Ronald Montoya

December 12, 1966 – June 10, 2026

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Ronald Montoya, age 59, of San Tan Valley, Arizona, passed away on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, in San Tan Valley, Arizona.

Ron was born in Los Angeles, California, on December 12, 1966, to loving parents, Jim Montoya (Blanca) & Mary (Jacques) Tripoli (John).

Ron was a family man, a loving partner, devoted father (Dad and Papa), Tata, and son (Hito).  He is survived by his beloved fiancé of 15 years, Debbie Johnson; his daughters, Miette Montoya (Hunter) and Rain Montoya; his sons, Raven Montoya (Mara) and Grey Montoya; and his stepchildren, Cody Norburg and Gracie Norburg.  Ron is also survived by his siblings, Michael Jacques, Cynthia Gutansky (Anthony), Carlos “CD” Gonzalez (Jessica), and Jennie Montoya (Danny); his grandchildren, Athena Montoya, Asher Montoya, Elend Montoya and Bradley Levitte; and two grandchildren on the way, Sebastian Montoya and Eleanor Brown.

The kids were Ron’s priority in life, and he made sure they were all well-rounded and surrounded by culture, community, and love.

One of Ron’s greatest gifts was his artistic talent.  He used his creativity to create countless amazing drawings, tattoos, company logos, and promotional flyers for nightclubs throughout the years.  He also began creating a comic book called Lost Souls with his business partner.  His talent took him many places and provided him with countless opportunities and unforgettable experiences.

While Ron’s passion for art was immense, he had even greater love for comics, anime & collectibles, with horror comics and unique independent comics being among his favorites. When he opened Comic Asylum in East Mesa in 1993, Ron developed lasting friendships with fellow shop owners, customers, artists, and members of the comic community that he maintained throughout his life.  One of his favorite activities was attending comic conventions, comic book shops, and toy shows wherever he traveled, always searching for what he proudly called his “epic finds.”

Ron had a love for music like no other. His tastes ranged from Def Tones, Amy Winehouse, and The Smiths to Sublime, Rebelution and PM Dawn. He was full of random facts and knowledge about every band he loved, from obscure songs and lyrics to the original band member and instruments they played.  Ron could have easily won a trivia contest with his vast knowledge of music.

Ron served as a Business Support Manager in a leadership role at Bank of America for more than 30 years.  He worked his way up the corporate ladder, beginning on the phones helping customers in Collections, before moving into graphic design projects and leadership roles.  He briefly left for three years to work for The Arizona Republic before returning to the bank, where his heart truly was.

Known affectionately as the “Big Man on Campus,” Ron was a natural leader.  He served as a leader for the Military Support Assistance Group (MSAG) and as a former leader of HOLA (Hispanic-Latino Organization for Leadership & Advancement).  He coordinated Chandler campus events, employee engagement activities, volunteer opportunities, and community outreach programs.  Ron loved volunteering with numerous nonprofit organizations, from organizing annual toy drives that benefited more than ten nonprofits to supporting veterans and individuals experiencing homelessness. His heart was enormous, and kindness towards others was one of the principles by which he lived.

Ron will be remembered for his creativity, generosity, humor, loyalty, and the genuine care he showed everyone he met. He touched countless lives and leaves behind a legacy of love, friendship, service, and unforgettable memories.

Ron’s Celebration of Life Service will be held on July 9, 2026, at 10:00am at San Tan Mountain View Funeral Home: 21809 S. Ellsworth Road, Queen Creek, AZ 85142, as family and friends gather to honor and celebrate our amazing Ron.