Ronald C. Straitiff

Ronald C. Straitiff, 82, of Hamburg, NY, passed away peacefully at home on March 19, 2025. Ron was the beloved husband of 41 years to Dawn T. (Gordon) Straitiff. He was a devoted father to David (Pamela) Straitiff, James (fiancée Holly Carpenter) Straitiff, and stepson Scott (Christine) Robertson, and a cherished grandfather to Joshua (Kristin) Straitiff, Zachary Straitiff, Danica Straitiff, Lily Robertson, Sophie Robertson, Paige Timby, Elizabeth Timby, Kailey Carpenter and Kaden Carpenter. He was also a proud great grandfather of three. He was the son of the late Dr. Max C. and Svea (Peterson) Straitiff and the brother of Robert (Tori) Straitiff and the late Richard (the late Anne) Straitiff. He will be dearly missed by his family including his many nieces and nephews, friends from Silver Lake, his church family at Saint Mark's Episcopal Church, and his caring friends on Allie Lane. A lifelong resident of Western New York, Ron grew up in South Buffalo before moving to Orchard Park in 1953. He graduated from Orchard Park High School and honorably served his country in the United States Navy as a Gunner’s Mate and Ship’s Librarian from 1962-64 aboard the USS Allagash AO-97 participating in the Cuban Missile Crisis and a Mediterranean tour. After his military service, he returned to Orchard Park to establish his home for 47 years. Ron worked as a railroad engineer for 38 years at South Buffalo Railway, later part of Genesee and Wyoming Railroad. He also enjoyed carpentry and building new homes as well as buying older homes and renovating them. He was a longtime member of the Blazing Star Masonic Lodge in East Aurora, NY where he served as a Steward. Upon retirement at the age of 60, he generously volunteered his time with various projects at Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church in Orchard Park. He found joy in winemaking, trips to the Dominican Republic with Dawn, and over 50 years of cherished memories at the cottage he built on Silver Lake in Perry, NY. A memorial service will be held at 11am on May 31, 2025, at Saint Mark's Episcopal Church, 6595 East Quaker Street, Orchard Park, NY. In lieu of flowers, donations in Ron's memory may be made to the Hospice Foundation of Buffalo, PO Box 590, Buffalo, NY 14240-0590, the SPCA of WNY, 300 Harlem Road, West Seneca,
NY 14224, or the American Cancer Society, PO Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718.