Ronald Lee Tarazoff, 67, of Las Cruces, New Mexico died on September 11 ^th , 2022 surrounded by close family members.

Ron was born in Chicago to Theresa and James Tarazoff on August 5 ^th , 1955.  The family moved to Las Cruces, New Mexico in 1960. Ron loved football and played as a Conlee Colt, a Lynn Cougar, a Las Cruces High Bulldog, and a Panhandle State Aggie.  Later he coached football and rugby. Ron greatly enjoyed camping, hunting, and fishing, and was an excellent camp chef. Ron was near the end of a twenty-year career at NMSU, passing away just two weeks before his planned retirement.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Nancy, his compadre Gabe Murillo, and his godfather Emil Saviano. He is survived by his son Anthony, daughter-in-law Emma, his godmother Margaret Saviano, his godchildren Patrick Barrett and Emily Murillo, all of Ron's siblings and their spouses – Judy James, Nancy and Tom Barrett, Jim and Kathy Tarazoff, Mike and Mary Tarazoff – his sister-in-law and brother-in-law Susan and Chuck Roberts, and his many cousins, nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

Ron was a great friend to many and could not go out to eat in Las Cruces without seeing at least one person he knew. A Rosary Service will be held at 7pm on October 14 ^th , 2022 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Tortugas. A Funeral Mass will follow the next day at 10am on, October 15 ^th , 2022. Following the mass at 2:30 p.m. Ron will be reunited with his beloved Nancy at Las Cruces' Masonic Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Ron's memory to the St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital or another charity of your choice.