Randall Martin Ward, formerly of East Lyme and Niantic, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, passed away on April 13, in Kennett Square. In 2016, Randy was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease and associated dementia. While understanding that he could not recover, he lived life fully for the remainder of his days and spent his time focused on sharing his love with his family and doing the mental and physical work that research shows to be beneficial to Parkinson's patients. He was quick with a witty joke until the very end.
Randy was born in Modesto, Calif., the son of Vincent and Carolyn Ward, on Oct. 22, 1948. He was married to his high school sweetheart, Patricia Coli Ward, for 53 years, and together they shared homes in Nevada, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania.
Randy leaves behind his wife; his son Jeffrey Ward of Portland, Or.; his daughter Dr. Stacey Cordivano (Ben) of Chadds Ford, Pa.; and his beloved grandsons, Carter and Asher Cordivano. He also leaves behind brothers, David Ward and his family in Reno, Nev., and Vincent Ward and his family in California. Randy held very close ties to Reno-area cousins, Dr. Joseph Coli and family, and the family of Michael Coli.
Randy graduated from Reno High School and the University of Nevada, Reno in 1973, where he earned a degree in business. He also served in the U.S. Army from 1969 to 1970, including a tour in Vietnam, with the 101st Airborne Division. He retired in 2018, from a 40-year career in the aerospace metals industry. While his work took him to many interesting places around the world, he was always quick to get home to support his children's activities. He also enjoyed hobbies of house renovations, playing guitar, fly fishing, and golf.
In the days since his passing, Randy has been described as selfless, full of humor, a man of high character, generous with his time and resources, a mentor, and a husband and father who put his family above all else. Most would agree that he approached people from all stations of life with respect. Whether attempting to make others feel at home with his limited Spanish-speaking skills or plowing the snow off of the neighbors' driveways, kindness was a value that Randy had no trouble offering to all. Although a somewhat quiet man, he could have a wonderful discussion on just about any topic - technical aerospace applications, the arts, politics, sports, all genres of music, or history. He had an interesting life, and his only regret was that he could not be around longer with his grandsons. His family will work hard to make certain that his stories and values will be passed down; his memory will be ever-present in our households.
Per his instructions, there will be no funeral services. If you wish, a donation to a Parkinson's or dementia research project would honor him. Another idea is to get lost in the woods with your loved ones and have an adventure finding your way back.
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