Ronald Gary Klayman

Ronald Gary Klayman is off on another adventure. Ron departed on this journey on November 30, 2024. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, December 17, 1939 Ron had always enjoyed family. From visiting with aunts, uncles, cousins as a child and teen these times had great meaning. Raising his own family was always the top priority. Ron sold shoes in a downtown Dayton, Ohio department store through high school and college. His desire to work in advertising and marketing dates back to his earliest dreams. At The Ohio State University Ron moved from business studies to broadcasting, getting his first low-level job at a Columbus television station. It was at OSU that Ron met and later married the most perfect of women. Barbara Fogel was smart, and more supportive of Ron's dreams than he could ever have expected. "Whither thou goest", she would say. Together they raised three incredible children who have now also raised incredible children. And, "goest" they did on the career path; From Ohio to Illinois to Michigan to Iowa to Tennessee and to Texas. It was upward mobility at its finest. Ron spent three decades working inside, and finally managing local television stations in Memphis and Austin. He believed you have to lead to succeed. He was highly revered by his employees who regarded him as a mentor, leader, devoted friend. Ron loved going back to Memphis for station reunions as recently as earlier this year where his employees continued to tell him how much he meant to them. Ron's stations were market boomers & devoted to community service. Ron was instrumental in creating the first-ever 4th of July free fireworks show and music concert on the Memphis Mississippi River. He then originated Memphis' New Year's Eve music event on Beale Street, a Labor Day symphony concert in a local park and special coverage of Martin Luther King memorial programming. Ron also wrote and produced documentaries on Catherine The Great and Napoleon. In Austin, Ron saw an opportunity to produce a documentary on the restoration of the Texas State Capitol building and a live inaugural on the re-opening after completion. The travel bug was never far under the surface for Ron & Barbara. Together they made work-related trips to the 1976 Innsbruck Winter Olympics, Leningrad and Paris. With the children they visited Israel, Greece, Denmark, New York & LA. Leaving the day-to-day TV station operations business Ron signed on to an 11 year consulting and training project with the U.S. Department of State and various non-governmental agencies building the management, news, programming, sales structures of new, privately-owned television stations in the former-Soviet Union. He worked in twelves countries, covering more than 40 towns & cities in eastern-Europe & central-Asia, from Azerbaijan & Albania to Kazakhstan & Uzbekistan, creating independent news operations and bringing viewers information not provided by State governments. Ron said, "working with this newly freed peoples in infant democracies was the most career-rewarding experience ever." But, it was always family that came first. From attending three generations of family events, sporting events, graduations, week-long summer vacation Kamp Klaymans. And, together Ron & Barbara were one of six families founding Temple Beth Shalom, an Austin Reform Jewish Congregation. Ron often said, "I've had a life beyond my wildest imagination." Ron leaves behind his wife Barbara, children Jeff Klayman, Julie Pearlman, Marcy Blen (Michael), grandchildren Erin Mizrachi (Josh), Adam Pearlman (Austin), Max Blen, Sydney-Ellen Blen, Drew Klayman, and great grandchildren Jacob Mizrachi and Brooke Mizrachi. Now, Ron will continue his adventure into the unknown. Memorial service will be held 11am December 3rd at Temple Beth Shalom. To stream the service, please go to the Austin Natural Funerals Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/AustinNaturalFunerals. A Facebook account is not required in order to view. If a pop-up window appears asking you to log in, click "not now" and the live stream will be available for you to view. If the "not now" button does not appear, scroll down on the page and it will come up for you to select. Donations may be made in Ron's memory to Temple Beth Shalom: https://www.bethshalomaustin.org/give

Ronald Gary Klayman

December 17, 1939 - November 30, 2024