Ronald Lee Kivett

Ron Kivett was born on July 12, 1943 in Jasper, Indiana just outside Indianapolis. He graduated from Ribault High School in Jacksonville, Florida in 1962. Soon thereafter, Ron joined the Air Force, stationed at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. Ron led an amazing life, living in Jacksonville and Saint Augustine, Florida. He leaves behind his loving wife and best friend, Christine Murphy-Kivett, his son Matthew Wayne Kivett and his sister, Joyce Meredith Kivett Richardson who lives in Tempe, Arizona. He joins his parents Homer Lee Kivett and Meredith Joyce Mills Kivett on the other side.

Ron Kivett marched to the beat of his own drum. From his early days growing up in rural Indiana, he was fascinated by science fiction. He found a flare for photography in high school, even winning awards for his budding talent. Following his military service, he returned to Jacksonville, Florida and joined the crew of Barton Films, becoming their "go to guy" for any out of the ordinary task that needed to be done. This led to his involvement in the film ZAAT which introduced him to cult film fans all over the world, even if it took over twenty years to do so. Ron was integral to the production of the film, writing the script, designing the creature, handling the special effects, and even touring with the film all over this country and beyond during its initial release. He also served as special effects coordinator on The Brides Wore Blood (1972) and Vampire Cop (1990). Ron wrote spec scripts for a variety of well-known television shows including Wonder Woman, Battlestar Galactica, Fantasy Island and the fan favorite Salvage-1. He produced two episodes of the 70's reality show That's Incredible and helped foster a new generation of talent in 1988 with the thirteen-episode television series Your Wildest Dreams.

Ron's lifelong love of science fiction created an interest in UFOs that lead him to become a highly respected investigator in the field. He produced his own radio documentary program, Tales of Strange Things, which ran for several years and featured interviews with some of the most famous names in paranormal research. In 2017, he was profiled on an episode of the popular television series Ancient Aliens in a segment concerning the Betz Sphere of Fort George Island, a mysterious phenomenon he was able to research firsthand prior to its mysterious disappearance.

In his final years, Ron returned to his love of writing with a three-book series covering The Journal of Burton Thomas. The first installment in this very Edgar Rice Burroughs-esque adventure, Knights of the Karrien Moon, was published in 2014. It was followed in 2018 by The Warrior King and the third and final book, Blood Road, will be publish posthumously but was thankfully completed before his death. Fans of this series have called it a refreshing return to the old-fashioned pulp novel adventures of the 40's and 50's where you could tell the heroes from the villains without needing a degree in psychology. These books were Ron's way of giving back to the genre he loved, and they are a very fitting final bow to an incredible career.

Ron Kivett touched and inspired all who knew him. He was always gracious to his fans and spent hours answering questions and telling stories at the many ZAAT revival screenings in the 2000s. He mentored future generations of filmmakers, screenwriters, and orchestrators. He gave lectures on his UFO investigations and was a frequent guest at local collectible events. His knowledge was constantly being called on for all manner of projects and Ron was always more than happy to help. In addition to writing his novel series, he spent his final years enjoying his retirement with his wife Christine in St. Augustine. He loved movies, music, gardening, and animals and was a valued member of his trivia team. He will be missed by friends, family, and everyone whose life he touched.

Plans are underway to celebrate Ron’s amazing life on Saturday, March 5th. Those interested in celebrating with friends and family should reach out to Christine to receive the details of the event.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hgmandarin.com for the Kivett family.