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Murrells Inlet Ronald Amerigo Felice, 74, of Murrells Inlet, SC, died Saturday May 18th, 2013. He was born to the late John and Elsie (Sapian) Felice, July 31st, 1938, in Detroit, MI. Ron graduated from St. Vincent DePaul High School in 1956. Ron graduated from Officers Candidate School and joined the Navy in 1961. He retired in 1988, with the rank of Commander, after 27 years of faithful active and reserve service. Ron received a BA in Communications from the University of Detroit in 1961. He married Marietta Monge in 1967, and they lived together in Mt. Clemens, MI before relocating to Murrells Inlet, SC in 2005. Ron worked in various capacities including communications, human resources and project management during his professional career at corporations such as Chrysler and General Dynamics. He retired in 1993. From 1961 - 1964, while in the US Navy, Ron was deployed on the USS Constellation in Brooklyn and later the Pacific region during the Viet Nam conflict. He was a proud "plank owner" of the USS Constellation, a member of the very first crew to serve on the vessel. Ron's passion for the US Navy beyond retirement was exemplified by his active involvement in the USS Constellation CVA/CV64 Association, an alumni organization for those who served aboard the "Connie". He was editor of the group newsletter, Starscope, from 2001 to 2012. Ron was a trained operatic tenor and music played a vital role in his life. He was cantor at St. Louis Catholic Church in Mt. Clemens, MI and an active member of the choir at St. Hubert's Catholic Church also in Mt. Clemens. His vocal talents afforded him the opportunity to sing at the Papal Mass for Pope John Paul II at the Pontiac Silverdome on September 19, 1987. Ron sang the National Anthem on numerous occasions in front of tens of thousands of spectators at Detroit-area sporting events including Detroit Tigers baseball games and Detroit Lions football games. Ron is survived by his wife, Marietta(Monge) Felice; two sons Ron and wife Faith of Mt. Clemens, MI, Mark and wife Gina of Cary, NC; two sisters, Gloria Demko of Strongsville, OH and Norma Jean Philp of Harper Woods, MI; four grandchildren, Nicholas, Leanee, Jake and Vincent; two great granddaughters, Layla and Isabel. Ron is pre-deceased by his parents John and Elsie and his brother Alfred. A visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 21, 2013 from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. with a prayer service at 6:30 at the Goldfinch Funeral Home Beach Chapel. A memorial mass will be held at St. Michael Catholic Church in Garden City at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 22 with inurnment immediately following. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are welcome to the Medical University of South Carolina, Murray Center for Research on Parkinson's Disease (https://netcommunity.musc.edu/NetCommunity/SSLPage.aspx?pid=190). Sign an online guest book at www.goldfinchfuneralhome.com/obituaries Goldfinch Funeral Home, Beach Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

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Ronald Felice

July 31, 1938 - May 18, 2013