Ronald Peter Podhorodeski

Dr. Ronald Peter Podhorodeski - December 6, 1961 to May 30, 2020
On Saturday, May 30, 2020, Ron lost his lengthy battle with Multiple Sclerosis at the age of 58. He was born on December 6, 1961 in Dinsmore, SK and attended elementary school in Eston, SK and Gillam, MB. In 1974 the family moved to Saskatoon and Ron completed Grade 8 at Wilson Junior High School. Ron's secondary education was completed at Dauphin Regional Comprehensive Secondary School in Dauphin, MB. He graduated with many awards, including highest academic standing, high achievement in Math and Science and Certificate of Achievement for Superior Ability in Power Mechanics. Ron and his Power Mechanics partner and friend, Rick Lunsted won top honours in the Chrysler Trouble Shooting Contest in Winnipeg and went on to represent Manitoba at the National Chrysler Trouble Shooting Contest held in Toronto, placing second overall. They returned just in time to attend their graduation ceremony. Ron's love for automobiles stayed with him throughout his life. Ron began his career in academia at the University of Manitoba at the age of 17. He completed his Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering with Distinction in 1983 and his Masters in 1985. He met the love of his life, Marilyn Kowalchuk, when they were assigned to the same office in grad school. Together they moved to Toronto where Ron completed his PhD in 1989 (at 27) at the University of Toronto. Ron and Marilyn moved to BC to work in the fledgling Mechanical Engineering Department at the University of Victoria where he established the Robotic and Mechanisms (RAM) Laboratory. In his research, he made notable contributions in the areas of robotics and automation. Ron was a gifted professor who supervised many graduate students and taught numerous undergraduate and graduate courses. He was chosen as the Outstanding Teacher in Mechanical Engineering in 1993 and 2002 and given the Annual Award for Excellence in Teaching at the University of Victoria in 1994. In addition to his normal duties, Ron served the Department as the Chair of the Accreditation Committee. He was honoured as a fellow of the Canadian Society for Mechanical Engineering (CSME) where he received the CSME I.W. Smith Award for Outstanding Achievement in Creative Engineering and for Contribution to the Arts and Science of Mechanical Engineering. He was Chair of the Canadian Committee for the Theory of Machines and Mechanisms (CCToMM) from 2003 to 2011. In 1996 Ron and Marilyn were blessed with the birth of their beautiful and devoted daughter, Anna, their pride and joy. In 2005 the family, together with their ferret, travelled across Canada in their motor home to New Brunswick, where Ron worked for a year as a Visiting Professor at the University of Moncton. Ron's family meant the world to him and his best times were those spent with them. Anna and Ron (and their dog Polly) kept their frequent movie viewing tradition going from the time Anna could talk until the end. Ron could get along with anyone, he was genuinely interested and quickly built common ground. He possessed an abundance of patience and was a brilliant, kind and gentle man. Ron loved to have fun, whether working on cars, testing homemade wines and brews, playing guitar in his porch band or playing any card or board game. Left to cherish his memories are his daughter Anna and dog Polly, father Peter of Brandon, MB, sister Sharon (Eric Andreasen) of Dauphin, MB and nieces Carly and Jamie Armstrong and Sam Wasik, brother-in-law Steve Kowalchuk (Christine Tambakis) and nephew Jordan of Winnipeg, MB. He was predeceased by his wife Marilyn, mother Fanny, niece Danika Armstrong and brother-in-law Gary Armstrong. In Ron's honour, donations can be made to Mt. St. Mary Hospital, the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada or the Victoria Chapter of the ALS Society of BC by clicking in the left menu under donations.