Ronald R. Bejma Branchburg, NJ Ronald Bejma, 81, of Branchburg, NJ, passed away on Saturday, August 15, 2020 at RWJ Somerset Hospital. Born in Trenton, NJ, Ron lived in Lawrenceville, NJ, then later in Ewing, NJ, and moved to Branchburg, NJ 15 years ago. Ron had a gentle soul, he was a devoted husband and father, loving, kind and selfless. The world was a better place with him in it. Ron graduated from Drexel University with a degree in Engineering. He was a proud American, having served in the US Navy. Upon his discharge, he worked for the Educational Testing Service in Princeton, NJ for most of his career. He was an avid reader and cruciverbalist. Ron loved to golf, sing Elvis Presley songs and spend his holidays at the beach. He was a talented handyman who could fix any and everything. Ron enjoyed sports – he was a dedicated Eagles and Phillies fan. In his younger days, Ron spent most of his free time coaching his children's sports teams. He was a devoted Catholic and all-around great guy, who enjoyed life and everyone who was a part of his. One thing Ron enjoyed the most was spending quality time with his family, especially his grandchildren. Ron is preceded in death by his beloved parents Sophie and Joseph Bejma, a sister Dorothy Dilworth, and a sister in law Miriam Bayman. Surviving are his loving wife of 59 years, Pamela Andrezejwski Bejma, two dear daughters, Lydia Bejma and husband Jim Matuszak of Flemington, NJ; Karen and husband Paul Zubulake of Basking Ridge, NJ; a dear son, Eric Bejma of Staten Island; a dear brother, Joseph Bayman of New Hope, PA; a loving sister Mary Ann and husband Dan Phillips of Fairless Hills, PA; six cherished grandchildren, EJ, Tyler, Antoinette, Alexis, Zachary, and Alex, and many loving nieces and nephews. A viewing will be held on Wednesday, August 19, 2020 from 6-8 pm at the Branchburg Funeral Home 910 Rt. 202 South Branchburg, NJ 08876. A prayer service will begin at the funeral home on August 20, 2020 at 9:15 am followed by a funeral mass at St. Bernard Church at 10 am in Bridgewater, NJ. Burial will follow at St. Bernard Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to Bernards Parents for Exceptional Children. Checks can be made payable to Bernards Parents for Exceptional Children 5 Lyons Mall, #160 Basking Ridge, NJ 07920 My brother and me Ron was in 8th grade when I was in kindergarten. He always had a smile on his face and was cool even back then. I lovingly looked up to him. He used to take me on the frame of his Schwinn black Phantom to Riverview when he played hardball. While I lollygagged in the outfield I was struck twice by line-drives. Ron dropped everything ensuring that I was ok. Years later I received for Christmas the same black Schwinn Phantom. I'm sure that my brother was the Santa Claus back then. I loved watching him play basketball for the Trenton PAL. So did I. Ron also played for Security National bank. There he blew out his knee. So did I. At the Holy Cross lot, Ron loved to play a game called fastball. So did I. Ron's engineering aptitude surfaced. He designed and built a backstop because Soggy Lips confiscated balls fouled into his rose garden. So Ron and his gang plotted a prang. While Soggy was away, the gang snipped all of Soggy's roses! That next day, Soggy created a scene of mass destruction. The backstop was in a shambles of broken wood. chicken wire and fabric. The joke lasted a short time but that fastball season was history. On the other hand, Ron served as a pious altarboy. So was I. Ron loved the Phillies. So did I. One night Ron and Pam had taken me to an opening day, sold out Phillies baseball game. The lights were bright white, the grass - emerald green, the clay was gold. Up stepped Duke Snider. The Duke was a myth and there he was in the flesh. That was an ethereal, unforgettable experience. Thanks to Pam and Ron. Ron and I shared a bedroom. We would talk about baseball, girls and music etc. I remember him telling me of his plan one day to travel with Carl Amoroso down to Brazil, though the US and Mexico. He never made it. But I did. Ron had a great work ethic. He delivered newspapers. So did I. He saved up his pennies and nickels and with $100, he bought our Mother a mink stole. So did I. He ushered at Trenton Capitol movie theater. So did I. And he used to sneak me in to watch movies in the balcony. Ron went to Trenton Catholic. So did I. He studied Latin Academic. I studied Latin Scientific. Ron graduated near the top of his class. But I was nearly expelled for breaking a window with a blackboard eraser. When Ron joined the Navy I was devastated. My idol was gone. After his tours in Cuba and Memphis he returned home on leave. On the second day back, he took me ocean fishing. On another leave, he took time to watch me pitch one Saturday at Wetzel field. Ron would take me with him when he had to report to Lakehurst and Willow Grove in his prized Plymouth convertible. It was great. We would fly down route 549 through the fragrant pine barrens. Years later Ron, generously loaned me that convertible to take Miriam to Washington's Crossing Park and Seaside Heights. Ron first worked as a draftsman. So did I. Those inherited skills enabled me to work and travel around the world.. Ron was enthralled with electronics. So was I. 50 years ago, I had purchased a $200 stereo system. I opened the four boxes, and was clueless. I called Ron. 30 minutes later, we were listening to Jimi Hendrix. Ron read novels voraciously. So did I. He can read a 900 page Robert Ludlum thriller in a few hours. It takes me a couple of days. Ron dated and married his beautiful high school sweetheart, Pamela. So did I. Ron has been married over 50 years. So have I. Discussing my plan to honor Ron this way with Miriam, she said "He would give you the shirt off of his back". I followed in Ron's footsteps. He was the person I looked up to, my icon, my idol, my inspiration. Cento Anni, Ronnie