Obituary of Ronald Edward Bee

March 18, 2015 Ronald Edward 'Ron' "Big Daddy" Bee, 67, of Maricopa, Arizona and formerly of Liverpool, New York passed away peacefully on Wednesday March 18, 2015 in Seattle, Washington at The VA Puget Sound Health Care System: Seattle Division. after a long and courageous battle with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), also known as acute myelogenous leukemia or acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL). He was surrounded with his loving family by his side. A long-term resident of Syracuse, New York he retired at the top of his career from then Clear Channel Communications, Inc. (now iHeartMedia, Inc.) in May 2008 as a Country Music Association Award Winning Morning Radio Personality for Medium Market for WBBS (“B104.7FM”) after a decade and a half of service. Ronald Edward Bee (December 27, 1947 – March 18, 2015), better known by his stage name Ron Bee, and known by his close friends and co-workers as “Big Daddy” was an American radio personality, producer, philanthropist, co-host of “The Ron and Becky Show,” a Country Music Association Award Winner, and Veteran of The Vietnam War. Mr. Bee was well known and respected around radio and TV stations in the Syracuse, New York market, and in the Country Music world. He had massive audience draws for over three decades. An enduring Central New York icon, he will be remembered for his big heart, love of music, philanthropy of local charities, annual broadcasts from Nashville, Tennessee during the Country Music Association Awards®, remotes at local businesses, personally greeting his fans, introducing Country Music Stars at The Great New York State Fair, and most prominently, his iconic one-of-a-kind voice that everyone would come to love and enjoy listening to each and every morning. Mr. Bee was born on Saturday December 27, 1947 in Syracuse, New York to Francis Walter "Frank" Bee (Pszczolkowski), Jr. a North Syracuse Police Department Officer and Louise B. Ramish-Bee an employee of North Syracuse School District and Postal Service. Mr. Bee was raised Roman Catholic and was baptized in to The Roman Catholic Church on Sunday January 11, 1948. When he was young he was a communicant of St. Rose of Lima in North Syracuse, New York. He received his First Communion on Sunday May 8, 1955. Mr. Bee had his Confirmation on Thursday November 12, 1959. Mr. Bee was a 1965 graduate of North Syracuse High School. Mr. Bee was a Veteran of The Vietnam War. He was a Hospital Corpsman (HM) for The 1st Battalion 1st Marines (1/1). On May 26, 1966 Mr. Bee enlisted in The United States Navy under the provisions of the High School/Junior College Graduate Training Program for Four Years. Mr. Bee attended Basic Hospital Corps School from September 1, 1966 - December 8, 1966; and Neuropsychiatry Technique School from May 15, 1967 - September 1967. During Mr. Bee’s military career, his time was primarily spent between Bethesda, Maryland and Đà Nẵng, Việt Nam. During his military career Mr. Bee was awarded a National Defense Service Medal; Vietnam Service Medal; Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device; and a Purple Heart. He was honorably discharged from The United States Military on Thursday May 25, 1970. During Mr. Bee’s adult life he was a communicant of St. John’s Roman Catholic Church (now Pope John XXIII Roman Catholic Church) in Liverpool, New York under the pastoral leadership of Father Gaetano T. “Guy” Baccaro and later Father/Monsignor James T. O’Brien and was a frequent lector and commentator and prominently participated in the annual reading of The Passion during Palm Sunday Weekend along side with Rich Lauber and Father Baccaro. Mr. Bee was also a communicant of St. Steven’s Roman Catholic Church in Sun Lakes, Arizona under the pastoral leadership of Father L. Pierre Hissey. Mr. Bee’s entry into radio came by accident in the early 1970s. After returning from a tour of duty in Vietnam as a medic with the Marines, he took a job at a sewage treatment plant on Hiawatha Boulevard. His co-workers continually asked him about the voice he had and if he was in radio. Mr. Bee eventually went to a local radio station and applied for a job. He read a reel for the general manager at WOLF 1490 AM -- a popular rock station in the waning days of AM music. Mr. Bee shortly there after was given a part-time job doing afternoon news. After a brief amount of time, the station paired Mr. Bee up with a young man named Rick Gary for a morning show that would be called The Rick & Ron Show. WOLF would be bought by another company and subsequently changed its formats. Mr. Bee worked at WOLF Radio; WRRB Radio; WSYR Radio; WSEN Radio; WEZG Radio; and lastly WBBS Radio (B104.7FM) from March 1994 - May 2008. When Mr. Bee secured a job at WBBS ("B-104.7 FM") after being hired by Rich Lauber in March 1994, he took over the morning show, and would subsequently be paired up along with Becky Palmer. In 2004, Ron & Becky received one of the nation's top honors: A Country Music Association Award for Best Radio Personalities in Medium Market. They traveled to Nashville, Tennessee to accept the award on national television on Tuesday November 9, 2004. Mr. Bee's radio career spanned nearly 35 years and was centered over the Central New York radio dial. Mr. Bee did rock, oldies, country, news and weather. Mr. Bee was predeceased by his father Francis Walter "Frank" Bee (Pszczolkowski), Jr. (1990), mother Louise B. Ramish-Bee (1995), father-in-law Nate D. Ancona (1991), and mother-in-law Connie Militi-Ancona (1995). Mr. Bee is survived by his loving wife of 38 Years Martina Teresa Ancona-Bee; son Jonathan Francis Bee; family cats Ming Tsai, Phoebe, & Emeril “Green Eyes”; two sisters Dorothy (Richard) Wales of Maricopa, Arizona, Frances (Vincent) Collins of Park City, Utah; sister-in-law Kathleen Ancona-Walser of Jamesville, New York; brothers-in-law including Peter Ancona & Denise Washington of Phoenix, Arizona, Daniel Ancona of Phoenix, Arizona, and Paul (Stephanie) Ancona of Oviedo, Florida, Uncle Robert Kingsbury of Baldwinsville, New York; Aunts-In-Law Nancy Militi-Sisto of North Syracuse, New York, Angela Ancona-DiCaprio & Anthony DiCaprio of Boynton Beach, Florida; Mary Ellen Militi of Syracuse, New York, Mary Ann Militi of Las Vegas, Nevada; Uncle-in-Law John (Linda) Militi; Nieces Kelly Wales-Bradley & Scott Bradley of Maricopa, Arizona, Kristy Wales-Henry & Nicholas Henry of Brewerton, New York, Meredith Collins of Detroit, Michigan, Shana Walser-Heustess & Cameron Heustess of West Jefferson, North Carolina; Nephews Gregory Collins of Salt Lake City, Utah, Jesse (Malea) Walser of Jamesville, New York, Great-Nieces Kaylee, Nicole, Jayln Henry all of Brewerton, New York, Morgan & Ava Bradley of Maricopa, Arizona, Emma-Grace Ancona of Oveido, Florida; Nephews Nathan, Christian, Paulie Jr. and Owen Ancona all of Oviedo, Florida, Elijah Ancona of Tempe, Arizona; Great-Nephews Lein Walser of Jamesville, New York, Braylen Heustess of West Jefferson, North Carolina, Cashel Bradley of Maricopa, Arizona; Great-Nieces Siriah Walser of Jamesville, New York and Kristian Heustess of West Jefferson, North Carolina; several cousins including Sandra Szmurlo-Demerski & Jay Demerski of Syracuse, New York & several cousins-in-law including Beatrice Maher-Colin & Paul Colin of Brewerton, New York and Daniel (Connie) Sisto of Baldwinsville, New York; one godchild Jessica Haley-Newman of Liverpool, New York; and extremely close family friends Rich Lauber and his daughter Kaitlyn of Liverpool, New York, Rick (Toni) Gary of La Fayette, New York, Becky Palmer and her son Tucker of Syracuse, New York, Mike (Elise) Frazer of Monroeville, Pennsylvania, Carol (Alan) Shifflet of Liverpool, New York, and Charles F. “Charlie” (Laurie) Hollis [Holocinski] of Syracuse, New York. Friends, Family, and Listeners may call on Saturday May 2, 2015 from 9:00am – 11:00am in Pope John XXIII Roman Catholic Church 8290 Soule Rd, Liverpool, NY 13090. Memorial Funeral Mass will follow at 11:00am in the Church. Reception to follow after Mass in The Community Center. For further information please visit http://www.ronbee.com/