Ron was born in Cincinnati Ohio, the third (and perfect, in the words of his mother) child of Elizabeth Knox Shebanek and Anthony Shebanek. Ron’s family roots are in Maysville, KT where his mother’s family lived and Cleveland, Ohio where his father’s family settled. Ron was always an analytical intellectual, and a lifelong learner. When he won (what he jokingly referred to as) the lottery with a draft number of 1, he enlisted in the Air Force and served as a spy in the Aleutian Islands. He used the GI Bill to fund his undergraduate and graduate degrees at the University of Cincinnati. He moved to Chicago upon graduation and worked for 15 years at Continental Bank, where he met his wife, Janet. They married in 1987 and Ron started his business then – Acumentom. The joy of his life, Elizabeth Jordan Shebanek, was born in June 1993, and he changed the voicemail recorded message on that day to say “Elizabeth Shebanek was born today and she’s perfect”.
Ron, Janet, and then 6-year-old Lizzy moved from Chicago to Tampa in 1999. He loved the Florida weather and tropical vegetation. He traveled for business for many years but always did his own lawn and pool service, as he found that relaxing.
Ron was a successful consultant, paid to solve other people’s business problems. He worked for himself for over 20 years, consulting in various capacities including the public school system of Columbus, a military manufacturer, and many others. Post retirement, Ron pursued his love of the water by volunteering at the Mote Aquarium in Sarasota, and with the Coast Guard auxiliary.
Ron was a great lover of practical jokes. A favorite story of his was when as a kid, he hid in the laundry basket, and slowly and carefully lifted his head to scare his unsuspecting older brother! Score one for the younger brother! Lizzy also remembers her 9th birthday party where Ron played the boogey man. The girls, unsuspecting and hanging around the pool in the dark, got quite the surprise when Ron popped up with a flashlight under his chin. Screaming ensued, followed with laughter by all.
Ron and Lizzy watched the food channel together for years, and both became avid foodies. There must be 1000 pictures of excellent food shared among the family. They both enjoyed cooking very much – Ron was always the family cook until Lizzy got old enough to pick up the reins. Not an especially sentimental guy, Ron kept receipts, menus and mementos of his 2022 birthday visit with Lizzy and her husband Andrew to their favorite restaurant in Washington, D.C.
Ron’s lifelong proudest accomplishment is raising his daughter, Lizzy. He was overjoyed at her recent wedding, bursting into tears at the “first look” of Lizzy in her wedding gown. He heartily welcomed Andrew and his family into the family fold and enjoyed swapping military stories with Andy and his entire military family.
Although divorced in 2020, Ron and Janet remained good friends, enjoying holidays together with Lizzy as a family. Last Christmas, all drove from respective homes in Tampa, Cleveland, and DC to Lizzy’s new in-laws, Rosanna and Louis Szabo’s home near Atlanta, where they were heartily welcomed to the family.
Ron was pre-deceased by his brothers, Barbour Russell and Anthony Shebanek, and his wonderful dogs Abbie and Elke. His daughter, his former wife, and his cat Lola miss him greatly.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mote Marine Lab in memory of Ron Shebanek: https://mote.org/support/memorials-tributes
Thank you for the outpouring of love and support from family and friends. We very much feel and appreciate your love.
| Lizzy and Andrew Szabo | Janet Jordan |
| 425 Massachusetts Ave NW | 557 Edinborough Drive |
| Washington DC 20001 | Cleveland, OH 44140 |
Lizzy – I am sorry for your loss. I think I only met your dad once – but he raised a great daughter.
Hope all is well and best wishes for you and your family.
Oh Lizzy I’m so sorry about your dad. I loved reading about his life, and his love for you shines through in the pictures.
Elizabeth and Janet,
Deepest condolences from all of the Yeager family. Both of you and Ron have been very dear friends of ours for the last 25 years. It’s hard to believe the time has passed so quickly. We will all miss Ron very much. He was a close friend of mine and I enjoyed our many lunch outings together, talking and laughing. I think we were good company for each other. He was taken from us far too soon.
Love and best wishes to you both from Arthur, Julie and Lydia.
I’m so sorry for John’s departure. I work with him in several projects while we worked at Blackwell Consulting back in Chicago. He was always smart and kind.
My condolences to Lizzy and Janet. May his memory always guide you and make you smile.
Apologies for the typo. I wrote John instead of Ron.
JJ & Lizzy, I am so sorry to hear of Ron’s passing. He was very kind to me when I worked for him at Continental Bank in Chicago. I am happy to see that he had a good life although he left too soon. My sincere condolences on your loss. I hope your many wonderful memories will comfort you. Love, Catherine
Janet, Lizzy and Andy,
Katie and I extend our deepest condolences. We will all miss Ron very much. He was a very close friend of mine and I enjoyed our many lunch outings together, talking and laughing. I will truly miss our many, many years of friendship.
Our love, thoughts and prayers to you all.
Dearest JJ and Lizzie,
My heart goes out to you as you push through these moments without Ron. So many good memories to keep you going forward. I can’t help but think with fondness of Ron’s quiet quips, subtle smiles, and don’t forget his oven-roasted potatoes! I still have his recipe from all those years ago at the beach.
He’ll be missed and sweetly remembered by so many of us.
With heart-felt sympathy and love, Terri
Dear JJ, I’m so sorry to hear of Ron’s passing. I have such great memories of Ron at Pawley’s. He was such a good guy!
I loved reading about his life and seeing all those great photos.
My heartfelt sympathy, Moira
Dear JJ and Lizzie. I am so sorry to hear of Ron’s passing. I will remember sharing delicious meals with him and JJ in New Orleans. Lizzie, you are so blessed to have had such a proud papa. Happy Travels, Ron!
JJ and Lizzy,
We are still shocked with Ron’s sudden passing but know he is in a much better place now. Many memories over the years from visits to you in Chicago and then Florida, and vacations to SC and NOLA.
We have you all in our thoughts and prayers.
Fred & Sandi
Lizzy you are so lucky and blessed to have a dad the loved you, loves you, so much….unconditional!! You are his proudest moment and I have to believe that all who knew your pop all these years always heard of you and your exploits. Ron is a good man! You have remarkable shoulders to stand on Lizzy.
Dear Lizzy & JJ,
I’m So Very sorry for your loss! Ron was an amazing man. May memories comfort you all, he will always be with you.
With much sympathy, Kathy Fisher (Monahan)
Dear Lizzy, Our deepest sympathy to you and your family on the passing of your dad; we’ve heard much about how special he was. You are in our thoughts. Love, Lizzy J’s Aunt Ellen and Uncle Paul
Dear Lizzy and Janet, I am so very sorry for your loss. I met Ron when the two Lizzys were moving into their first apartment in D.C. I will always remember his kindness and also the strong and loving bond between him and Lizzy. You are both in my thoughts. Sincerely, Patti Jenkins