Ronald "Ron" Knight

Ronald J. Knight, 81, passed away on Tuesday, August 6, 2013. Much loved by his family and friends, Ron lived an extraordinary and entertaining life. A graduate of Columbia University in New York City, Ron went on to attend the Juilliard School where he studied in the prestigious School of Vocal Arts. Before moving on to his shining career, Ron served in the Army, mostly in Austria, coordinating entertainment for the troops. Ron was the consummate actor and entertainer. He had a long and impressive list of credits. His televisions appearances included guest staring with Dom Delouise in Burt Reynolds' TV series B.L. Stryker, a co-starring role on Magnum PI with Tom Selleck and guest appearances on Days of our Lives, the Young and the Restless, Another World as well as featured performances in the New Leave it to Beaver, Car 54, Where are You? with Fred Gwynne, and the original Batman series with Adam West and Milton Berle. Ron's movies roles included the wide-screen release Livin' Large and a co-staring role with Mary Crosby in Deadly Innocents. Ron's greatest success came from his musical theatre roles. On Broadway he was featured in Bravo Giovanni with Michelle Lee and in Leave it to Jane with George Segal and Lanie Kazan. In theaters across the country Ron has starred opposite an enviable list of leading ladies including Jane Russel (Catch Me if You Can), Ann Miller and Gale Storm (Cactus Flower), Jessica Lange (Angel on My Shoulder), Carolyn Jones (Mover Over Mrs. Markham), Jean Stapleton (Carousel), Florence Henderson (South Pacific) and Bernadette Peters (Sound of Music). On the other hand, Ron's films have been almost exclusively with male stars, such as: David Janssen, Peter Lawford, Efram Zimbelist, Jr., Telly Savalas and Milton Berle. Ron also hosted the Great Stars of the Silver Screen show with Jane Russell, Dorothy Lamour, Yvonne de Carlo, Kathryn Grayson, and Mamie Van Doren, as well as traveling the world as part of an entertaining cast on major cruise ships. During one of his many staring roles at the Showboat Dinner Theatre in Clearwater, Ron met his final leading lady, Kathleen Gigante (Knight). They fell in love and married soon after and spent the next 20+ years happily together. Ron and Kathy were active members of St. Raphael's Catholic Church where Ron served in the choir, and as cantor. Together, they performed in plays the Church produced for its members years ago. In his later years, Ron volunteered at St. Anthony's and Bayfront Hospitals singing with a small choir for those sick and impaired. Ron was larger than life and we are all blessed to have shared that entertaining life with him. Ron is survived by his stepchildren, Lesa and Jeff Gigante (Erica), his brothers Fred and George Klinzing (June) and his loving sister Betty Appel, as well as many other family and friends. Ron will be greatly missed and thought of often. Whenever the lyrics below are heard, we will hear them in Ron's unmistakably beautiful voice: Edelweiss, Edelweiss Every morning you greet me Small and white clean and bright You look happy to meet me Blossom of snow may you bloom and grow Bloom and grow forever Edelweiss, Edelweiss Bless my homeland forever.