA.

Memorial Mass to be held 11am Friday, October 22, 2021 at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Fallbrook,  CA.