Ronald F. Malanowicz, age 89 of Newark, Delaware, died on December 15, 2023.
No doubt about it, Ronnie was a “workhorse,” a person that dependably performs hard work over a long period of time.
Ronnie began his life in Buffalo NY, and was relocated to New Castle DE as a young boy. Ronnie graduated from Wilmington High School in the 1950’s.
“Ronnie Mal” was a two-time Veteran (Navy AND Army). Following his service, he worked at Goldberg Brothers on South Market Street in Wilmington, Delaware. There he met his lifelong best friend and business partner, Nate Plafker. Together they founded and grew Blue Diamond Meat Company (Wilmington, DE and Penns Grove, NJ).
Blue Diamond Meat Company supplied all the hamburgers for the McDonald’s in Newark and Wilmington in the early years.
Blue Diamond also invented the “Interlever” that revolutionized minute steaks and founded the sandwich steak industry. The Interlever injected a piece of wax paper to separate the minute steak portions, thereby allowing them to be boxed and distributed for purchase at any supermarket’s freezer section.
Ronnie and Blue Diamond provided good, decent jobs for many people, for a very long time.
At the conclusion of Blue Diamond, Ronnie continued to work again and again, retiring for the final time at age 83 from Safeway (Genuardi’s) at People’s Plaza in Glasgow, Delaware where he was the Butcher and the Fish Monger. Not satisfied to just serve people with excellence, Ronnie always provided recipes and cooking tips, and many customers became friends.
In his 80’s, Ronnie also went square dancing 7 nights a week, mostly with the 2X4’s Square Dance Club in Newark. Realizing that there were few men square dancers, he would dance one dance with each woman, so that they could have a chance to enjoy the dance.
Ronnie is survived by his daughter, Michele Kelley (Jim); his step-daughter Myra Doughty (Greg); granddaughter Annie Wilber (Matt and Hudson Cole), and previous wife Ann Rice (Phil). He is survived by his sisters Adrianne Anne Trala, Christine Kranichfeld, MaryLou Collins, and Nancy Miller. Also survived by several cousins, and many nieces and nephews.
He is pre-deceased by his son Mathew Nathan, his parents Cecilia (Glowacki) Kranichfeld, and Stanley Malanowicz, sisters Rita Kirk and Geraldine Malanowicz, brother Buno Malanowicz, and brother Jim Kranichfeld.
When Ronnie was 9 years old, he ran away from home to become a cowboy! He got to the edge of town before the town cops picked him up and returned him home. It seems Ronnie always had a traveling bone…and always wanted to be a cowboy. Ronnie finally earned his spurs!
Service and burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to your organization of choice.
For online condolences visit: www.mccreryandharra.com
