Dr. Rodman (Ron) Sandoval passed away surrounded by his loving family on August 4, 2022, at the age of 73 in his Lake Elsinore home. The cause was complications arising from heart failure.
Ron was born on October 15, 1948, in Pomona, CA to José Maclovio Sandoval (native of Southern Colorado) and Esther Figueroa Sandoval (native of Puerto Rico), both laborers who arrived in Southern California in search of a better life.
Despite some tough beginnings, Ron managed to get admitted to Cal Poly Pomona where he was an early president of MEcHA. After graduating Cal Poly, he spent some years in Sonoma County with his second wife, Sylvia Alvarez where he worked as a medical technician with an eye towards medical school. Ron was eventually accepted into UC Berkeley School of Optometry and received his Doctor of Optometry in 1981.
Ron relished his chosen profession and discovered his entrepreneurial spirit, opening Angeles Vision Center with two state-of-the-art offices in Santa Ana, where he pioneered in serving the Spanish-speaking community, and later one in Phillips Ranch. He also commuted to offices as far flung as Fontana to Beverly Hills to attend patients in other practices.
Ron’s first daughter, Yvette was born to him and Dominique Gault when he was 19. In 1986 he met Mercedes Arroyo at a raucous Santa Ana Puerto Rican Day Parade. She would become his loving wife and constant companion.
Together they would have two children, Rodman (Ronnie), Jr. and Tiffany, married to Palms Springs Fire Department EMS, Ronald Skyberg. Ron is also survived by his brother, Carlos Sandoval of New York City.
A devoted family man, Ron enjoyed nothing more than being surrounded by his children and grandchildren: David, Alexandra, Charlotte, Raquel, Alexander, and Dominic. He’d gather them around him on Superbowl Sundays and fire up the grill with the beer and margaritas flowing.
Ron grew up an altar boy, Boy Scout, avid hiker and later a gun enthusiast who turned his attention to real estate investing.
Services to honor Ron will be held on Wednesday, August 17, 2022 beginning with a visitation at 11 AM, immediately followed by a funeral service at noon, a committal service at 1PM and a reception from 1:30 to 3:30 PM at Miller Jones Menifee Memorial Park and Mortuary, 26770 Murrieta Rd., Menifee, CA 92585.
Rodman will be laid to rest at Menifee Valley Cemetery.
