Ronald M. DeMelfi

Ronald M. DeMelfi, 87, of Sherwood Village, Bloomsburg, a loving husband, father and grandfather, passed away on the morning of Friday, November 21, 2025 in Ponte Vedra, Florida.

Born in Berwick, he was a son of the late Vincent and Regina (Romeo) DeMelfi. He was a graduate of Berwick High School in 1956 where he was a standout athlete on the Berwick Bulldogs football team and earned AP All-State honors in 1955.

He attended George Washington University on a football scholarship where he was named to the Southern Conference Football Team and in 1959, he was named as the top Colonial Player in his senior season winning the Andy Davis Award. He also was a member of the George Washington baseball team.

Ron DeMelfi loved the game of football. His coaching career began at Central Dauphin High School in Harrisburg as an assistant and later head coach. He returned to George Washington University for three years before accepting a position at the University of North Carolina in 1967. At UNC he held various positions on the coaching staff and helped achieve the schools first Atlantic Coast Conference Title in 1971 and the first eleven win season in 1972.

His football career concluded when he retired from coaching in 1973. He was inducted into the Berwick High School Sports Hall of Fame. He returned to Pennsylvania where he worked as owner and operator of Hayhurst Memorials in Bloomsburg for the next 51 years, finally retiring in 2024.

He was a faithful member of St. Columba Catholic Church. He also belonged to Bloomsburg Elks Lodge 436 and the Maria Assunta Society of Berwick.

On April 8, 1961 he married Susan Hayhurst of Espy. Ron and Sue enjoyed vacationing on Sanibel Island, Florida and they spent time there over winters for thirty- two years. He loved walking on the beach and never met a stranger. His Berwick or UNC or Penn State shirts and hats always started conversations.

Above all else, Ron was a devoted husband, proud father, a loving grandfather, and a friend to many. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, the former Susan Hayhurst; son Michael DeMelfi and wife Charlotte of Ponte Vedra, Florida; three grandchildren: Michael, Anthony and Isabella; brother Vincent DeMelfi of Bloomsburg; nephew Christopher DeMelfi and wife Tara of Bloomsburg; niece Lisa and husband Michael Budman of Culpeper, Virginia and several cousins including Cynthia Romeo of Philadelphia.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in St. Columba Catholic Church. 342 Iron St., Bloomsburg on Monday, December 1, 2025 at 11 a. m.by his pastor, Rev. Richard J. Mowery. Interment will follow in New Rosemont Cemetery, Espy.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Children’s Home Society of North Carolina, P. O. Box 14608, Greensboro, NC 27415 https://give.chsnc.org/campaign/598229/donate.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Dean W. Kriner, Inc., Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 325 Market St., Bloomsburg.

Condolence messages and photographs may be posted at: www.krinerfuneral;homes.com