Ronald Fast

Ronald Walter Fast passed from his earthly life in Tucson into the nearer presence of God on June 13th, 2024. He leaves his beloved wife, Jeanette (Jean); three children, a son Stephen Fast and wife Jennifer Bierly (Pennsylvania), daughters Kathryn Fast Cooper and husband Curt Cooper (Tucson) and Kaylynn Ann Fast Collins and husband Jesse Collins (Tucson); two step-daughters, Jenny Anderson (Tucson) and Melanie Morgan and husband David Morgan (Tucson); eight grandchildren, Amanda Cooper Preto,(Illinois), Robert Cooper, (Michigan), Sarah,(Massachusetts), Corrine and Robert Fast (Pennsylvania), Catherine and Kristin Anderson (Illinois) and Hazel Morgan (Tucson); seven great grandchildren, Jessica Snider (Michigan), Rocco, River and Onyx Preto (Illinois), Noah and Chloe Hales, and August Cooper (Michigan) and a sister Janice Fast and wife Maureen Ferrell, (California).
Ron was a devoted, kind, and loving husband, father, grandfather and brother whose unwavering commitment to his family was evident in every aspect of his life. His gentle spirit and compassionate nature brought warmth and joy to those around him. His kindness, humility and devotion will continue to inspire us all. Ron's legacy of love and dedication to his family, as well as his teachings of daily prayers and Christian values from his cherished prayer book, will always be treasured and remembered.
Ron was born in Toledo Ohio, on April 2nd, 1934 to Clarabelle and Walter Fast. The family moved to Arizona in 1944 and Ron graduated from Chandler High School in 1952. He received a B.S (magna cum laude) in physics from Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Virginia in 1956. He was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity and the Phi Beta Kappa Society. He earned his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in physics from the University of Virginia in 1958 and 1960, and was a member of The Society of Sigma Xi. He served in the U.S Army Chemical Corps from 1960 to 1962. He was a research scientist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison from 1962 until 1969. In 1969 Ron joined the Fermi National Accelerator (high energy physics) Laboratory, Batavia, Illinois as an applied scientist. He worked on water-cooled and superconducting magnets, liquid hydrogen interaction targets, and the associated cryogenic systems for physics experiments at Fermilab. He also served on the board of directors of the Cryogenic Engineering Conference from 1973 to 1993 and was the editor of five volumes of the conference proceedings. In 1995 Ron was awarded the Samuel C. Collins Award for outstanding contributions to cryogenic technology by the Cryogenic Engineering Conference.
Ron and Jean Braun were joined in Holy Matrimony at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Geneva, Illinois on October 9th, 1988.
Ron's walk with the Lord Jesus began with his baptism on April 28th, 1935, and was received into and became a member of various churches over the years. Ron was an early member of Kings Cross Anglican Church of Tucson where he was known and loved and a vital part of the community.
In May of 1986 at a Benedictine Spirituality week in New Harmony, Indiana Ron gave his heart and life to Jesus as Savior and Lord. In 1987 he was a short-term volunteer with the Israel Trust of the Anglican Church in Israel, working at Anglican guest houses in Haifa, Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. He and Jean traveled to Israel in 1990 and 1992 and were supporters of the work of Bridges for Peace and the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem in Israel for many years.
"You will go out with joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands." Isaiah 55:12.
All is well.