End of Watch December 2, 2010

Jon-Michael V. Ronda passed away late Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010, after a relentless 5-year battle with brain cancer. He was 35.

A 1993 graduate of Pemberton Township High School, Jon-Michael graduated from Trenton State College in 1997. He resided in Presidential Lakes in Browns Mills, N.J., for 15 years, and later moved to New Castle, Del., where he stayed for 10 years.

His dream of becoming a “cop” was doubly fulfilled. First, when he entered the New Jersey Air National Guard as a proud member of the 177th Security Forces Squadron in Atlantic City, N.J. There, he achieved the rank of staff sergeant and was a combat arms instructor. Secondly, when he joined the New Castle County Police Department in Delaware, where he participated in the National Latino Police Officers Association and served as parliamentarian.

Jon-Michael served during the Iraq War and was deployed for a tour to Qatar in 2002. Jon-Michael will be fondly remembered and sadly missed by his surviving family, Robert and Tulia Ronda, Browns Mills, N.J.; sister, Ana Ronda-Feliciano (Celin), Browns Mills; brother, Gustavo Ronda (Rossana) of Arlington, Va.; and a loving army of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews around the world.

The family wishes to the thank the wonderful doctors, nurses, techs, aides and staff of Christiana Hospital, Del., Johns Hopkins Neurology and Oncology, Md., Virtua Memorial ICU, ER and 3NE, N.J., Comfort Keepers of Haddonfield, N.J., and Samaritan Inpatient Hospice Center at Virtua Memorial, N.J., for their relentless work, utmost professionalism, and undying love and support.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations in Jon-Michael’s name be made to the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center, Newark, DE or to the Johns Hopkins Comprehensive Brain Tumor Center, Baltimore, MD. A warrior in life, fighting the odds and winning many battles to the very end, Jon will follow the cremation tradition of ancient fighting men. His ashes will be carried by loved ones to his birthplace in Panama, to lay alongside his loving (and fabulous cook) grandma, and his fun-loving uncles.

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Hector Ramos
East Coast National V.P.
New Jersey State President
National Latino Peace Officers Association