Ronald Charles Wornick

1932 - 2021

Ronald Charles Wornick
May 21, 1932 - July 31, 2021
Son of the late Harry and Florence Wornick, Ronald Wornick passed away peacefully in San Francisco at 89. He was a genuine renaissance man, husband, father, musician, scientist, businessman, yachtsman, wood artist, winemaker, traveler, and mentor.
Ron is survived by his wife of 65 years, Anita L. Wornick, his sons Ken (Cynthia), Michael (Salma), Jonathan (Cristina), his sister, Thea Fefer, and his grandchildren Harry, Dennis, Sophia, Ezra, and Leo.
A great number of Ron and Anita's eastern European family was killed during World War II in the Holocaust. However, Ron's father, Harry, escaped and made his way to the U.S. at age 18. Born in 1932, Ron was raised in Malden, Massachusetts. He played the trumpet and formed a dance band, the Ronnie Wornick Orchestra, at age 14, and used it to help pay his way through college.
After graduating from Tufts University in 1954, with a B.S. in Biology and Chemistry, Ron enlisted in the United States Army. For two years he played in the 3rd Infantry Division Marching Band at Fort Stewart Georgia. While in Georgia he also played in Emma Kelly's band, of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil fame.
When the army discovered his background in science, he was transferred from the band to the 1st Army Medical Lab in New York City where he focused on developing high-tech food technologies.
Ron married Anita Lois Lev, also from Malden Mass., on December 25, 1955. Ron was honorably discharged from the Army in 1957. Ron went on to earn a M.S. degree in food science from M.I.T. He and Anita's first son, Kenneth, was born in 1957; Michael in 1959, and Jonathan in 1963.
While at M.I.T., Ron began working at the research center of United Fruit Company and his early work included helping to develop a treatment for Panama Disease which was ruining the world's banana crop. Wornick was promoted to scientist and then quickly moved through the managerial ranks at United Fruit Co. to become division president of Chiquita Brands.
In 1970, Ron resigned when he saw potential in its fledgling freeze-dried food plant in San Carlos, Texas. Wornick mortgaged nearly everything he owned to acquire the factory from his employer, re-naming it Right Away Foods Corporation subsequently based in McAllen, Texas. Two years later, the success and reputation attracted the attention of the Clorox Company in Oakland, CA. Ron sold Right Away Foods to Clorox and moved to Hillsborough, California as Senior V.P. of Clorox's food division with a seat on the Board of Directors.
After managing well known consumer brands such as Hidden Valley Ranch and Kingsford Charcoal, Ron again grew restless. In 1976, he resigned from Clorox and reacquired his former Texas-based firm, changing its name to The Wornick Company.
In 1979, The Wornick Company was contracted by the U.S. military to develop and deliver its newest version of the combat field ration, Meals, Ready to Eat or "MREs." The MREs produced by The Wornick Company revolutionized how servicemen were fed in the field. Over the next decade, The Wornick Company developed large mobilization capacity, and produced and shipped millions of MRE's to the Defense Dept. and issued a modified MRE used for international humanitarian aid.
Ron retired in 1995, and as an early adopter of the ESOP (employee stock ownership plan), sold the company to its employees. He remained on its board until 1999.
Ron found time outside of work to become a self-taught wood artist. His interest in turned-wood objects led him and Anita to start collecting sculptural objects and functional art made of wood. The Wornick Collection expanded to include fiber, glass, metal, and paintings. Most of the collection has been gifted to the Boston Museum of Fine Art (and other noteworthy museums throughout the U.S.)
Ron served on a great many regional and national boards in business, religion, art, and education. In recognition of his instrumental role in founding and supporting the community-based K-8 school, the Ronald C. Wornick Jewish Day School on the Jewish Community Campus in Foster City was named in his honor
In the late seventies, Ron developed a 350-acre vineyard which he sold to the Hess Collection. Twenty years later in 1996, Ron began construction of a new project in St. Helena, Napa Valley, planting the hillsides with cabernet grapes, and in 2005 introduced the estate grown Seven Stones Cabernet. That wine has continuously received the highest possible accolades from numerous noteworthy wine critics.
Wornick particularly loved sailing throughout the world on Kobrina, and Kobrina II, motor yachts he named in honor of the small village in Belarus where his father was born.
Ron was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2010, and quickly became an active supporter of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. He outlived all forecasts.
Wornick was deeply proud of his 65-year marriage to his wife, Anita, his three sons and daughters-in-law, and his five grandchildren.
The family would like to express their deep gratitude for the work of UCSF oncologist Dr. Jeff Wolf, UCSF cardiologist Dr. William Grossman, and Dr. Kevin Saitowitz.
A memorial service was held at Peninsula Temple Shalom and internment was held at Home of Peace Cemetery, Colma.
The family asks that donations be made in his honor, to the Ronald C. Wornick Jewish Day School in Foster City, CA.