Ron Lyn Casola, age 68, died on Tuesday, February 21, 2017. Ron was born in Rockford, Illinois on April 16, 1948 to the late Louis and Olive Casola. Ron graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Performance of Voice with a minor in conducting and piano from Illinois Wesleyan University. Ron was involved with music his entire life, having performed as soloist with the Phoenix Symphony, the San Diego Opera, and with the famed Boston Pops under the direction of Doc Severinson at Carnegie Hall. Always intent on sharing his love for music, Ron also was founding Artistic Director for the Phoenix Metropolitan Men's Chorus in 1990, Soul Survivors (a chorus composed of breast cancer survivors raising funds for student nurses and cancer research), Voices of the Desert in 2008 (and LGBT chorus in Phoenix, AZ), and Live Oak Singers in 2014 (an LGBT chorus in San Antonio, TX). In the last years of his life, after learning he had early onset Alzheimer's in 2011, Ron became a vocal advocate for people living with Alzheimer's. Ron spoke openly of the challenges of the disease and of the specific challenges of living with the disease as a gay man. Ron served as a board member of the San Antonio Alzheimer's Association and was chosen to be on the 2015-2016 Alzheimer's Association National Early Stage Advisory Group, traveling to Washington D.C. to discuss the disease and encourage funding for research with congressional members. Ron was an active member of Madison Square Presbyterian Church, and a man with deep faith. He is survived by many, many friends who will miss his smile, laugh, great hugs, and big personality. There will be two different memorial services to honor Ron's life. Saturday, March 25th at 3PM at Madison Square Presbyterian Church, 319 Camden Street, San Antonio, TX 78215 and Saturday, April 29 at 2PM at Shadow Rock United Church of Christ, 12861 N. 8th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85029. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to the Alzheimer's Association, San Antonio & South Texas Chapter, MAC 37 Building, 10223 McAllister Freeway, Suite 100, San Antonio TX 78216 or Madison Square Presbyterian Church, 319 Camden Street, San Antonio, TX 78215.