Ronald (Ron) Allen Nieman

Ronald A. Nieman was born on April 24, 1941 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania the son of Marie

Wukitch and Germain (Jerry) Nieman. He graduated from St. Bernard’s Catholic School in

Mount Lebanon and Mount Lebanon High School class of ’59. He received a BS degree in

Physics from Carnegie Institute of Technology (now Carnegie Mellon) in 1963 and a PhD in

atmospheric physics from the University of Pittsburgh in 1972. He participated in ROTC in

college.

Ron left Pittsburgh to start his career with the Computer Sciences Corporation in 1974 located

in Silver Spring, Maryland and worked on many different contracts in his 36-year career

including NASA, HHS, FAA, and the IRS. His longest term and favorite contract was with NASA

where he was a mission manager for small explorer projects at Goddard Space Flight Center

including FAST, SWAS, Pegasus, and BBXRT and supported the Flight Dynamics Facility. His last

assignment was as systems analyst for the IRS contract where he contributed to the automation

of business tax returns.

Ron married Kathy on September 26, 1992 at Holy Redeemer and they enjoyed 33 years

together. He leaves behind two daughters from his first marriage, Mary Francis and Terri, and

six grandchildren. He is the brother of Richard Nieman, and uncle of Diane Pedersen of

Pittsburgh and Richard W. Nieman of San Francisco and great uncle to Luke, Liam, Alex, and

Zachary.

Ron was a classical man enjoying classic literature and music. He amassed a large library of

books of the classics, science fiction, computers, technology, physics, history, biographies, and a

special interest in Greek civilization. He loved collecting beer steins, stamps, coins, music, and

articles about various topics carefully filed in the appropriate folders! He enjoyed photography

and had several cameras, lens, and tripods.

When Kathy and Ron bought a new home in Forestgate in 1993 Ron got involved in the

Forestgate Homeowner’s Association and served on the board in various capacities for 25 years.

He had been a lector for many years at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church and enjoyed years of

bible study with Fr. Charles Smarsh – a fellow physicist. Ron enjoyed learning the history and

geography behind the Bible and took copious notes in the classes. He served as a Holy

Redeemer Renew group leader and along with Kathy hosted weekly gatherings. He had been a

member of the Holy Redeemer Ministry to the Bereaved. He faithfully attended Evening Prayer

services and volunteered to lector or lead the service. He sang with the contemporary music

groups at St. Hugh of Grenoble Parish and later at Holy Redeemer.

He enjoyed many trips with Kathy and his daughters in their young days. He was always eager

to go places. Trips included Greece (in his college days), Austria, Germany, Rhine River

countries, Ireland, England, Scotland, Canada, Russia, Bermuda, Bahamas, and Hawaii and of

course Disney World while attending several Shuttle launches with Kathy’s Hubble Space

Telescope project. He always purchased a hat or shirt as a souvenir from every place he visited.

He loved day trips to museums far and wide. He visited more than 21 states and four Canadian

provinces.

He loved lighthouses and railroads and completed several lighthouse challenge tours in

Maryland, New Jersey, and Delaware. Kathy and Ron took trips on as many tourist railroads as

possible checking off the trips in their train book including the Rocky Mountaineer through

Canada. Ron had an extensive train layout of three engines, many features such as cattle

loading, ice loading, and a town with many facilities and residences.

He studied ASL and the keyboard always approaching anything he was learning with much

effort, study, research, and of course buying books on the topic. He participated several times

in the annual Bay Bridge walks and the two-mile fun runs at Goddard.

He was a fourth degree Knight of Columbus with the Fr. Rosensteel Council in Forestville and

had served in several positions in the council.

He was a member of the American Physical Society, Planetary Society, Smithsonian Associates,

and Sigma Xi.

He found a new interest when he joined the Music and Drama Club at Goddard Space Flight

Center and participated in many musicals, plays, and variety shows with Kathy enjoying the

opportunity to play different characters and wear more hats! He proudly framed the poster for

“Witness for the Prosecution” when he made his only appearance at the Greenbelt Arts Center.

Kathy and Ron took square dance classes and spent several years with the Good Luck Squares

learning the moves and socializing, and moving from the beginner to the intermediate ranks.

After retirement Ron explored ancestry.com and did extensive research on his and Kathy’s

family carefully documenting the material. He was an excellent writer and wrote several books

of science fiction published by Kindle. He purchased video learning tapes and explored various

topics and created and solved equations for fun. He liked crossword and Sudoku puzzles.

He loved the Pittsburgh Steelers and Penguins and his adopted baseball team, the Washington

Nationals and had all the memorabilia to prove it! He enjoyed going to the Baysox local team

games too.

He loved tools and fixing and repairing things around the house and painting too! In his early

years he made his own grandmother clock from a Heath kit, television, and many other pieces

of test equipment still lurking in the house! He liked to play chess and was a member of the

chess club and the audio-visual club in high school. He was a merit scholarship winner in high

school and had applied to MENSA – a true nerd!

His favorite snack was pretzels and he enjoyed all desserts and pastries. His favorite T-shirt

stated that “Life is uncertain so eat dessert first!” How true. You had a busy life Ron so rest in peace.

 In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Holy Redeemer Catholic Church.