Mayo, Ronen

Son of Yardena and Jacques, was born on December 23, 1962, in Tel Aviv. He studied at the Yehuda Maccabee Elementary School, spent two years studying in a military boarding school, and completed his high school studies at the Ironi D School in Tel Aviv. Ronen’s talents were varied and he showed great interest in all areas of art. Even at an early age, his image was well-formed, and everything he did was meticulous. His thoughts and reflections were expressed in a bundle of poems he composed and in his notes. He read a lot and excelled in a wonderful memory. His special sensitivity to nature and man was expressed in his creativity. He worked in carving and ceramics, made statues of wood, metal, shells, stones and wax. He painted, sewed, designed jewelry, designed models, and all with enthusiasm and dedication. During his vacations from high school, Ronen used to roam around the country. He had an inner life of his own but he also liked to be with people. He got along with Bedouin in the desert, with fishermen at the beach, with digs of archaeological digs, always identified with any subject that occupied him. He was able to speak to each person in the language and style peculiar to that person. He knew how to live the life of the moment and devote himself to the joy of life that permeated him. In one of his notes he wrote: “With regard to time, it is nothing, just as I am with regard to time.” He was never in a hurry. Everything was done calmly, calmly, curiously, with joy of creativity and joy of learning. In October 1981, he enlisted in the IDF and was assigned to a pilot course, but left voluntarily and was transferred to the Armored Corps. In July 1982 he successfully completed a training course in a Merkava tank and then passed a course for drivers of the Merkava tank. Ronen even fought in the peace-Galilee war, and received the war signal. In November 1982, he completed a basic officer’s course. On November 13, 1983, in the morning he drove by jeep to the Golan Heights. Near the Kiryat Malachi intersection, a truck hit a jeep parked on the side of the road, and Ronen was critically wounded. He fought for his life for a week, and on the day of the 14th of Kislev 5744 (November 20, 1983), before the age of 21, died of his wounds. Ronen was laid to rest at the military cemetery in Kiryat Shaul in Tel Aviv. The commander of his unit wrote to his family: “Ronen came to us in September 1983, and from a group of six soldiers he was elected to the rank of noncom in the Merkava section. In the business section of Ronen, everything related to the Merkava project: formulating, writing the combat doctrine and testing this tank under field conditions. During these two months he demonstrated great independence, initiative and diligence in carrying out obscene tasks that were imposed upon him and performed in a Yaffa and good manner. “Ronen left behind his parents and two brothers.