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Date Of Birth:18 Jul 1942
Date Deceased:4 Dec 2005
Age at Death: 63
Cause of Death: Unk
Classmate City: Owosso, Shiawassee County,
Classmate State: Michigan
Classmate Country: USA
Ronald B. Linnartz was born in Norwalk, Conn., on July 18, 1942 to Francis and Ruth Linnartz. He was raised from an early age in Miami, Fla. After graduating from Miami Senior High School, he played baseball for the New York Yankees farm system, followed by a career as a Miami K-9 police officer. Ron later moved to Michigan, where he worked at Buick and primarily in the trucking industry. Ron never met anyone he did not try to help in one manner or another. He loved life, he loved people. Ron also loved fishing, working in the yard, escorting oversized trucking loads, traveling, gambling, movies and especially his dog Bear - and assorted other pets. Ron, a resident of Owosso, Shiawassee County, Michigan, died on December 4, 2005.
Survived By: His best friend and significant other,Frances A. Gurden of Owosso; his sons, Robert E. (Donna) Linnartz of Durand, Scott Andrew Linnartz of Durand, Todd Michael Linnartz of Corunna and Dean Edward Linnartz of Ovid; and adopted daughter, Tayna Linnartz. He is also survived by: Nora Linnartz of Ovid, mother of his children; as well as his brother, Bruce Linnartz of Florida; and sister, Joyce (Dan) Beckman of Pompano, Fla.; grandchildren, Scott Linnartz II, Calib Downer, Donovan Linnartz, Claudia Linnartz, Dilan Linnartz and Andrew Linnartz; and several nieces and nephews. In addition, he is survived by good friends, Janel and Brenda Griffey of Waco, Texas, James Gouge of Owosso, Denny Pierce of Williamston, Randy Alexander of Perry, Bryan S. Gurden of Las Vegas, Terry J. Gurden of Mississippi, Christine Gurden of Owosso and Mary Hunt of Tubbs Lake, Mich.
Predeceased by his mother & father Francis and Ruth Linnartz; stepfather, Edward Czarneski; and former-in-laws, Claude and Edith Newport.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/27675116/ronald-b.-linnartz
REPORTED BY: Joe Bennett - MHS '61
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Earl David Sedlik
Ron was a baseball player.
Every weekend and nearly every day over the summer, his dad pitched him batting practice with a huge bucket of baseballs. at the Kinlock Playground at NW 4th Street and 43nd Avenue. In a day when we were delighted with rubberized or taped-over baseballs, and never had more than 2 baseballs in our possession, this was a monumental commitment to watch. His dad was sweating for hours as Ron blasted one pitch after another!
No one ever played baseball with Ron. We played pick-up ball in the street or in a yard... he was already a professional in Junior High! We never saw him at little league or in the Gables leagues. He played somewhere. today that would be the equivalent of being on a "select" team.
At Kinloch Junior High, I was with coach Franz when Ron walked up and explained that he cannot play softball. He was not talking about being excused from the school team. He would not play softball in the PE class - The coach had to find him something else to do during PE during the softball season. He was in 7th grade and explained to us that he is not allowed to swing at a softball pitch. It seems that the angle of an underhand pitch coming up at the batter was so different from a baseball pitch that he was not allowed to even see one softball pitch - period. It would ruin him and his career for life!
Ron was a baseball player.
At Miami High, he emerged as a first baseman and a power hitter on coach Davis's team. He was the quintessential left-hand fist baseman and power hitter. Ronnie had a car his senior year and was devoted to baseball... I never saw him in a classroom and rarely in the hallways.
Jim Emerson played second and graceful Carl Fanaro was our shortstop our senior year! Johnny Lopez, who was part of our Jewish boys' clubs at Flagler Granada (our wide receiver before we knew that word) emerged as our Stingaree centerfielder - without a doubt the best outfielder I ever saw.
BUT Ronnie Linnartz was in a separate zone. I'm recalling that he "went pro" as soon as the season was over and left school before our senior year.
Ronnie's claim to fame for all us pals was that his older sister was... a Playboy Playmate (actually in the magazine) and also as a Playboy Club Bunny. She became a Hollywood starlet at one point...
He signed with the Yankees and she was a Playmate - both were neighborhood celebrities!
Ron was a baseball player...
Serge A. Martinez
Ronnie was a Miami Boys Clubber who tolerated playing PONY League baseball there with us mere mortals. When sitting around, he talked about how to assess pitchers, even the caliber, or lack thereof, of pitchers we faced at that age. He knew what to expect from all of them, especially the good pitchers the City of Miami team always had. He was a kind and gentle person who never has a bad word for anyone. In 10th grade, I ate lunch with him in the cafeteria almost every day and all he talked about was baseball. He knew all nine ways a batter could reach first base. I only knew four. His father was obsessed with Ron making it to the majors but he was also obsessed with making sure all of us at the Boys Club had something to drink during games and something to eat afterwards. Ron got his sense of sharing from his dad and magnified it. Although we didn't remain close after leaving MHS, in my memories he will always be a good friend.
Carl Fanaro
Played a lot of baseball with Ronnie he save my you know what many times at the boys club in Miami hi FANARO