Ronald Paul Tamura

Ronald Paul Tamura was born March 1, 1959 in Albuquerque, New Mexico and passed away Friday, July 14, 2023. He was the youngest of five children born to Hero and Susie Tamura. As the youngest brother, he always tried to keep up with his older two brothers. He grew up helping with his family’s plant nursery and landscaping business. Ron graduated from Cibola High School and then from the University of New Mexico with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science.

He worked as a software engineer at Honeywell Aerospace for 24 years.

Ron was a talented athlete. He competed on his high school’ wrestling team and played on the football team as a full-back and line-backer. After one of his games, a sports column wrote, “The falling snow made the ground slick…, but it was nowhere near as slick as Cibola full-back Ronnie Tamura. Tamura ran in for all four Cibola touchdowns…” He later went on to play as a walk on for the UNM football team and special team. Post-college he enjoyed golfing with his colleagues and friends. He also bowled for the Japanese American Citizen League.

Ron loved sports more than the competition itself. He devoted his time to coaching high school girls’ volleyball and volunteering at various golfing tournaments. He was an avid UNM Lobos fan.

Ron loved his family and valued being at different family events. He expressed a tender spot in his heart in the way he would give personable gifts. Once he found out that his brother-in-law from Kansas loved pinon nuts, he faithfully sent him pinon nuts every Christmas. When his niece was visiting ABQ, he overheard her mentioning that she wanted to go buy ABQ magnets for her children. The next day, Ron showed up with a bag full of magnets and key chains.

Ron lived with Mom and Dad during Dad’s later stage of life. He was a caregiver as Dad struggled with dementia.

Ron’s faith became more anchored during his ongoing health challenges these past years. He had complications from his diabetes and kidney failure.  Ron was on dialysis for ten years.  A special thank you to the Liberty Dialysis staff for their care and concern for Ron throughout the years.

Ron is survived by his brothers Richard Tamura and Henry Tamura (Jean); his sister Ruth Ewert (Al), his brother-in-law GF Perry, his nephews Seth and Aaron Perry, his nieces Joetta Entz (Scott) and Leane Ewert, his great niece and nephew Kaia and Breck Entz, and many family members. Ron was preceded in death by his parents Hero and Susie Tamura, and his sister Joyce Perry. 

A service will be held Saturday, July 29 at Daniels Family Funeral Services-Wyoming Chapel (7601 Wyoming Blvd. N.E.) at 11:00AM with a reception following.  Daniels Family Funeral Services will provide a live stream of the service.  The live stream link will be provided on Ronald Tamura’s obituary.

A private family burial service will be held at Sandia Memorial Gardens (9500 San Pedro Dr. N.E.) at 10:00 AM.