H. Ronald Masnik
April 25, 1935 - December 27, 2017
Obituary
H. Ronald Masnik
H. Ronald Masnik, devoted husband, loving father, and longtime Honorary Counsel for Belgium, died Wednesday Dec. 27, 2017 after a short illness.
Born in Forrest Hills, New York in 1935, Ron went on to graduate from the College of William and Mary with a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics. He joined the Navy in 1957 and served proudly on the USS Gearing.
Ron worked for several banks during a long and distinguished career in international banking. His work took him to Europe for over 15 years including stops in Great Britain, Luxembourg and Belgium. He eventually relocated to Seattle in 1978 to continue his career in international banking management.
In 1981, his community service and commitment to international affairs were recognized by King Baudouin of Belgium, who appointed him Honorary Consul for the State of Washington. He worked tirelessly on behalf of Belgium’s interest in the State.
In 1996, King Albert II of Belgium decorated Ron as a Knight in the Order of the Crown. In 2006, the King further decorated him as a Knight in the Order of Leopold, Belgium’s oldest decoration, and was honored with a civil service award for his 25-year service to the Crown. When he retired in 2016, he was decorated as Officer in the Order of the Crown. He was president of the Consular Association of Washington State for seven years.
Ron was a Senior Fellow at the Center for International Banking Studies of the University of Virginia’s Darden Graduate School of Business Administration. He was an active board member at the World Affairs Council where he served as Treasurer, and on the board at the European Union Center at the University of Washington.
Ron is survived by his wife Carol, his four children, Melissa, Alexis, Marc, and Julia and seven grandchildren. Ron loved Chelsea football, classic cars, travel, and airplanes. Most of all, he was proud of his family and their accomplishments, and would regale one and all about their adventures and the joy they brought to him. His family and friends always enjoyed his dry sense of humor that was with him to the end.
A memorial celebration for Ron will be held on Friday, Jan. 12, 2018 from 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. at the World Trade Center’s Holland America room (2200 Alaskan Way, Seattle). In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the World Affairs Council Global Classroom Programs or a charity of your choice.
Attached is a link to the World Affairs Council honoring Ron, https://www.world-affairs.org/hronaldmasnik/
As long time friends of Carol, we just want to support her at this sad time of her life. We always cherished our friendship.
Sad to hear …Ron was my roommate at William&Mary
And fraternity brother, Bright, funny and a dear
Friend. ..my condolences to family .
I served on the USS Gearing with Ron. Ron was always the gentleman and all around fine Naval Officer. We will remember the reunion we had in D.C. a few years ago when we discovered that this great friend had not changed but did have a fine career after the USN. Nancy and I will always remember Ron. Please pass on our sincere condolences to Carol and the family.
Vic and Nancy Fredda
Ron, my dear friend, mentor and colleague at the Consular Association of Washington. We are going to miss him a lot.
Dear Carol and family, my wife and I, we are very sorry and we wish you resignarion.- I am 92 years oldo and I will try to be with you on Friday 12, Sincerely Kerry.
Ron was a great friend, mentor and colleague. Nancy, Ron, my late husband John and I had lots of fun together and have also worked together. One of our successful and great efforts was, when we were “midwives” at the birth of the Consular Association of WA, transforming the Consular Corps of WA, to preserve the membership of TECO. We worked on the Board together for many years and I became the President after Ron’s seven years’ presidency.
He will be greatly missed. May you rest in peace, dear friend.
My condolences to my dear friend, Carol and his Family whom he loved dearly and was alwyas proud of their achievements.
Helen M. Szablya
Ron was very a kind and positive person. He was always glad to share his Honorary Consul position experience. I really enjoyed knowing him and will be missing his company.
May God comfort family in this time of loss.
I’m grieving along with all of you. Still cannot believe it. I’m so grateful for all the times we enjoyed together.
I was terribly saddened to learn of Ron’s sudden passing. I am grateful for Ron’s friendship since our arrival in Seattle, and will treasure my memories of our conversations. My thoughts are with Carol and the Masnik family at this difficult time.
On behalf of the Austrian Community here in the Northwest I want to express my deep condolences to the Family of Ron Masnik and the Belgian Community.
Ron was such a role model for all of us Honorary Consuls, he showed us throughout the many years what true dedication to work for your community means. He was always friendly and helpful, and his advice greatly appreciated. Especially at the beginning of my work as Honorary Consul I learned a lot from him. He set the goals for what can be achieved.
We will miss him greatly. May peace be with him and his family.
Dear Carol, I am so, so sorry to hear about the passing of Ron. It was such a privilege to have known him over the last 15-20 years. My sincere condolence to you and your family!
I am currently on the other end of the country and will not be able to attend the service but my thoughts will be with you!
Dear Carol and family:
I was deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Ron. It was a pleasure and privilege to have known him over the past few years. I remember the Consular Christmas party where my husband and I had such a fun time with the two of you, and when he first told us he was going to retire after all those years. His absence will be sorely felt, but his legacy will live on. Please accept my sincere condolences.
Carol and family:
It has been a long time since Pauline and I have had the pleasure of seeing you and Ron, as we have just returned to the northwest after 19 years of banking in California. We remember the good times at People’s Bank and the professionalism Ron brought with his expertise in International Banking. We also remember the good times we had at many community events, especially Seafair activities. There are many great memories in Ron’s life and we will all cherish them. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
To Marc, Kathy, Julia, and the Masnik family:
The Cheneys send our condolences and want to help however we can.
With love,
Rob, Monika, Olivia and Jack
Carol and Julia, so sorry to hear this news. Ron was a great guy with a fun sense of humor. The block still misses all of you!
Dear Carol,
my sincere condolences. I had the priviledge of meeting you and Ron at John Herman’s retirement as honorary consul in 2016. Ron immediately impressed me as a a gentleman with a great presence and wonderful appetite for life. May he rest in peace.
Sincerely,
Cyrille Michel
Honorary Consul for Belgium in Oregon, Idaho and SW Washington
With my sincere condolences to the family.
As retired acting Consul and Vice Consul for The Netherlands
I have had reason in the past to get advice from Ronald and to discuss a few matters. It has always been a great pleasure to talk with him. May God bless him.
Carol:
I was very saddened to learn about Ron’s passing. I only had a few opportunities to meet him but he impressed me as being very intelligent and having a great sense of humor. My thoughts are with you and your family.
I am very saddened by the passing of Ron Masnik and I present my deepest condolences to his family, in particular his wife Carol and his four children, and his many friends. My thoughts are with you at this difficult time.
As Consul General of Belgium in Los Angeles from 2008 to 2012, I had the honor and the pleasure to work with Ron on a very regular basis. Ron was an extremely dynamic and well connected Honorary Consul, always available to help Belgian citizens or companies. He was respected and admired among his peers. I visited Seattle and the State of Washington many times and Ron was always there to help me solving problems and creating opportunities. We would not have been able to accomplish a fraction of the work we accomplished without his help and advice.
As a person, Ron had a positive, friendly and cheerful personality. I always looked forward to my trips to Seattle, because I knew that, after work, I would share pleasant moments and many hearty laughs with Ron.
We will miss him greatly.
Geert Criel
Carol,
Ron’s graciousness and warm smile always radiated whenever we bumped into the two of you on walks around the city. We are saddened by his passing but feel privileged that we got to meet him. We send you hugs.
Hell of a man! I wish you all strength and ease. So sorry for you, Marc.
Sincerely,
Ryan Wittig
My sincere condolences to the family. I was very saddened to learn about mr. Masnik’s passing. It was a pleasure working with him. We will miss him greatly.
Ines Hamers
Miss you, Ron. Your early morning calls, first thing on the agenda, helping another Belgian citizen on their way. No matter how small or big the question was, you had all the patience in the world and always found the time for a little chitchat too. You were a proud family man, my heart goes out to you, Carol, my sincere condolences to you and your children.