Ronald Edward Kubec

Ronald Edward Kubec, born September 2, 1935, passed away in the arms of his wife, Michael, on March 2nd, after a short period of declining health due to a stroke. Born to Eleanor and Edward Kubec in Chicago, IL, his family moved to Southern California in 1946 after which he entered the University of California, Berkely at the age of 16. After majoring in metallurgical engineering, Ron joined the army, working on launch rockets for the Mercury space program at the Redstone Arsenal. He later took a job at IBM in San Jose designing disk drives. This was the beginning of a lifetime of work with computers where he became known as a pioneer of the industry.

He married Margaret Tatko in l963, and had three children, Kristin, Erik and Richard. Although they were divorced in 1988, he remained close to his children.

After leaving IBM to pursue disc drive development in the start-up sector, he founded Ultra Disc which he later sold to Xerox. In 1989, he moved to Boulder, CO to join a disc drive company and that is where he met Michael Taylor, whom he married in 1991.

This began a very happy chapter with Michael and her children who embraced him after the untimely loss of their own father. A long-time fulfilling, experience coaching his sons in soccer, led to a happy position as assistant soccer coach at the local high school.

After retirement, they moved to Port Townsend for a new chapter which involved lots of travel, including a memorable trip to the land of his heritage, The Czech Republic. Other notable trips included Scotland, Ireland, China and Africa. Their dog, Dingle’s name was inspired by the Ireland trip.

Ron designed and supervised the construction of their home in Kala Point. He served on the Fort Worden Advisory Board and the Friends of Fort Worden Board. He was Chair of the Architectural Committee in Kala Point and loved being a member of the Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club and the Kala Point COOKS group (Culinary Order of Kitchen Studs).

Ron’s kindness was well known to his friends, to everyone with whom he worked and served. That, and the sparkle in his eye plus his smile will be remembered by all who knew him. After his stroke, he continued to try to share the thoughts from his still-brilliant mind by raising his finger to let people know that he had something to say. Sometimes the words didn’t come, but the intention was understood.

Ron’s grandchildren, Xander and Oscar, were a particular point of pride and joy and he enjoyed watching their successes as they grew and flourished. Known as Pops to all the grandkids, he took special pride in showing Erin and Jack the models of two Mercury rockets he had worked on in the army when the family visited the Kennedy Space Center.

Ron is survived by his wife, Michael, his three children, Kristin Kubec, Erik Kubec and Richard Kubec, and by his three step-children Katie Taylor (Jeremy Morris), Steven Taylor (Ellen), David Taylor (Megan), eight grandchildren and his sister, Patricia Thiel.

Contributions may be made to the Friends of Fort Worden or Planned Parenthood. A celebration of life will take place in late May.