Ronald A Gubala

Mr. Ronald Anthony Gubala, 86, of Wyckoff, NJ and Brewster, Massachusetts, passed away on Sunday, November 5, 2023. Visitation will be at Vander Plaat Funeral Home of Wyckoff, 257 Godwin Avenue on Thursday, November 9 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The funeral mass will be celebrated on Friday, November 10 at Church of Saint Elizabeth, 700 Wyckoff Avenue, Wyckoff at 10:30 a.m. The internment will be at Maryrest Cemetery, Mahwah.

Born in Newark, NJ, Ron had no siblings; however he was extremely close to his cousins, treating them as brothers and sisters.

Ron was in the Coast Guard Reserve in the mid 50's, which he was proud to say he served, often wearing Coast Guard apparel.

He graduated from Montclair State College and started teaching Industrial Arts. He taught at several high schools in Bergen County. He returned to school again at Montclair State in order to earn his Masters in Administration. He became a Guidance Counselor, then Vice Principal, eventually moving up to Principal at The Bergen County Technical Schools in Hackensack, Teterboro and Paramus. He retired after being in education for over 40 years.

Ron was a family man. He met the love of his life Ruth and married in 1962. He and Ruth moved to Lyndhurst, then to Ridgewood, and settled in Wyckoff where they raised their 2 sons, Kenneth and Matthew. Ron was often seen coaching youth sports or on the sidelines watching both his sons play. Eventually he was seen on the sidelines watching his grandsons play sports. He tried his best to never miss a game.

Ron was all about volunteering. He played an active role in the Knights of Columbus both at the local and county level, becoming both the Faithful Navigator for the 4th Degree and the Grand Knight of the Midland Park Council. Not only did Ron volunteer many hours for the Knights, he made many life long friends. At Saturday night mass you often saw Ron as a Eucharistic Minister at Nativity Church, Midland Park.

Over the years Ron traveled with his family. He loved to see new places. However one place stuck in his heart and he decided to purchase a second home. Ron lived his summers in Orleans and Brewster on Cape Cod; sitting for hours on the beach, having dinner every Sunday at Land Ho and enjoying a Vodka on the rocks with a lime.

Ron was blessed with 2 grandchildren, Andrew and John Paul (Jack). If you ever had a conversation with him, they were what he talked about. He even named his boat after them.

He is survived by his beloved wife Ruth of 61 years; his children Kenneth and his wife Colleen, and Matthew and his wife Mona; his cherished grandchildren Andrew and John Paul.

He will be missed by his nieces, nephews and many friends whom he held so dear.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Ron’s memory may be made to Wyckoff Ambulance Corps or the Wyckoff PBA. Both of which had helped Ron many times over the last few years.

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