Ronald Wade Loofbourrow, otherwise know as Chicken Ron, Ronnie Baby, and Superman, passed on April 11 2016 at 3:15 pm. He made the transition to Heaven surrounded by his family at his home in Los Alamitos. Ron bravely fought horrific brain tumors and spinal tumors for over 16 years and, although we miss him dearly, we are so glad he no longer suffers.
Ron was born on July 2 1954 in Oakland California to Dwight and Naomi Loofbourrow. He grew up in Castro Valley with his older brother Norm. He loved to bike, build model sailboats, and wrestle with Norm, his long-suffering opponent. His passion for music on the French horn started early when he was 11 years old and only kept growing from there. In high school, Ron was drum major and 1st horn at the Castro Valley high school and Southern California Honors Orchestra. He put his love for wrestling to good use on his high school team. He attended San Jose State for two years and graduated from USC with a Bachelor of Music. In 1976, Ron won the coveted Coleman Music Competition in Carmel with his woodwind quintet.
A video celebration of Ron’s life is on YouTube.
Music was such a huge part of his life, that it was no coincidence his future bride would also be a musician. He met Cheryl (a flutist) at a musician’s Bible study at USC. He was so excited to see her that for their first date, he showed up a day early in a tie!. After many dates, thereafter baking bread, playing music, and sailing, they decided to make a life together and were wed on Oconomowoc Lake in Wisconsin on June 18, 1977.
In 1980, after the birth of their first daughter Jessica, Ron and Cheryl were contracted to play for the Veracruz Symphony in Mexico for two years – So the family was relocated to the land of fresh coconuts and spicy salsa where they shared their home with live crabs that enjoyed tapping across the kitchen floor. Quite the adventure.
After the contract was completed, the family returned home to California where Ron continued as a French hornist in Hollywood, recording such notables as The Smurfs, Mel Brooks’ Spaceballs, Mr. T and Mr. Mom. One of his memorable recordings was the French horn line in Disney’s iconic opening theme “When You Wish Upon a Star”.
He also performed in the orchestra pit of the Ahmanson, the Schubert, the Pantages, and the Greek theaters in national tours of CATS, Dreamgirls (starring Jennifer Holliday), Sunset Boulevard, Les Miz., and the King and I (starting Yul Brynner). Ron was also contracted to play for the 1984 Olympics and for concerts featuring Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., and Tony Bennett.
Between gigs and 2 more kids (Julia and Jenae), Ron’s career evolved from playing musical notes to writing a new kind of language altogether. Ron entered the burgeoning world of computer programming. He worked for several companies before settling at Pacific Life Insurance Co. in Newport Beach as a project manager.
Although Ron worked very diligently throughout his life, the man knew how to have fun. He loved ridding with his motorcycle crew observing his strict Friday evening ritual going to the movies, enjoying cigars and scotch with his UFC buddies, and walking the nature center trails with Cheryl. His favorite munchies included: Potato chips, tofu soup, frozen yogurt, and rotisserie chicken cooked outback. Ron also loved to share bonfires with family and friends, so much so that he created a fire pit in his own backyard. He was an avid watcher of ‘American Idol’, ‘So You Think You Can Dance’, and UFC fights. All of those past time served as great excuses for eating all those aforementioned munchies.
He also never stopped flexing those musical skills: Ron directed music at Orange County Children’s Theater and Buena Park Youth Theater. He played guitar for family concerts held in the backyard, and treated his car passengers to harmonica solos while driving down the freeway. Ron lead worship in his men’s Bible study at Knott Ave. Christian Church, played his horn in the orchestra of his current church, Emmanuel in Paramount for these last three years, and play the West Coast Pops Orchestra with Cheryl.
He is survived by Cheryl, his wife of 38 years, and his daughters Jessica Van Kipp-NYC, Julia Loofbourrow– NYC, and Jenae Loofbourrow, Encintas, his brother Norman Loofbourrow and family: Wife Peggy and children Eric, Ryan, and Kailyn Loofbourrow of San Ramon California, his mother-in-law and sister-in-law Ellen and Linda Strommen.
Ron Loofbourrow’s Music Memorial Celebration was held on Saturday, April 23 at that Emmanuel Church in Paramount with Pastor Ken Korber. Friends, family, colleagues, motorcycle buddies, cigar aficionados and fellow chicken-eating fanatics were welcome at the memorial, reception, and post celebration at Ron’s family home.
