ROBERT A. RANONE

72, of Beacon Street, Johnston, passed away on Wednesday, February 2, 2011 after a long illness. A distinguished financial services and insurance industry professional, Mr. Ranone achieved prominence with Metropolitan Insurance Inc. and as an independent consultant during a forty year career. Mr. Ranone was the beloved husband of Norma "Sue" (Koon) Ranone and of the late Patricia (Helm) Ranone of London, England. He was the son of the late Pasquale and Ann (DiMaria) Ranone of Johnston.

Besides his wife, Mr. Ranone is survived by daughter Sharon Vicario and her husband Fred, sons Richard Ranone and his wife Kim, Robert Ranone and his wife Evelyn all of Cranston, Christopher Ranone of Johnston, and step-sons Paul Ciccone of Johnston and the late David Ciccone. He was the brother of Richard "Nick" Ranone of Panama City, Florida. He is also survived by an extended family that includes seven grandchildren that knew him by the name Papa Bob.

Mr. Ranone's two life-long passions were salt-water fishing and playing the tenor saxophone. Whether he was fighting a Marlin off the Baja California coast of Mexico or claiming bragging rights with his sons to the toughest bluefish caught off Cape Cod, Mr. Ranone found sanctuary on the sea. He captained his own charter fishing boat for several years during the 1980's.

A musical disciple of legendary jazz saxophonist Stan Getz, Mr. Ranone, known as a very mature teenager, would be found "sitting in" with established artists of the mid-1950's at the hottest clubs in town, including the famed Celebrity Club of Providence. As a member of the United States Air Force Jazz Band, he and his jazz combo performed Glenn Miller classics for a crowd of 60,000 people at Berlin, Germany's Olympic Stadium in 1957.

Funeral from the NARDOLILLO FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORY, 1278 Park Avenue, Cranston on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. in Holy Cross Church, 645 Hartford Avenue, Providence. Burial will be private. VISITING HOURS Friday 4-8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Hope Alzheimer's Center, 25 Brayton Avenue, Cranston, RI 02920.