Ronald John Coyne

If you knew Ron, chances are you heard one of his corny jokes, benefited from his willingness to help, or watched him quietly make the world a little better than he found it. Whether through his family, his career, his volunteer service, or his friendships, Ron lived a life defined not by recognition, but by kindness, humility, and generosity. Ronald "Ron" Coyne, beloved husband, father, grandfather, engineer, volunteer, coach, and friend, passed away peacefully on July 8th surrounded by the love of his family.

 

Born in 1946 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Ron was the son of John and Ruth (Heimerl) Coyne. He grew up surrounded by a close-knit family, including his beloved grandparents, Josephine and Aloicious, whose love and guidance helped shape the man he would become. 

 

Ron attended St. Canice High School before earning a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh. It was during his college years that he met the love of his life, Jill Gayok, who attended rival Penn State University. What began as a college romance grew into a lifelong partnership spanning more than five decades, built on love, friendship, and family. 

 

Ron’s engineering career took his young family through the Northeast. In the early 1970s, they settled briefly in Schenectady, New York, where their first son, Brian, was born. They later moved to New Hampshire, where their second son, Eric, was born in Lowell, Massachusetts, and later, their daughter, Shauna, was born in Nashua, New Hampshire. 

 

In 1978, Ron and Jill planted roots in Merrimack, New Hampshire, where they raised their family and built lifelong friendships with neighbors who became family. Ron loved being a dad. He spent countless hours coaching his children's sports teams, tossing baseballs with his boys, shooting baskets with the kids, helping with school science projects, and turning the family home into a holiday spectacle every season. His children knew they could always count on Dad to be present, encouraging, and ready for whatever adventure came next. 

 

Earlier in life, Ron enjoyed being an avid ham radio operator, fascinated by the ability to connect with people around the world through technology long before the internet existed. He also loved spending time on a golf course with friends—even if, as he was always quick to admit, his golf game was more about the camaraderie than the score. Ron had an unmistakable sense of humor. Family gatherings were often punctuated by one of his signature "Ron-isms," delivered with perfect timing and a grin that made everyone laugh—or groan: "Roses are red, violets are blue, I like peanut butter... can you swim?"  or his favorite engineer's joke: "Pi are round. Cornbread R2."  Those wonderfully corny jokes became part of the fabric of family life and remain treasured memories for everyone fortunate enough to know him. 

 

In 2014, Ron and Jill retired to Gulfport, Florida, where they embraced a new chapter centered on serving others. Through the Gulfport Lions Club and Southeastern Guide Dogs, they found another extended family while giving back to their community. Ron believed in leaving every place a little better than he found it, and his legacy remains visible throughout Gulfport. Several community benches, crafted from recycled plastic shopping bags that Ron personally collected, continue to serve as lasting reminders of his generosity and commitment to making a difference. 

 

Ron will be remembered for his quiet kindness, humble spirit, generous heart, quick wit, and willingness to help anyone in need. He had an engineer's mind, a volunteer's heart, and an unwavering devotion to his family. He never sought the spotlight, yet he left an immeasurable mark on everyone fortunate enough to know him. 

 

Ron is lovingly survived by his devoted wife, Jill Coyne; his children, Brian (Jaime) Coyne, Eric (Alaina) Coyne, and Shauna (Nick); his cherished grandchildren, Rhianna (Jake), Vanessa, Samantha (Kaden), Victoria, Ava, Ben, and Olivia; and by the countless friends who became family throughout every chapter of his life. 

 

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that memorial donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association in Ron's memory (CLICK here to donate), supporting families affected by Alzheimer's disease and helping advance the search for a cure.