Ronald Edward Letzelter, 88, from East Greenbush, NY, passed away on 1/16/2026.  Larger than life doesn't begin to describe Ron.  His personality, his stature, his presence – you would never miss him in a crowd of people.  Mainly because he was usually the one telling the story.
Together with his first wife, Helena, Ron was a proud father of seven, grandfather to nine, great-grandfather to twelve, and great-great-grandfather to two – with another on the way.  After Helena's passing (9/15/2003), Ron was fortunate to find a second love, Judy, whom he cherished. He got to grow his family even more with love of three bonus daughters.   Family wasn't just important to Ron; it was his greatest legacy, and one he carried with pride, humor, and an endless supply of stories. Ron had a long career, starting with serving his country for 20 years in the United States Air Force and retiring as a Senior Master Sergeant. Ron had a varied history of jobs including a short stint as a mail carrier, owning the Tomahawk Inn, becoming a real estate agent, running the audio visual center at Hampton University and ending his career in civil service at  Langley AFB running the F-15 Flight Simulator. He had passions, and he enjoyed them wholeheartedly. NASCAR Sundays were sacred, especially when the #3 car was on the track. Dale Earnhardt was his driver, no debate allowed. And when it came to football, he was a die-hard Dallas Cowboys fan. Love them or hate them, he loved them—and was always happy to discuss it at length. Pop was also a legendary flirt ("you wanna go steady or are you spoken for?") and an eternal host. He loved people, loved conversation, and loved making others feel welcome. If you were in his home, you were family—or at the very least, well-served, well-entertained, and probably smiling. He had a way of making everyone feel seen, appreciated, and just a little charmed. He will be remembered for his presence—his opinions, his laughter, his warmth, and the unmistakable way he filled a room. He leaves behind generations shaped by his love, his humor, and his example, and a family who will forever feel his influence in the stories they tell and the memories they cherish.

A funeral mass will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church on Wednesday January 28, 2026 at 11AM. Interment to follow. Afterward, family and friends are invited to gather at the family home—just the way he would have wanted.
Ron was truly one of a kind, and he will be deeply missed.