Three years and I can't believe he is gone.  He was someone that stood out with his heart and his genuine, sincere deeds.  He cared.  Just cared about others.

Ron left that kind of impression on people.  

Many years ago, Ron was a customer (and a friend) of our family restaurant business.  One day in conversation, I mentioned I was taking my wife and two young children on a three week camping trip, to learn about our country.  He asked me how I was traveling.  I told him we were driving the family car from site to site.  Ron imediately said NO!  That would not be a comfortable way to travel and camp with kids.  The next day he showed up at my house and presented me with a beautiful, custom, luxury van for us to use.  He said this is the way you are going to do your trip.  Even years later, I am still touched by such a generous, heartfelt gesture.  I have many more such stories of his generous heart, but you all probably have very similiar stories of your own.

I will always think of Ron with that great big smile and with gratitude of knowing him.

Larry Carilli

Nancy asked that I say a few words today.  I was also asked several years earlier by the man we are here to remember.  I think we were at lunch, or maybe a bar, when he said, “I want you to do my eulogy”.

I said, “WHAT?  WHEN?  WHY ME”?

He said, “You know me best and I’ve always liked the way you tell stories”.

Nancy has asked, as did my wife Judy, to “try to keep it light and humorous.”  Well, that is going to be tough to do, as every time I think about Ron I am saddened, and he’s all I’ve thought about for the last 10 days.  Please bear with me as I reflect and share some stories of our times together over the years.

I met Ron in Pomona, CA in 1976 at FMC Wayne Street Sweeper Company where I had just started as sales manager.  I was mostly impressed with his stature, his presence, and his wardrobe.  As I got to know and see more of Ron, I experienced the warmth, the character, the knowledge, and the casual but professional demeanor he was best know for.  Four years later he asked me to join him at Western Traction as Sales Manager.

What truly impressed me was his extensive knowledge of the history of road building, underground construction, structure, and foundation work in our market.  He knew ALL the principals and key employees of every firm he called on.  I was equally amazed that they all knew him.

For many years he did most of the selling himself.  Well, no wonder, nobody knew the products, their applications, and capabilities better than he.  He could masterfully operate everything he offered for sale.

In my first years with Western Traction I watched Ron negotiate with several equipment manufacturers that he represented.  These were the tough economic days of the early 80’s, with 21% interest, tight credit, and slow sales.  Most suppliers would have inventory (tractors, cranes, rollers) at their dealer locations and were charging interest until the items were sold.  The high interest costs were crippling many dealers and distributors, and in many cases putting them out of business.  I watched Ron take on these big giants one at a time, and at the day’s end he had negotiated positive and amicable terms with all.  On the plane home I asked him, “When did you know you had the horsepower to take on these chiefs of industry and MBA account types?”

He answered, “They put on their pants on one leg at a time just like you and I do.  I know my business and what it takes to sell and service their products, and in many cases better than they do”.  He continued, “My job in this situation was to convince them of my abilities and intention to ride this recession out and make them all more than they would by ‘pulling the plug’”.  It was oh so true.  It did all turn around and Western Traction grew like never before.

Ron valued honor and honesty above everything else.  Tell him the truth and he was in your court regardless of the circumstances.  He could almost always see the falsehoods and would steer away from people who would bend the truth.

Ron was my “go to guy” for advice, sports questions, construction queries, and almost every and all of life’s questions.  He was positive and assuring in his advice.  Probably my favorite of Ron’s qualities was his loyalty.  When you entered his inner circle you were there forever.

One day while working the Sacramento territory with Ray Irwin, one of the senior salesmen, Ray referred to Ron as “Captain”.  When I asked where the term came from he said, “I consider Ron to be the captain of the ship Western Traction”.  That night I shared the story with Judy and she has addressed Ron as “Captain” ever since.  When he would call on the phone, she’d say, ”Hello, Captain”, and with the first hug every Friday night at Salvatore’s…”Hi Captain”.  It was the only nickname I ever knew he had.

Early in the mid 80’s there was a thing called investment tax credit, which I think Ronald Reagan initiated to stimulate the recessive economy.  One day at lunch Ron said, “Why don’t we buy a limousine?”

“HUH?” I said.

“Yeah, we hire it out for local special occasions. Proms, Napa trips, city shows, dinners”.  George (not yet a son-in-law) and my sons, Steve and Berger could be the drivers.  “It will be cool” he said.  “We’ll get uniforms. Whaddya Think?”

Well he was the “Captain”.  I did the research and we booked one way tickets to L.A. where we selected our navy blue Lincoln stretch limo with all the “jazz”.  We didn’t get out of there until late afternoon, and spent the first 4 or 5 hours on I-5, sitting side by side in the front seat planning our new venture.  Along the way we made a pit stop for gas.  I went in the mini mart for sodas and snacks and when I returned to our new toy, I found Ron stretched out in the back seat watching M*A*S*H reruns on the TV.  He looked up and simply said, “Home, James.”

When I first met him he was strictly a Coca Cola guy, then all of a sudden it was 7UP, and then iced tea.  First VO & water, then Crown on the Rocks.  Lunch was almost always a club sandwich, and dinner out was usually Veal Marsala.  In Hawaii, it was Piña Coladas; in Australia, Jameson’s Irish whiskey (they don’t have Crown Royal).  Many of you, I’m sure, are aware of some of these and other creature of habit tendencies: the same restaurants, watching the same old movies over and over, clothes and jacket shopping, and despite Nancy’s begging him to stop – buying clothes and never wearing them.

For the last 12-15 years Ron would call to see if I could get away for lunch.  I always could.  He usually showed up at 11:30 and we usually went to 1 of 2 places: Emil Villas or the Claim Jumper.  He almost always ordered the same thing: a cup of vegetable soup and sliced beef with red sauce at Emil Villas, or Chinese Chicken Salad at Claim Jumper.

One day he showed up VERY early and said “Ready?”

I said, “Ron, it’s only 10:30.”

He looked at me with his usual grin and said, “Well, we could go get a hot dog first.”

Ron once asked if I would drive him to Tahoe so he could pick up his truck and drive it back to Danville.  I said there’s got to be a better way than to drive up in one vehicle and back in two.  He thought about it for a while and suggested catching the train in Martinez and taking it to Truckee.

“Sounds good,” I said.

So Nancy checked the schedule, Ron got the tickets, and Judy dropped us off at the station.  For the 5 ½ hour ride thru the valleys and mountains we dined on hot dogs, drank Pepsi, and had a great time.  What we didn’t know was that a docent from the train museum would get on in Sacramento to narrate the trip.  His anecdotes and tales included the history of building the railroad, tales of the Big 4, and all the trials of laying the track and engineering the grades.  Ron was amazed with the guy’s stories.  When we got to Truckee he said “I have to take the grandkids on this ride”.  He did just that a few months later.

Jeanne once told me Ron had almost 100 jackets.  I think the only thing Ron has had more of than new jackets are new cars and trucks.  Speaking of new cars and trucks, I don’t think I have ever met anyone who even matches Ron’s love for new vehicles.  Even his Western Traction vehicles were top of the line.  His service trucks always sported custom paint job and graphics.  They were better looking than any on the road.

I will miss him forever.  He was truly my hero.

Our cousin Ron: l am honored to speak for the Carlston family. There are twelve cousins. Those of us born in the thirties and forties were bonded together. Money was tight but we had fun. We climbed the hills, we had picnics in Tilden Park, we went to Playland at the Beach, we went to the San Francisco Zoo and had an unforgettable camping trip to Yosemite. We also worked together. Weekends were spent helping our grandparents, helping our Dads with the endless concrete projects and in the summer picking fruit in Brentwood and Fairfield. ln the fall it was walnut season. We went to the Knox Ranch in Danville and worked in the walnut orchards. Ron, being the oldest grandchild, worked the hardest. Even as a young boy, he worked hard building chicken coops and dealing with all things chicken. During Ron's teenage years he worked at service stations, and also made brushes for the Wayne Sweepers with his Dad. He even welded together a machine to help cut the fibers for making the brushes more quickly. I don't know of a time Ron didn't work hard.

Ron had the opportunity to know our Grandfather best. Just recently Ron shared some of the times he spent with Grandpa and I believe those times were instrumental in shaping Ron's values as to the importance of family. Later as we grew up and had our busy careers we still had family dinners and ski trips to Utah staying with Uncle Pete and Aunt Eleanor. Over the years, Ron has been a pillar supporting the family. He always made time to visit his Aunts and extended family. He and Nancy organized incredible family trips for their children and grandchildren. They provided lovely retreat homes in Scottsdale and Tahoe-Northstar. Ron kept alive his love of baseball, drums, all things mechanical and, of course, fast and beautiful cars.

Ron often mentioned how our fathers had married strong, bright and beautiful women. He followed that example when he married Nancy. They complimented each other in every way. Nancy told the story of the time they were dating and she mentioned that her backyard was a mess of weeds. Ron told her he would rototill her yard for her. Rototilling and doing yard work was something Ron had been doing for years. He showed up and in one day rototilled and planted a vegetable garden. Nancy said to herself " He's the man for me! "And he was. They built a wonderful life together with family being number one.

Ron was a leader with his family, with his extended family and with his successful career. He had strong values and principals combined with a work ethic that was unsurpassed. He will always be remembered as the real deal. With utmost love and respect, Edith 

Papa was the only name I ever used for Ron Carlston. It wasn’t just a synonym for Grandpa that I could use to not confuse my two grandfathers, but it was symbolic to me. It meant someone who at any time would take part of his day to help me do something I wanted to do or learn something I wanted to learn. It was almost a nostalgic translation of grandpa, that could be applied to everything about him: his personality, the way he talked, the way he treated people and the way he judged people. You could always count on him to tell some story from when he worked on the farm or when he was a car repairman. I called him that, as I was, and always will be, in total awe of how someone can have nothing but interest in the happiness of the people he loved, and such enjoyment in the things he loved to do. That was my Papa. Nothing more, and most certainly nothing less.

   “Keep your face always toward the sunshine - and shadows will fall behind you.” These are words of the American poet Walt Whitman, and a logical place for me to begin to speak about our dad. As I stand here this afternoon, just a few days since my world turned upside down, I face the light, alone. I am here today to share with you the most enormous loss of my life, the one I feared and dreaded most of my days, and this end point about which my father and I spoke so often in recent years.

   In August of 1971, my father lost his dad to a massive heart attack. My dad was 37 years old. When I stand here and marvel at the things that my father accomplished after that pivotal moment in his life, I am full of hope. We have an example in him. Marrying my mother was a rebirth into family life, which supported him while he went on to build upon his work-centered foundation and become an icon in the Heavy Construction Equipment industry.

   My father was born with enormous potential in many fields, and of it, he wasted none. With everything he gained, he shared his knowledge and his means; In addition to being a dutiful son, loving brother, faithful husband, and admired cousin, he was called leader, confidant, boss, coach, mentor, hero, legend, protector, entrepreneur, patriot, benefactor, and perhaps most important to him Papa.

   As a small child I would sit next to his chair, waiting impatiently for him to hand me a yellow tablet filled with mathematical equations that grew in complexity over time.  He prepared each of us the best he knew how for the vicissitudes of life, by sharing his thoughts and setting an example. Until last Friday, we’ve all walked in his shadow, and now we must walk in the light on our own. In the spiritual context, light has many meanings—synonymous with Truth, Pureness of Heart, and the Eternal. My father always kept his face toward the light, absorbing it, becoming a beacon for all with whom he had contact. His defining characteristic was honesty, and his vehicle was love.

   My dear friend Anna Mollerup of Copenhagen wrote to me this advice that I share with you: “ Don't live in his shadow now but carry him in your heart and live the rest of your life as a tribute to him, but live it YOUR way. That is the way he would have wanted you to live.”

   He believed in second chances—both taking them and giving them. He proved that experience was the best teacher. He admired beauty and precision. He knew there was only one first impression. He did not dwell in the past. He encouraged us to work with the willing. He knew his odds and gambled accordingly. He faced adversity without so much as a flinch. Dad was born a diamond in the rough and the hard work and hard knocks that shaped his life revealed to us this precious jewel in which the wisdom reflected is ours for the sharing.

   In the words of Plato: "A hero is born among a hundred, a wise man is found among a thousand, but an accomplished one might not be found even among a hundred thousand men."

Ron Carlston was one in a million.

Ron liked to tell people that we met at the John Wayne Tennis Club when I was 21. It was my first bartending job. Ron and Nancy would visit their close friend, Ken Willig, at the club whenever they were in Newport Beach. It was not unusual that Ron and Nancy brought Ken to their favorite Walnut Creek restaurant, Salvatore Ristorante. This was many years after Ken had sold the club. I recognized Ken before Ron had even introduced us. I said"You are Mr. Willig!" I think Ron's jaw dropped before he broke into that wide smile that could fill the room! Ken knew me immediately which earned my renewed respect. That was an interesting evening when the stories of John Wayne and all the characters of the JWTC came together for us. I don't really remember serving a drink to Ron when I was 21 but I am sure that I did. I had the honor of serving him many times over the last 14 years that he has been coming to Salvatore's. He loved to drink a Crown on the rocks in a bucket at the bar with his wonderful wife and soulmate , Nancy. His best times were with his close friends, Geoff and Judy Dettlinger. He always shared a kind word, a smile and a hug with all of us that work at Salvatores. He loved to hear a good joke and to eat Rum Raisin gelato. Ron was a charming and generous man. I miss him.

As a good friend of my family, Ron, was a strong presence who continually offered help or support.  He readily gave his card to me with his contact info saying "if there is anything you need."  Many years ago, just after I got married, Ron advised us to try to a specific restaurant that he recommended on our honeymoon.  He said, he'd like to treat us to a special dinner.  He called ahead and set it up and we enjoyed a memorable time, amazed at the thoughtfulness and generousity of our friend, Ron Carlston. 

Recently, my own father passed away and he (and Nancy) was a constant supporting presence for us.