Obituary for Ronald Philip Serina
Ronald P. Serina successfully escaped from the pain and debilitation of cancer on May 23, 2022. Ron was born in Rahway, New Jersey on September 8, 1943 to Stephina Motyka Serina and August Serina. Thus began in Garwood his life of wander and curiosity. Early on, he was leashed to a tree to limit his leaving. Later his sister, Janet, was often tasked with searching the neighborhood to round him up. Catholic School was to be endured for the least possible time. The nuns never figured out that he forgot his tie on purpose so he would have to return home and get it. That was a romp of jumping fences, vaulting hedges, and swinging from a tree limb by the brook. For much of his life, his curly red hair was both his curse and his ticket.
Ron left high school early for the Marine Corp, where his rebellious spirit often outwitted the rigitiy of a strict military. Having learned car mechanics helping his father, August, rehab old cars, he served as a heavy equipment mechanic in Japan and Korea. There he quit smoking and his bar friends, bought a motorbike, and explored the countryside.
Always curious and inventive, back in New Jersey in 1966, he eventually became a model maker for advertising agencies. Working in all sorts of mediums he brought to life fantastic designer imaginings, including the prototype for the L’eggs Egg. Hating the high pressure lifestyle, he spent his entire savings on acreage, moved his family to Maine, built a house off the land, and attended the University of Maine. When the first house burned, he built another, dismantling an old barn for the materials. He then started his own business driving frequently to Portland to educate businesses about display advertising. When that became overwhelming, he moved to an old live-aboard ketch that looked like a pirate ship which he had reworked along with his family. He spent three winters living on that boat and working carpentry in Boothbay until finding friendly “warmer quarters” in East Boothbay.
Together with his wife, Mary Ellen, they built their vacation rental business doing all the work around the place themselves, starting in the summer of 2000, when they created a scale model of their shop/studio on the dining room table and had the actual roof on by snow-fly. A neighbor said of the two of them, "To you the whole world is just malleable!" since between them they could figure out how to artistically accomplish about anything.
For many people, Ron, in his Carharts, came to represent the essence of Maine. His dry humor, wholesome caring spirit, intellect, and can-do attitude are happy memories. He prided himself on being able to discuss anything with anyone. Some of his favorite sayings were, “Attitude is the funnel for everything,” “I am allergic to stupid people,” “Time… huh! Never enough,” “Whatever works,” “Figure it out. I did,” and “I wasn’t finished yet!”
He is predeceased by two previous wives, Judy McKeon Streubel and Ilona Ann Karkosky. He is survived by: his sister, Janet Lange of Forked River, NJ, and extended Polish and Slovak family there, his sister Carol Holderried of New Sharon; Maine; his wife, Mary Ellen Tiller Kingsbury Serina of East Boothbay; three children, Ronald Serina and his wife Jill of Malta, New York, Michelle Bradley and her husband Jeff of Johns Island, South Carolina, and Abigail Ann Serina and her husband Wesley Philbrick of Westbrook Maine; two step-children, David Kingsbury and his wife Catherine of Naperville,Illinois, Lana Klingemann and her husband Douglas of Steamboat Springs, Colorado; five grand children and five step-grandchildren, Wayne Greene and his wife Carla of Chester, New York, Kevin Greene of Johns Island, South Carolina, Sarah Bradley of Charleston, South Carolina, Jolie and John Serina of Malta, NY; Patrick, Michael, and Matelaine Kingsbury all of Naperville, IL, Treyden and Carleigh Klingemann of Steamboat Springs, CO; and one great-granddaughter, Isabella Greene of Chester, New York.
A private family memorial party to honor Ron’s life will be held at a later date.
Donations may be made in the name of Ronald P. Serina to: Sussman House at, https://www.mainehealth.org/Pen-Bay-Medical-Center/Ways-To-Give/Pen-Bay-Waldo-Healthcare-Foundation/Donate-Now; or Maine People’s Alliance at: https://www.mainepeoplesalliance.org/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&id=2
Hall’s of Boothbay has care of the arrangements. To extend online condolences, please visit hallfuneralhomes.com
Ron left high school early for the Marine Corp, where his rebellious spirit often outwitted the rigitiy of a strict military. Having learned car mechanics helping his father, August, rehab old cars, he served as a heavy equipment mechanic in Japan and Korea. There he quit smoking and his bar friends, bought a motorbike, and explored the countryside.
Always curious and inventive, back in New Jersey in 1966, he eventually became a model maker for advertising agencies. Working in all sorts of mediums he brought to life fantastic designer imaginings, including the prototype for the L’eggs Egg. Hating the high pressure lifestyle, he spent his entire savings on acreage, moved his family to Maine, built a house off the land, and attended the University of Maine. When the first house burned, he built another, dismantling an old barn for the materials. He then started his own business driving frequently to Portland to educate businesses about display advertising. When that became overwhelming, he moved to an old live-aboard ketch that looked like a pirate ship which he had reworked along with his family. He spent three winters living on that boat and working carpentry in Boothbay until finding friendly “warmer quarters” in East Boothbay.
Together with his wife, Mary Ellen, they built their vacation rental business doing all the work around the place themselves, starting in the summer of 2000, when they created a scale model of their shop/studio on the dining room table and had the actual roof on by snow-fly. A neighbor said of the two of them, "To you the whole world is just malleable!" since between them they could figure out how to artistically accomplish about anything.
For many people, Ron, in his Carharts, came to represent the essence of Maine. His dry humor, wholesome caring spirit, intellect, and can-do attitude are happy memories. He prided himself on being able to discuss anything with anyone. Some of his favorite sayings were, “Attitude is the funnel for everything,” “I am allergic to stupid people,” “Time… huh! Never enough,” “Whatever works,” “Figure it out. I did,” and “I wasn’t finished yet!”
He is predeceased by two previous wives, Judy McKeon Streubel and Ilona Ann Karkosky. He is survived by: his sister, Janet Lange of Forked River, NJ, and extended Polish and Slovak family there, his sister Carol Holderried of New Sharon; Maine; his wife, Mary Ellen Tiller Kingsbury Serina of East Boothbay; three children, Ronald Serina and his wife Jill of Malta, New York, Michelle Bradley and her husband Jeff of Johns Island, South Carolina, and Abigail Ann Serina and her husband Wesley Philbrick of Westbrook Maine; two step-children, David Kingsbury and his wife Catherine of Naperville,Illinois, Lana Klingemann and her husband Douglas of Steamboat Springs, Colorado; five grand children and five step-grandchildren, Wayne Greene and his wife Carla of Chester, New York, Kevin Greene of Johns Island, South Carolina, Sarah Bradley of Charleston, South Carolina, Jolie and John Serina of Malta, NY; Patrick, Michael, and Matelaine Kingsbury all of Naperville, IL, Treyden and Carleigh Klingemann of Steamboat Springs, CO; and one great-granddaughter, Isabella Greene of Chester, New York.
A private family memorial party to honor Ron’s life will be held at a later date.
Donations may be made in the name of Ronald P. Serina to: Sussman House at, https://www.mainehealth.org/Pen-Bay-Medical-Center/Ways-To-Give/Pen-Bay-Waldo-Healthcare-Foundation/Donate-Now; or Maine People’s Alliance at: https://www.mainepeoplesalliance.org/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&id=2
Hall’s of Boothbay has care of the arrangements. To extend online condolences, please visit hallfuneralhomes.com