Ronald Mitchell Stevens Obituary

Ronald Mitchell Stevens, 85, of Phoenix, Arizona, passed away surrounded by the legacy of a life defined by faith, family, hard work, generosity, and a genuine enthusiasm for experiencing all that life had to offer.

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Ronald was deeply proud of his Polish heritage. The traditions passed down to him by his parents and grandparents remained an important part of his life, and he took great care to pass them along to his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He believed in knowing where you came from, honoring those who came before you, and keeping family traditions alive for the generations that followed.

Above all, Ronald was devoted to his family. He was a loving husband to his wife of 61 years, Jean, and was immensely proud of the family they built together. His love for Jean was evident throughout their life together, and his devotion to her was one of the qualities those closest to him admired most.

Ronald was a loving and generous father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He showed his love in countless ways, through thoughtful gifts, his generosity, the time he gave to others, and the experiences and memories he created with the people he loved. Family dinners and trips together were especially important to him. He believed that life was meant to be experienced and memories were meant to be made.

His faith was one of the anchors of his life. Ronald was deeply involved in his church and proud of his membership in both the Knights of Columbus and the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre. His faith guided the way he lived, the way he treated others, and the values he worked to instill in his family. It remained a source of strength and purpose throughout his life.

Ronald also found purpose in helping others prepare for their futures. Throughout his professional life, he enjoyed helping people plan for retirement and the years ahead. Later, he turned his attention toward education, working as a teacher and ultimately continuing his work helping children. Whether through his career, his faith, or his family, Ronald found meaning in helping others build better lives.

He had a natural sense of adventure and a way of finding joy in everyday life. He loved traveling and creating experiences with his family and believed there was always more of life to see. He appreciated a wonderful meal and a good glass of wine and understood that gathering around a table was about much more than the food. It was about conversation, storytelling, laughter, and being together.

Ronald was a gifted storyteller with a wonderful sense of humor and a love for silly jokes. He loved music and the arts, loved the ocean and being near the water, and had a nostalgic nature that allowed him to find meaning in traditions, memories, and the simple pleasures of everyday life.

He was passionate, devoted, loving, hardworking, traditional, and deeply sentimental. He had a way of romanticizing everyday life, turning meals into occasions, trips into adventures, and ordinary moments into memories worth retelling. He lived with a sense that experiences were worth saying yes to, and if there was anything he wished for, it was not that he had done less, but that he had experienced even more.

Ronald is survived by his beloved wife, Jean Stevens; his daughters, Kristin and Kathryn; and his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, whom he loved fiercely and of whom he was incredibly proud. He was preceded in death by his son, Timothy Stevens.

Ronald leaves behind a family shaped by his love, faith, generosity, strength, and traditions. His stories will continue to be told, his Polish heritage and traditions will continue to be passed down, and the faith that guided his life will remain an important part of his legacy.

A funeral Mass will be held on Friday, August 28, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Parish in Surprise, Arizona. A Celebration of Life will follow at 17111 W. Bell Road, Surprise, Arizona 85374.

Ronald will be deeply missed, but the life he built and the values he passed on will continue through the generations of the family he loved so dearly.