Ronald Dean Biller, 77
U.S. Coast Guard commander, FDNY lieutenant, active member of South Baptist Church of Tottenville

Ronald Dean Biller, 77, a lifelong resident of Tottenville, went Home to be with the Lord on Sept. 18, 2016, after a long illness.

Born in 1939 on Staten Island to Robert Crawford Biller and Evelyn Ruth Biller, he graduated from Tottenville High School in 1956 and later enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve while attending college. In 1963, he married Margaret Mornan. They celebrated their 53rd anniversary on Sept. 14, 2016.

He worked at Anaconda-Jurden as a draftsman and at Sears department stores before being hired by the FDNY in 1967.

He worked in Manhattan (Engine 28/Ladder 11), Brooklyn (Engine 282/ Ladder 148), and Staten Island (Engine 151/Ladder 76) as a firefighter and fire marshal spanning more than a 35-year career before retiring as a lieutenant in 2002. He worked at the World Trade Center site in 1993 and was again called to duty during the 9-11 attacks. His distinctive FDNY career was paralleled by his U.S. Coast Guard service - culminating in a 36-year career while achieving the rank of commander. In 1997, he went back to school and received his bachelor's degree from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY, graduating magna cum laude after a 30-year hiatus.

Ronald, affectionately known as "Poppy" by his children and grandchildren, always loved to sing and devoted his life and service to the Lord. He served as a member, treasurer, Sunday schoolteacher, and Deacon at South Baptist Church in Tottenville for more than 50 years. The Lord was first in every aspect of his life.

Ronald is survived by his wife, Margaret (nee Mornan); sisters, Joyce Bishop and husband, James, and Linda Krakower; sister-in-law, Barbara Biller and brother-in-law, John Mornan; daughters, Pamela and husband, David Braisted of Bethlehem, Pa., Sharon and husband, Charles Miner of Lumberton, N.J.; grandchildren, Lillie Braisted, Heather, Hannah, and Emma Miner, and many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his brother, U.S. Coast Guard Captain Robert Biller of Charleston, S.C.

He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and all who knew him.

Viewing will be Sept. 20 and 21 from 2 to 4 and again from 7 to 9 p.m. at Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home, 7447 Amboy Rd., Staten Island, N.Y. 10307. Funeral services begin at 11 a.m. on Sept. 22 at Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home with full military and full FDNY World Trade Center-related honors. Burial will be at Ocean View Cemetery, Staten Island, N.Y.

In lieu of flowers, family requests donations be made to the South Baptist Church Missionary Fund, 197 Main St., Staten Island, N.Y. 10307.
John 11: 25-26

"I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?"