Ronald Lloyd Schleede

1943 - 2025

January 2, 1943 — February 7, 2025
Springfield, Virginia
Ronald Lloyd Schleede, born on January 2, 1943 in Buffalo, NY and raised in Akron, OH, passed away on February 7, 2025. He was 82 years old and had resided in Springfield, Virginia since 1979. Ron proudly served as a Captain in the US Air Force, where he piloted the F-100 Super Sabre at Cannon Air Force Base in NM, Wheelus Air Base in Tripoli, Libya, and Craig Air Force Base in Selma, AL. Following his military service, he dedicated over 28 years to the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) as an Aircraft Accident Investigator, earning international recognition for his contributions to Aviation Safety. Ron was Deputy Director of the Office of Aviation Safety at the NTSB when he retired in 2000. He is the only person to have led major aviation investigation programs for both the United States and Canada, having served as the Director of Investigations for Air at the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB), as part of an exchange program. Preceded in death by his beloved wife Kathleen Schleede, parents Lloyd and Freda Schleede, and brother Tom Schleede. Ron is survived by his brother, Terry (Susan) Schleede of Laguna Niguel, CA; his daughters, Emma (Wallace) Blankenbaker of McLean, VA, and Amy (Jeff) Marchiando of Fairfax, VA; his brother-in-law and fraternity brother, James (Erika) Cotterman of Springfield, VA. Above all, the pride and joy of his life were his four grandchildren: Trevor and Jody Marchiando, and Duncan and Fisher Blankenbaker - who knew him as "Papa" and will forever cherish his love and wisdom. A Celebration of Ron's Life will be held on March 27 at 11 a.m. at Army Navy Country Club, Arlington, VA. Memorial donations may be made to one of his favorite causes:
International Society of Air Safety Investigators (ISASI) "Rudolf Kapustin Memorial Scholarship"https://isasi.wildapricot.org/Donate
The Delta Mill Society - Old Stone Mill National Historic Site of Canada PO Box 172, Delta, ON K0E 1G0