Ronald Joseph Maas
Ron_Maas
Ron Maas was born on July 21, 1951 in Waterloo, Iowa, to Johnnie W. Maas and Gladys A. Maas, and passed away at home suddenly on September 12th, due to natural causes. He led a life full of unending love, generosity, and fairness to everyone he knew and to those he didn’t, and committed his heart to his family and friends.
Ron grew up in Cedar Falls, attended the University of Northern Iowa, and graduated from the University of Washington. As a dedicated publishing professional, he made significant contributions to educational publishing, and had a great deal of respect for his colleagues and reverence for his profession.
Ron loved the Pacific Northwest, fishing, books, poetry, reading, music of all kinds, gardening, rivers, being on the water, fixing things, and his family. He took a great interest in cooking and bread baking, and in sharing his creations with everyone.
His humility, compassion, and curiosity towards the world around him were deeply admired by all those who knew him, and will be carried on by all his loved ones in honor of his reverence for life.
Ron is survived by his adoring wife and sons, Paula, Ryan and Andrew; his mother, Gladys Maas; his sister, Mary Bienfang; and his two brothers Dale and Dean Diamond, all who cherish his memory and will keep him in their hearts forever.
His life will be celebrated with services in Kirkland WA, Cedar Falls IA, and Fairfield CT. A memorial mass will be take place at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, October 28th, St. Steven the Witness Catholic Student Center, UNI Campus, Cedar Falls, IA. The address is 1019 W. 23rd St, Cedar Falls, IA 50613.
Further information will be posted about charitable institutions where Ron can be honored with donations.
26 Responses to “Ronald Joseph Maas”
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I’m so sorry to hear of Ron’s passing. Ron was my first boss after college at Greenwood Publishing Group. He was a wonderful leader and a good man. I know I don’t need to tell anyone here that. He loved you, his family, so much. He told us stories about you all of the time and spoke with a gleam in his eyes and a warmth in his smile when he did. He was so proud of you. Again, I know I don’t need to tell anyone here that. He was a man who let the world know and see his light and all of us who knew him are better for it. Wishing his family and friends my deepest sympathy, Aimee Pelletier
Honor and respect – a good man. He respected and mentored the authors he worked with and even in rejection he was always encouraging and kind. I enjoyed working with him on several books and send my condolences to his entire family. May he RIP.
Ron was my manager at Greenwood Publishing. In my over 27 years in Publishing I never met a more dedicated professional, and more generous human being. He became a friend, and whenever Oregon played Washington was the only time we disagreed on things. I will truly miss him
Ron is gone far too early. He stood out among men as a thoroughly decent, highly intelligent, and warm human being. The world was a better place because of him.
Rest in Peace Ron. My best to his family and friends. I worked with Ron at Greenwood, Westport CT. He was a good man and a treasure we will all miss.
Ron was one of those people who gave me faith in humanity. He was quietly warm, always kind, and seemed to come alive when given a chance to be his generous self. I’m sad to hear of his passing, but I am glad I had the chance to know him. I wish his family peace and some measure of comfort in knowing that he was a good man who lived a good life. He won’t be forgotten.
Ron was kind, caring, motivating, and a true professional who as well liked & highly respected by all he worked with. A tremendous loss to all who knew and loved him. I cherish the time I worked with him while at Greenwood and more recently with Fable Learning.
Rest in Peace dear friend. Thoughts and prayers to his beloved family.
Ron was by far the best manager that I ever had, both at Libraries Unlimited and also at Greenwood Publishing. Always fair, always available, and always treated everyone with great respect. He will truly be missed by everyone he came into contact with.
So sorry for your loss Mary!
I worked with Ron at my first job out of college at Greenwood Publishing House. His kindness, mentorship, and ability to treat everyone with respect is something I admired greatly. He was a wonderful man. My thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time.
So sorry for your loss, Mary and Gladys. May HIS light shine upon you and HIS LOVE surround you and bring you peace of heart and soul.
Rest in Peace, my friend.
Ron created meaning for his life and accepted the privilege of being himself. We were all the better for it. Deepest sympathy to his loved ones. Mary Jo
Mary sorry to hear of your loss. What I have read tells me what a wonderful person your brother was.
Completely flattened by this news. Ron was an extraordinary human being and just was this cool, even tempered colleague. Worked for him at Greenwood Publishing and afterwards, kept in touch. No one is guaranteed a tomorrow but if you could through kindness towards others it would be Ron Maas. Prayers tonight for his family.
How very sad. I worked with Ron at Greenwood Publishing Group, from the Editorial side. In addition to his warmth and kindness, I remember his great sense of humor, as well as his perpetual good humor. My deepest sympathy for his family and friends.
I was so saddened to hear of Ron’s passing. I worked with him at Greenwood Publishing for a number of years, and he was always one of the most professional people that I worked with there, not to mention one of the friendliest. Even when we were acquired by ABC-Clio he still made it a point to attend our meetings in CT and personally greet each one of us. He will be missed by many.
Ron and I were in high school together and he was also a neighbor, when we lived in Cedar Falls. My condolences to his entire family and friends.
We are so deeply shocked on his passing. It was an honour and a privilege to have known Ron and have been able to share time with him and Paula in Seattle and Italy. He will be greatly missed in our lifes.
Che riposi in pace.
Started school in Cedar Falls, Iowa with Ron. We were in school together from 1st grade on! First St. Patrick’s and then CF High School. A wonderful guy from a great family. Many prayers and sympathies to Gladys, Mary, Dale and Dean
Gladys & Mary: I’m so sorry to hear of Ron’s death. You are in my prayers!!
I worked closely with Ron for five years as we built our digital publishing platform, StarWalk Kids Media, together. He was a class act, wonderful to work with, and one of the best I’ve ever seen at understanding and supporting his customers. He knew teachers and librarians, what they cared about and what they needed, and he always figured out a way to get it done for them. StarWalk Kids was highly respected for the quality of both the platform and for its customer service, and that was all about Ron. He was one of a kind and will be sorely missed.
I had lost touch with Ron over the years, as new opportunities kept from from seeing him at ALA each year, as had been the case for nearly a decade after we no longer worked together at Greenwood. So hearing the news of his loss came as an unwelcome shock. Today, as a kind of grieving and affirmation of his life – he was one of the finest men I have ever worked for and with – I pulled out my copy of Mangia Bene – the cookbook he and Paula created as a gift for friends. I made LaDou’s Spago Pizza Dough, and I thought of how grateful I am to have had Ron in my life. My deepest sympathies to Paula, Ryan and Andrew. May his memory be blessing forever.
My sympathy to Paula, his family and friends for the loss of Ron. His kindness and generous spirit will be remembered by all who knew him.
My sincere sympathy, Paula, for the loss of your wonderful husband, and also to your two sons. Ron was a wonderful college friend of mine, and he had so many friends from the past who will mourn his loss as I do! His kindness and good heart will be remembered by all of us. Good luck in the afterlife, Ron! You will be appreciated there as you were here!
Gladys Mary and family,
I was sorry to read about Ron’s passing. My deepest condolences to all of you and my prayers are with you. In this most difficult of times I hope God’s grace holds you close and know that God will never bring you to something without bringing you through it.