Ronald James Tomajko

Just short of his 75th birthday, Ronald James Tomajko passed away unexpectedly at Emory St. Joseph's Hospital with his wife of 53 years, Kathy, at his side. Ron was born on September 27, 1948, in Cleveland, Ohio, the son of Albert A. and Eva Jean Tomajko. His love of sports began at Eastlake North High School where he was an exceptional athlete playing both baseball and football. After his high school graduation in 1967, Ron attended Bowling Green State University in Ohio where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Education degree and met the love of his life, Kathy Gillespie, whom he married on December 13, 1969.

Ron's early career was in the auto industry, including a stint as founder and co-owner of an antique automobile dealership in Ohio. He later worked in the retail industry for Macy's and Brooks Brothers. However, after a move to Atlanta in 1978, Ron found the career that he most loved in the travel industry, working for two corporate travel firms. During his tenure at one of the travel firms, he was appointed vice-president and director of the Executive Travel Institute. Then he moved to WorldSpan, a subsidiary of Delta Airlines, as Strategic Account Manager. That position took him across the world to meet with clientele including Disney, Universal Studios, Perillo Tours, and many others. After an early retirement from the travel industry, Ron worked in the hospitality industry for Holiday Inn and Courtyard Marriott in Decatur where he continued to enjoy meeting people and making new friends from around the world.

Ron has been involved in a variety of civic and volunteer activities throughout his life, including 15 years of service on the Georgia Non-Public Postsecondary Education Commission (serving three Governors and including a stint as its Chair), service on the Georgia Private School Association Board (also serving as Chair) and various other organizations and boards.

Ron and Kathy's love of travel took them across the United States and around the world. A favorite destination nearby was the peace and beauty of Jekyll Island, Georgia. Their other loves include the arts, gardening, cooking/fine dining, libraries, and especially family. Sports have also been important, including over forty years following the Atlanta Braves as well as the Georgia Tech football and basketball teams. They were season ticket holders for each team for 25 years and also had memberships in the Atlanta Botanical Gardens, the High Museum of Art, the Carlos Museum, and the Georgia Aquarium. Ron and Kathy served on the Alliance Theatre Advisory Board and have had season tickets for over forty years. Both had a special love for everything Emory University (where Kathy went to graduate school and was an alumni leader) and were big supporters of the Emory Rose Library as well as the libraries at their undergraduate alma mater, Bowling Green State University. Their favorite spot was their home garden in Decatur into which they poured much hard work and love and where they enjoyed entertaining friends and family.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents and leaves behind to cherish his memory his wife Kathy, his sister Doris Weals (Bob), his brother Edward Tomajko (Terri), his sister-in-law Holly Holz (Ted), brother-in-law John Gillespie (Senora), sister-in-law Sally Sell (Mike), sister-in-law Mary Lou Thacker (Jeff), and brother-in-law Jamie Gillespie. He also leaves behind 44 nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews and many other loved ones. A nephew, Michael Sell, and niece, Joanna Gillespie preceded him in death.

Ron never met a stranger and had a full and wonderful life. A celebration of his life and luncheon will be held on Sunday, November 19 at 1:00 pm at the Courtyard Marriott in downtown Decatur, 130 Clairemont Ave.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alliance Theatre at https://alliancetheatre.org/annualfund (designate the Education Department); or to the Stuart A. Rose Manuscript Archives and Rare Books Library at Emory University http://together.emory.edu/give/checkout?appeal=W6LRL  ; or to the Bowling Green State University Libraries https://falconfunded.bgsu.edu/project/19586 (designate the Library Enrichment Fund).

Arrangements have been entrusted to the professional care of A. S. Turner & Sons Funeral Home, https://www.asturner.com