Ronald Vannelli, 80, loved all things hockey

His résumé includes playing, officiating for professional games and inspiring his kids and grandkids to play.

By PAUL WALSH, Star Tribune

Last update: January 13, 2009 - 10:12 PM

Ronald Vannelli, a former on- and off-ice hockey official at the highest levels in North America and the patriarch of a St. Paul family passionate for the sport, has died.

Vannelli, 80, died Sunday after suffering for several years from corticobasal degeneration, a neurological disorder, said his wife, Sharon, of Andover.

His hockey résumé includes playing in the 1940s and 1950s as a minor-leaguer in St. Paul, off-ice officiating (penalty box or goal judging) for NHL and WHA professional games, and on-ice refereeing for WCHA college games and at the high school level in Minnesota.

"Ron had a strong religious and moral foundation and he loved his family, friends, HOCKEY, and St. Paul," read his newspaper paid funeral notice.

"It's a fact," Sharon Vannelli said about emphasizing that one word in the obituary. "It was my idea."

"The last 10 years, he would try not to miss a [family member's] game," she added. "No matter how hard it was, we got him there. His last hockey game was within the last two weeks."

Ron Vannelli's sons are Ron Jr., who played for St. John's in the late 1960s; Tom, who played for the University of Minnesota in the mid-1970s; Mark, who played for Northern Michigan University in the early 1980s, and Mike, who played for St. Cloud State in the mid-1980s. Another son, Greg, who played for the University of St. Thomas in the mid-1970s, co-coaches the boys team at St. Thomas Academy high school in Mendota Heights with brother Tom.

"The kids all grew up in Como Park and all played hockey," said Sharon Vannelli, who married into the hockey clan 21 years ago Thursday with Minnesota hockey legend Herb Brooks in attendance.

The elder Vannelli's hockey legacy spread beyond his own sons. A grandson, Mike Jr., played for the Gophers from 2003-07. Ron Vannelli also was the uncle of Len Vannelli, head coach of the Breck High School girls team.

In addition to his wife and five sons, he is survived by two daughters, Teri Boland and Mary Pat Mulally; a stepdaughter, Rochelle Lueck; a stepson, Jeffrey Harris; 28 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Mueller-Bies Funeral Home, 2130 N. Dale St., Roseville, and at 9 a.m. Thursday at St. Andrew's Catholic Church, 1051 Como Av., St. Paul. Services at the church will begin at 10 a.m. Thursday.

Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482