"My days at The UT Club were certainly made brighter by Ron. Every event we hosted he was there in his signature Hawaiian shirt & Crocs. And playing elf to his Santa was always a treat. He will be missed by everyone. RIP Sir."
In loving memory of
Ronald Thurston DeFord
July 15, 1947 - July 10, 2020
Ronald Thurston DeFord left his much loved ball parks and tailgates for a better field on Friday July 10 just 5 days short of his 73rd birthday. He was always known as to be "larger than life". Perhaps you have seen this classic Santa character in his Hawaiian shirts and Crocs with his beloved Dachsunds. His appetite for life was insatiable.
Ron was born in Big Spring Texas, grew up in Abilene, met his wife Sandra in Memphis and finally got to Austin in 1970 for many of his very best years!
He was preceded in death by his parents John Hill DeFord and Jean McLaughlin DeFord Kahle, his daughter Katherine Mary DeFord, brothers Jeffrey Alan DeFord and Jon McLaughlin (Mac) DeFord.
He's survived by his daughter Christina DeFord Settles of Memphis and her children Madison Taylor Settles and Logan Ray Settles, sister Deborah DeFord Dunkum of Houston, stepson Dr. John St. Lawrence of Austin and Joan Pohly , his much loved friend of more than 20 years, numerous nieces and nephews and many cousins on the McLaughlin side, all of whom he considered friends.
Ron attended public schools in Abilene and St. Stephens's Episcopal School in Austin for high school in the 1960's, was always proud to be a Marine and a member of the National Guard. He worked at Veterans Affairs in computer technology until his retirement.
Adopting his love of UT from his grandfather, Dr. Ronald K. DeFord, he was well known for his devotion to all things UT. He had season tickets to football, baseball, basketball and softball. Well known as Santa to multiple groups in Austin and the Salvation Army in Houston, Ron loved a grand road trip, Ben Hogan and golf, developed an appreciation for good cold beer ("no frozen mug") and savored a great whiskey with friends. He loved the "irreverent and fun loving Wild Bunch".
He was a long time enthusiastic supporter of classical music in Texas. He subscribed to the Fort Worth Symphony, Dallas Symphony, Mimir Chamber Music, Spectrum Chamber Music Society and The Austin Symphony. He spent many joyous days at the Van Cliburn International Music Competition and series.
At an appropriate time there will be an opportunity to tell tales and celebrate this great guy.
Please, send flowers to a loved one in his memory and honor, to St, Jude's Children's Research Hospital in Memphis (Stjude.org), Ft. Worth Symphony (fwsymphony.org), The Van Cliburn (cliburn.org), or the philanthropy of your choice. ALOHA!
Condolences may be sent to: www.harrellfuneralhomes.com.
Tributes
"My heartfelt, deepest sympathy to Joan and Ron\'s family. After reading these wonderful tributes, may I join the rest of Ron\'s rich world of friends in saying it hurts to imagine life going \"back to normal\" without him. I met Ron only a couple of short years ago through a mutual friend at D-FW classical music events. He and his colorful shirts and friend Jerry were a familiar front-row presence at every concert I attended, including the Van Cliburn recitals, and his generous spirit prevailed there as on the ballfield. More than once he offered unused tickets or seating to my companion and myself, and he was always there in the lobby with a warm greeting and a hug. Larger-than-life truly describes him; seems he was everywhere for everyone! I don\'t know how he found the time, but we are all the richer that he packed so much into the time he had. I will truly miss this dear fellow. "
"We always searched for Ron at home and away games and it felt wonderful to see his smile and get a big hug from him! He will be greatly missed and I can\'t wait to talk UT sports with him and Hal when we meet again in heaven. Till then, Hook \'Em Horns"
"Out of all the UT Club Members, it would be hard to find another who had as much as an impact as Ron. A staunch supporter of the club who came to just about every social event we hosted, he will be missed. For 10 years my kids referred to him as the \"real Santa\". RIP my friend. "
"From all of the staff here at The University of Texas Club, our hearts go out to Christina, Joan, and all of Ron\'s loved ones. \"Santa Ron\" brought joy to hundreds of Little Longhorns at our annual Santa Brunch for the past 20+ years. We will forever cherish the memories we were lucky to make with him at the Club over the years. Cheers to you, Ron!"
"Ron was a good and kind man. Please accept my condolences. "
"Rest In Peace Ron. I will never forget your enthusiasm during our home games in your spot behind the left field wall. I also enjoyed spending time with you behind the wall during my 5th year cheering on the team. Your will be missed!"
"Ron was and will always be the embodiment of the UT culture in my mind, what a tremendous legacy! Not a season of the 4 we spent at McCombs softball stadium was ever played without Santa in his Hawaiian shirt and croc?s. After the game, in most cases (unless he had to get over to baseball or football ) we?d all get together in the parking lot for a tailgate and he was always so generous. His suburban or van always had a cooler of the most unique craft beers and he could tell you everything you?d ever want to know about them. I had the privilege of going to the F/W Symphony and Cliburn Competitions with he and Joan or sometimes just him on many occasions and was always in awe of his knowledge and the people he rubbed elbows with. He will live on in the many memories my family has of time spent with this ?Giant of a man?. Ron...it is an honor to have known you as a true friend, you will be missed. As I write this I feel your presence and smile because somehow I know you?ll be at the next game. Rest In Peace my friend until we?re all together for that next great tailgate."
"A true fan of life and a true fan of Texas Softball! There are very few memories I have of playing at McCombs field that don?t include Ron and his amazing Hawaiian shirts sitting in the front row stands just beyond the first base dugout. You always knew when he was there because he was the loudest in the crowd! We will miss you Ron but know that you are hosting some pretty amazing tailgates up there in Heaven. - #6 and the Hoagland family "
"Ron, oh Ron you will be missed.... I remember you welcoming this youngster into a baseball inner circle those many decades ago, and I remember how you wrote my name in your hat to make sure you had it handy to remember.... Thanks for helping out with my wedding to Michele those 16 years ago.... Thanks for so many memories at Softball and Baseball over the years.... I will always have a spicy roasted peanut ready to toss your way... Tell Hal \'hello\' for us, and we will see you both down the road. Hook \'Em!"
"RIP Ron...what an amazing supporter of Longhorn Softball & Baseball. The memory of you sitting in your favorite seat at McCombs stadium is forever entrenched in my mind. Those umpires may not hear that voice anymore, but no doubt you will be there in spirit. Rest easy ?Santa?"
"I have known the entire Deford family my entire life. I am saddened to learn of Ron?s death. He was quite a character! I was a close friend of his brother, Jeff. Please ask Deborah to contact me. Susan Coleman Buzbee queenb1@swbell.net"
"I remember Jim talking about Ron. so sorry for your loss"
"I don?t remember where or how I met Ron. It just seems that he was always in my life, from the nearly 20 years of creating the Santa images at The University of Texas Club to the corners of several beer breweries in Austin. It is his Santa that everyone loved. Forever the teacher and imparting wisdom without the usual Santa rhetoric, always assuring the children that he would talk to the parents about their Christmas wishes. The ?corner? meetings were always an educational experience with Ron. We differed in almost every area from politics, culinary delights, and taste in beer. Even with all that, I loved him and more. I respected him. I couldn?t ride with him nor he with me because he drove too fast and too close, and he hated how I was so slow even changing lanes without a signal, for which I got more than a few lectures. Always with an index finger pointed in the air in his ?Santa? style. One rarely meets another human being who became a ?Legend in his own time?, that was Ol? Ron Santa De Ford. "
"RIP Ron. Thank you for your friendship. The road trips,tailgates, laughs, your generosity and kindness is what i will never forget. Hook\'Em and Oorah, my friend. "
"Ron, we can\'t begin to express our shock and surprise at losing you. You have always been \'just around our corner\'. Coffee with the retired VA group the first Tuesday of every month; every performance where the Austin Symphony orchestra played; every UT event.... how strange it will be when you are not with us. We will miss you so much. You truly are forever BIGGER THAN LIFE!! Thank you for sharing that life with us. Jeani & John"
"We always loved seeing Ron at baseball. Libby always knew him as Santa and told her classmates that Santa goes to Longhorn baseball games when it?s not Christmas time. They didn?t believe her but it did not shake her belief in Santa. He kept the dream alive for Libby and many other kids. Ron also took the Santa role at Breakfast with Santa at Libby?s old preschool. He will be missed by many. "
"I \"picked Ron up\" in the parking lot of Hancock\'s fabric store when it was still on S. Lamar. I was in line behind him to get fabric cut and overheard him asking about finding a seamstress to make shirts. As we each were headed to our vehicles, I asked what exactly he was looking for - well, there\'s where the friendship began!! I eventually learned to never be surprised at what he would bring me for a shirt. :-) Like many of you mentioned, he was never hard to find. I\'ll miss ya Ron. "
"Tailgates will never be the same without Ole Ron! He will be missed. His heart was genuine and you knew you could always rely on his word. Hook ?Em Santa!"
"Ron was a staple in the classical music scene in Fort Worth and Dallas. He was always a bright spot, literally, at Fort Worth Symphony Friday night concerts. I will miss his hugs before concerts and his joyful personality. Rest In Peace, Santa. There will never be another you. Dotty Hall"
"Ron has been my friend for over 5 years. He would come get a massage from me every week or so and even more often over the holidays because he was \"Santa\". He always wore the coolest shirts, variety of colorful crocs, and suspenders (keeping Austin weird is what he used to say). He taught me about whiskey, Texas classical music, and one of his favorite snacks: grilled cheese with spicy jelly sandwich. I saw him last week and he was scheduled to come in yesterday. I will miss you Ron, more than you know. "
"Ron was a very fine friend and a great Longhorn fan. He was very helpful to me on many occasions over the last 40 years. I will dearly miss him!"
"He was a very nice man and an institution at UT baseball games. I loved his Hawaiian shirts. In the 80\'s we drank quite a bit of beer and he loved the venison sausage I would bring him to BBQ. "
"I met Ron in 1982 and we became friends immediately! He was a true friend and a true fan of the Texas Longhorns. I?ll muss his hugs! "
"Mary Ann Ray "
"His Hawaiian shirts always made it easy to find him in the crowd at the Cliburn Competitions. Many will be looking for him next year in Fort Worth. "
"So sad...I will always remember Ron in his Hawaiian shirts at all UT sports events (even in the freezing winter months at baseball games). A true Longhorn fan through and through...?til Gabriel blows his horn?. Hook ?em forever! Kimberly Attallah Halstead"