Ronald Horbinski

A tireless creative force, Ronald Thomas Horbinski passed away on July 30, 2026 in Portland, Oregon, at home surrounded by loved ones. This followed a long battle with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis — a condition from which he could never recover. Nevertheless, he cheated death, and the original prognosis, by many years. He graced this earth for 83 years. He will continue to be sorely missed.

Ron Horbinski was born on June 23, 1943 in Fort Dix, New Jersey to Raymond Thomas Horbinski (Master Sargent, US Army) and Esther Josephine (Blady) Horbinski. A single picture of his proud father (in uniform) holding Ron was taken on February 25,1944. Less than two months, later his transport ship was bombed and sank in the Mediterranean Sea. Ron was 10 months old. This picture was the only tangible memory Ron would have of his father, whose body was never recovered.

Ron and his mother spent the remaining war years and his preschool years living with relatives, as was typical at that time for a young widow with an infant son.

At the age of 6, Ron was blessed with a second father (William Schoofs) and eventually four fabulous sisters (Diane, Karen, Lynn and Chris). He loved them and they returned the sentiment. His sisters bestowed the honorary name of Rhonda on him, making him one of the gals.

Growing up, Ron attended schools in California, Michigan and Indiana. He was a graduate of Don Bosco High School and obtained a Master of Arts degree from The University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. As an adult, he lived in the Milwaukee area where he married, raised his sons and made a living as an artist. He designed trade show booths, was a professional photographer, patented a beer tap handle, designed clothing using his photography for prints, made jewelry, self-published 8 books of his photography, designed and created leather goods and taught computer animation at the Milwaukee Area Technical College. His friends and family were beneficiaries of his many creative talents and his homes were regularly remodeled and improved. The spaceship he built in the backyard was a hit with his sons, their cousins and neighborhood children. He loved to cook and wowed all who were fortunate enough to enjoy his culinary talents. True to his artistic proclivities, presentation and plating were critical elements of his dinners. He was always teaching himself new crafts and skills. He even taught himself to “play the saw” with a violin bow. He was especially fond of playing when the family gathered for Christmas and other get togethers.

In addition to keeping busy with his creative endeavors, Ron loved to travel, play board games and spend time with his family. A man of many talents, he was witty, sarcastic and passionate.

Ron will be greatly missed and forever cherished by Cyndi Covert, his wife of 45 years; sons, Eric (Lauren) Horbinski and granddaughter Gwen of New Berlin, WI and Adam (Chelsea Reinoehl) Horbinski of Portland, Oregon.

He is further mourned by his sisters, Diane Jankowski of Etowah, NC; Karen (Dave) Vogel of The Villages, FL; Lynn (Dave) Cushwa of Anchorage, AK and Chris (Dave) Farley of Ave Maria, FL along with many nieces, nephews, extended family members and friends.

Ron was preceded in death by his father, Raymond Horbinski; and his parents, Esther and William Schoofs.

A Celebration of Life and informal gathering will be held at a family residence in New Berlin, Wisconsin on Saturday, September 19th at 2 pm. Friends and family wishing to attend may contact [email protected] for more information. (Please bring an appetite and memories to share.)

In lieu of flowers, donations are encouraged to Outside the Frame (training homeless and marginalized youth to be the directors of their own films and life). Donations can be mailed to OTF, Union Station, 800 NW 6th Ave #335, Portland, OR 97209 Tel. 503-849-2713 or go to: outsidetheframe.org