Ronald Brian Kirk of Carbondale
Ronald Brian Kirk passed away peacefully with his family holding his hand July 23, 2020, at the age of 79.
Ron leaves wonderful memories for his wife of 53 years, Rosa Maria of Carbondale; daughter Melissa (Michael) Braun of Crystal Lake; daughter Colleen (Chris Myers) Kirk of Santa Margarita, Calif.; and grandsons Colin, Ethan, Logan and Braden Braun of Crystal Lake. He is also remembered lovingly by his brothers Frederick (Susan) Kirk of Arvada, Colo., and Richard (Loretta) Kirk of Lakewood, Colo., and his sister Barbara Howard of Arvada, Colo. Ron also leaves many other relatives and friends.
Ron was preceded in death by his parents, Frederick George and Lucille Anne Kirk; his brother-in-law, Michael Howard; and his niece, Kathleen Kirk.
Ron was born June 25, 1941, in Denver, Colo. There, he graduated with honors from Regis High School in 1959.
He continued his studies at the University of Colorado, Boulder, graduating in 1963 summa cum laude.
Ron then left for California to study mathematics at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. Ron met Rosie at a party there when he asked her to dance with him. They fell in love and married in 1967.
Ron received his PhD in mathematics from Caltech in 1968. He had a long, successful career as a professor in the mathematics department at SIU in Carbondale. He was a professor (1968-1999) and chairman of the department for many years.
Ron always enjoyed working with computers, ever since their early days. We remember him building his own in the 1970s with mail order parts and programming an early calculator to play "Mastermind." He later built computers for the whole family and designed adventure games, and friends correctly predicted football winners using programs he created.
Throughout his working life, Ron jogged 5 miles every workday at noon, and after 20 years, he had circled the earth! He was always sharp, with many witty jokes always ready to share. In retirement, Ron and Rosie returned to dancing. They enjoyed ballroom and country dancing (waltz, Latin dances, swings and two-step!). They participated in amateur competitions around the country and met many new friends that way.
His family was always of utmost importance to Ron. When his family was young, we all enjoyed going out for special
breakfasts together on Saturday mornings and driving together cross country to visit relatives in faraway states. Later when we all gathered, he always wanted to treat everybody to dinner out and a movie, especially delighting in taking his four grandsons. He will be in our hearts forever.
We extend a special thanks to the doctors, nurses and staff at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Mo., for their care and compassion.
We are remembering Ron with a scholarship in his name for graduate students in the Math Department at SIUC.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial gift may be made to this scholarship fund. Visit siuf.org/giving and click on "give now"; alternatively, gifts may be mailed (indicate "Ron Kirk Mathematics Fund" in memo line and write check to "SIU Foundation") to the SIU Foundation, Colyer Hall – MC 6805, 1235 Douglas Drive, Carbondale IL 62901.
A private memorial gathering will be held at a later date.