Tribute to “Ronin”, US Navy Veteran and Freeper

Ronin's Profile Page ^ | 7-30-26

[silent_jonny]

Ronin was a dedicated contributor to FR for over 25 years (class of 1998) until ALS robbed him of the ability to continue posting.

“I was diagnosed with ALS in February and have been taking acupuncture treatments for it. Last month I tried Radicava for a couple of days, but it worsened my symptoms and caused me to lose my balance, resulting in a very nasty fall.

Relyvrio is not available in Japan yet, but I’m hoping to get it through the VA once I get access to the hospital at Yokota Air Base.”

~ Ronin 6-6-2023

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“Ronin passed away on January 11th due to ALS.”

~ lefty-lie-spy 6-28-2026

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From Ronin’s homepage:

I am one of Japan’s original FReepers. In fact, if there are any others in Japan currently, I don’t know about them. Something to check into. I am happily married, have been for the last 20 years ... A grandfather four times over, and a proud member of VFW Post 1054 (Yokosuka).

After serving in the US Navy, Ronin chose to stay in Japan, where he met his wife and raised a family. He made Tokyo his "adopted hometown", of which, he wrote:

"I’ve lived in Tokyo for the last 34 years, and from my point of view, everything you wrote there is either wrong or misleading.

Tokyo, to me, is the greatest city on earth. Clean, modern, safe, and very friendly. Oh, there are some places in this huge city that would match what you wrote, but by no means all, and where I live in the west part of the city outside the central loop, it’s amazingly quiet.

I can leave my bicycle and door unlocked, kids can take the trains to school unaccompanied and unafraid, from where I am sitting right now, there are five convenience stores, three supermarkets, two hospitals, two train stations, three churches, three health clubs, and a nice variety of restaurants — all within a 15 minute walk.

Historical stuff? You mean like the Imperial Palace, the Budokan, Yasukuni Shrine, more temples than I can name, Tokyo Tower, Tokyo Sky Tree, etc., etc., etc.

To each his own. This is my adopted hometown. I don’t think I’ll ever leave.

Kyodo is boooooring!!! Give me the Big Mikan any day!

11-12-2021

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TOPICS: Announcements
KEYWORDS: japan; memorial; ronin; usnavy

[silent_jonny]

Note: I didn't know Ronin, and I hesitated to post this thread in the hopes that someone who did know him would add more information for a tribute. He had an interesting life, and I'm sure others would've liked to know more about him, but none has been forthcoming. His comments are certainly entertaining and can serve as a tribute to the kind of person he was.

Rest Easy, Sailor.

[silent_jonny]

Ping!

[logi_cal869]

RIP Sailor.

[grcuster]

Fair winds and following seas sailor.

[KC Burke]

Thanks for the remembrance. Great contributor. He could always give us great perspective from his vantage point

[combat_boots]

RIP

[ConservativeMind]

He sounds like he was a truly nice guy to know.

RIP

[AppyPappy]

I had a lot of interaction with him early (1998-2001) until I became too old to remember user names. There was a different Ronin that lived in the same town with me (Blacksburg Va) and we had lunch one day.

[Auntie Mame]

In case anyone is wondering, in one of his posts he said, “I was initially going to get the vax, but both my wife and daughter put their dainty feet down and told me NO.”

I remember seeing his name all the time in the distant past, and tho I had no interactions with him that I remember, by his posts it’s obvious he was a lovely person.

God speed, Ronin. You were loved, you are missed, you will not be forgotten.

[MrBambaLaMamba]

RIP

[sushiman]

Sorry to hear about Ronin . I’m a Freeper in Japan and have been one almost as long as he was , joining in 2000 . If I still lived in Tokyo ( now in earthquake ravaged Kumamoto ) I’m sure we would have gotten together for a few beers . Rest in peace ...

[Keyhopper]

I would be nice to see a photograph of our member that have passed.

[captmar-vell]

Rest in peace.

[rlmorel]

Many thanks for posting this, FRiend. I had not crossed paths with Ronin much, but I often had discourse with him IIRC back between 2000 and 2010.

I was simpatico with him on many things, not surprising as he was a Navy guy.

Fair Winds and Following Seas, brother.

[grunt03]

Fair winds Brother. Life is too short.

Semper Fi!

[eldoradude]

RIP

[MomwithHope]

RIP and thanks for posting. Even is we didn’t know him he was part of our community.

[Albion Wilde]

Ping!

RIP, Ronin, and condolences to your family.

[xp38]

Dittos

[Billthedrill]

“Eternal Father, strong to save...”