Ronnaldo Caldwell Sr.

Ronnaldo Sundee Caldwell Sr. ~ Shuny ~ Ron ~ Pops ~ 'Lucan'

Ronnaldo Caldwell passed away Saturday, November 12, 2011 from cancer at Agrace HospiceCare.

Ronnaldo was the only son born to Robert & Lerial Caldwell on June 1,1953 in Washington, D.C. Ron moved to Madison Wisconsin in September 1968 with his mother and sisters. Ron attended and graduated from Madison Memorial High School in 1971. Ron's first job was at Arby's on South Park Street when it first opened. Ron also worked for Bob Fox & Sons, VA Hospital, The Edgewater Hotel and most recently for Dane County ~ which started with the City-County Building, then the Courthouse and ending with the Job Service.

Ronnaldo was drafted into the U.S. Navy and served 2 tours during the Vietnam War from November 1972 until October 1975, as a E3/Electrical & Mechanical Engineer aboard the USS Enterprise. Ron also served in the Navy Reserve from 1976-1978. Ron and his son Ronnaldo enjoyed sitting by Dane County Airport talking about and watching the F-16's taking off and landing.

Ron was a avid sports fan, starting with his love for the Washington Redskins. After moving to Madison Ron's love for the Redskins slowly faded as he became a huge fan of the Badgers and the Packers. Watching many of their games over the years and even seeing a few games live. He also enjoyed watching his son Steven play football for the South Side Raiders and for Madison West High School. Ron also enjoyed watching his sons Ronnaldo & Brandon play football in High School.

Ron became a father for the first time when Luann Hanrahan gave birth to their son Steven Phillip on June 28, 1984. Ron later married Nancy Carlstrom and they had two sons ~ Ronnaldo Sundee II born July 12, 1988 and Brandon Michael born June 25, 1989. Ron was overjoyed at the birth of his grandson Paxton (5 years old) to his son Brandon and Ron was cheesing right up to his death from the love he had for his granddaughter Izabella (2 years old) to his son Ronnaldo. Ronnaldo & Brandon have fond memories of going to Tenney Park as a family to feed the ducks.

Ronnaldo is survived by three sons ~ Steven Caldwell, Ronnaldo Caldwell II (Amber Scudera), Brandon Caldwell; grandson Paxton Denning-Caldwell & granddaughter Izabella Caldwell. Ron's soul mate Dawne Bailey (Shelley) . Five sisters ~ Drusilla Caldwell, Celestine Winters, Renee Reneau, Marsha Hawkes, & Tonya Bullock, one uncle Marvin Vincent & three aunts ~ Estelle Atkins, Priscilla Johnson & Alnice Vincent and a host of nieces, nephews & cousins.

Ronnaldo was predeceased by his father Robert DeLeon Caldwell (1977), his mother Lerial Goldie Caldwell (1995), his maternal grandfather Simon W. Vincent (1970), his paternal grandmother Annie Caldwell (1976), his maternal grandmother Goldie J. Vincent (2002) and a host of aunts, uncles and cousins. And a very close friend Mike Davis from Arizona who recently passed away in August 2011.

A BIG Loving Ron Hug goes out to Mr. Clyde & Mrs. Luvenia White & their sons (Clyde, Donald, Steve, Darryl & Michael) and Carolyn Warren family friends of Washington D.C. and the close friends Ron had made in Madison WI ~ Tommy Moncreif, Terry Fox, Al Caldwell, Larry Horton, Glendale Braud, Freddie Hargons, Chris Hawkes, Sarah O'Brien, Marie Davis and Lori Sorensen & her sister Julie.

The Dash
~ Linda Ellis ~

I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
From the beginning to the end.

He noted that first came the date of her birth
And spoke of the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years.

For the dash represents all the time
That she spent alive on earth
And now only those who loved her
Know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own,
The cars, the house, the cash,
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard;
Are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
That can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough
To consider what's true and real
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we've never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect
And more often wear a smile
Remembering that this special dash
Might only last a little while.

So when your eulogy is being read
With your life's action to rehash
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent your dash?

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Henry Vilas Zoo on behalf of Ronnaldo Caldwell.
Thanks to all family, friends, UW Medical Staff and Agrace HospiceCare for all their Loving help with Ronnaldo's care these past 7 months. Thanks also to Andrew & staff at Cress Funeral & Cremation Service. And special thanks to the other two members of our Three Musketeers ~ Steven Caldwell & Dawne Bailey ~ Your Loving Big Sister Celestine.