Dr. Ronald Francis Saglimbene

Ronald Saglimbene, of Wyckoff, NJ, passed away suddenly after a medical procedure on November 21, 2025, at the age of 78.  He was born on February 20, 1947, in Flagstaff, AZ to Salvatore and Mary Saglimbene.  Ron was not only vivacious and full of character but was also a devoted husband to Susan Saglimbene and loving father to Jason, Ronald, Thomas, and Michael Saglimbene.  

Ron graduated from Farleigh Dickinson University and went on to become an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon. He maintained a practice in Wyckoff, River Edge, and served as an on-call surgeon at both Valley and Hackensack Hospitals.  Ron was well-known and well-respected throughout Bergen County for his steady hand and unique bed-side manners, always personally calling his patients the night of a procedure to “check-in.”  After retiring his practice, Ron worked as a traveling surgeon for the NJ prison system and was known for his kind, “get it done” attitude in challenging work environments.  

Outside of his practice, Ron found his true love in aviation.  After receiving flight instruction in his twenties, Ron became an avid general aviation pilot, competitive aerobatic pilot, and airshow pilot.  Throughout the 1990’s and early 2000’s Ron spent his weekends performing as one-half of the Split Image Aerobatic Team and, eventually, a solo act under the moniker “Dr. Smoke.”  The same steady hands that guided him through surgery would guide aircraft through masterful aerial maneuvers at major airshows along the East Coast.  

Ron was preceded in his death by his parents.  He is survived by his wife, Susan; his children, Jason, Ronald, Thomas, and Michael; and his seven grandchildren, Viggo, Joel, Dawn, Nadia, Fiona, Nikita, and Kian.

Visiting hours for Ron are 12:00 to 4:00pm on Saturday, December 6, 2025 at the Vander Plaat Funeral Home, 257 Godwin Ave., Wyckoff, NJ  07481.  A Wake service and time of reflection and memories will begin at 4:00pm on Saturday at the Vander Plaat Funeral Home.  

A funeral mass will be held 12:30pm on Sunday, December 7 at The Church of St. These of Lisieux, 67 S. Essex St., Montauk, NY 11954.  Burial will follow mass at the Fort Hill Cemetery, 2 Fort Hill Rd, Montauk, NY 11954.

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