Prominent Newport Beach real estate developer, visionary, family man, and philanthropist, Ronald E. Soderling (“Ron”), passed away on December 28th, 2021, at 87 years old.
Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on May 27th, 1934, Ron was the son of a Swedish father and a Dutch mother. He had an older sister and brother, Bonita and Rudy.
When Ron’s older brother Rudy entered the Coast Guard he was stationed in Southern California, and Rudy was so impressed that he persuaded his family to move to Beverley Hills. So, Ron attended Beverley Hills High School where Ron met several lifelong friends.
After High School, Ron, as a lifelong patriot, followed his brother by enlisting in the Coast Guard during the Korean War. Ron was honorably discharged, and then he matriculated at Woodbury College and earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
After graduating, Ron opened a successful blueprint business. However, Ron was a victim of his own optimism as he over-expanded and the business failed due to increased overhead.
So, Ron changed directions and went into the family business of Real Estate. But rather than owning and managing apartment buildings like his parents, he went into real estate development after he obtained a related post-graduate degree at UCLA.
Ron’s initial developments were a dozen luxury apartment and condominium projects in the greater Los Angeles area culminating in a capstone project of luxury condominiums located at 211 Spalding in Beverley Hills.
In the late 70s, Ron moved his family to the picturesque community of Newport Beach. While in Orange County, Ron switched to developing landmark office parks, like Centerstone Plaza on the corner of Culver and Barranca in Irvine, where Mimi’s Café is located.
Ron also built and bought quite a few commercial-industrial parks in South Orange County. He also was involved in developing 14 self-storage locations with Shurgard self-storage, which were later acquired by Public Storage, Inc.
Ron’s final project is the Fashion Island luxury condominiums at 150 Newport Center. Ron was quoted in a magazine, “This will be the most luxurious building of its type anywhere between Century City and the Mexican Border -- it will be a work of art, not just a building!”
As a supporter of the arts, Ron was a founding donor to South Coast Repertory, the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, and the Musco Center for the Arts, at Chapman University. As a believer in education, Ron served on the Board of Trustees for his alma mater, Woodbury University; and his children’s alma mater, Chapman University. Ron’s estate will continue his good works with “The Emond-Soderling Family Foundation” which will fund scholarships.
Ron died peacefully in no pain, surrounded by his family.
Ron is predeceased by his parents, Ernest and Gertrude, his sister and brother, Bonnie and Rudy, and his son Matthew Kadlick.
Ron is survived by his ex-wife Denne; their daughter Tari Soderling; their Eric (Rhonda) Soderling; their Kurt (Melinda) Soderling and their grandchildren Logan and Luca.
Other survivors include Ron’s life and spiritual companion, Gail Showalter, and Gail’s children Kristin Richey and her son Austin, Brandon (Brandi Greenfield) Showalter, and their daughter Raquel.
Ron was a wonderful father, grandfather, friend, and mentor to many. It can be said, Ron left a memorable impact on everyone he met.
Ron always said that the measure of a man is the creative projects that he created, and the love of the people left behind. By Ron’s own standard, he succeeded in leaving the world a better place for Ron having been in it; and now, he is needed elsewhere.
