Ronald George Nardi, GM retiree
Ronald George Nardi was ushered into heaven on the wings of angels Easter Sunday, March 31, 2024, with loving family by his side. Ron was born in the spring of 1937.
Ron, who rose from modest beginnings to the heights of the global automobile industry, was born in a 12-foot-wide Baltimore rowhouse to Albert and Teresa Nardi. He was their middle child who loved to build things and tinker. This aptitude for engineering and math landed him at the Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, where he graduated near the top of his class in 1955. He then enlisted in the Army Reserves and spent time working for the B&O Railroad and Lockheed Martin.
In 1958, a regular customer at the family’s gas station took note of Ron’s industrious attitude (and perhaps that can-do twinkle in his eyes) and encouraged him to apply to the General Motors Institute co-op program. During his time at GMI, Ron had a blind date with Phyllis Paszkiewicz. He, of course, fell madly in love with her and asked for her hand in marriage (spoiler alert: she said yes!).
Ron was called to active military duty on three separate occasions while attending GMI, finally graduating in 1965. Graduation turned out to be an exceptionally special day. As Ron walked across the stage to receive his diploma in electrical engineering, he was informed that his first child had just been born.
Ron’s work ethic and ambitious spirit led him to a 42-year career with GM, culminating in his position as vice president in charge of General Motors Africa and Middle East operations. His career allowed him and Phyllis to traverse the world. They lived in various American cities, as well as Egypt and India. Together, they scaled the pyramids in Cairo, visited the site of the Burning Bush on the way to climbing Mt. Sinai, went on safari in Kenya, and snorkeled in the Red Sea. On several occasions, Ron and Phyllis met with Mother Teresa, deeply moving encounters for the devout Catholics.
Wherever Ron went, music, a lifelong passion, followed. One Christmas, while living in India, Ron and Phyllis arranged for an elephant and two camel carts to come to their neighborhood. They gathered friends and rode through the local villages at sunset singing Christmas carols with an old karaoke machine. An entourage of over 100 children was soon trailing them, bursting with laughter and celebration.
After retirement, Ron and Phyllis built a beach house overlooking the Delaware Bay. There, Ron cultivated a beautiful garden, sang in the choir, cantored masses at St. Jude the Apostle, and developed a passion for making beautiful watercolor paintings. He spent countless summer days pulling his grandchildren on rafts through the bay and enjoying Nutty Buddies on the sandbar with them at low tide. He had an annual date with his kids to make beach plum jelly, and you could often find Ron biking around town.
His life in Lewes was made even richer by all the wonderful people who passed through the beach house doors and joined him by the bay. Ron and Phyllis split time between Lewes and Fort Myers, Fla., where they found a circle of dear friends amid the palm trees and golf courses.
Ever the engineer, Ron was the ultimate do-it-yourselfer, not only for himself but for all the family members who called for advice about cars, plumbing, and appliance problems. As he said, “Don’t pay for anything you can fix yourself!”
Above all, he was a father of four children who carried forth his ethic of integrity, hard work, love, and most of all, family. Ron’s family was the focus and anchor of his life. He was a devoted husband and the world’s best dad and grandad (he even had a mug to prove it). Ron will be sorely missed by all of those around him with whom he shared his charismatic presence and life.
Ron is survived by his wife of 59 years, Phyllis; and their children, David (Stacey), Mark (Frederice), Beth (Tim), and Lisa (Raja); his grandchildren, Michela, Madison, Maxwell Miles, Ellika and Nadia; his sister, Rosalee; and numerous in-laws, nieces and nephews.
Ron’s family will be forever grateful for the kind and compassionate care provided by all the incredible hospice aides, nurses and staff.
Services to celebrate Ron’s life will be held with visitation beginning at 10 a.m., Monday, April 8, at St. Jude The Apostle Catholic Church, 152 Tulip Drive, Lewes, followed by mass at 11 a.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to Mother Seton Academy, 2215 Greenmount Ave., Baltimore, MD 21218, mothersetonacademy.org; or to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, secure.qgiv.com/for/pulfibfou.
Visit Ronald’s Life Memorial webpage at parsellfuneralhomes.com.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Parsell Funeral Homes and Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, Lewes.
