In Memoriam – Ronald Milton Lydick

On February 13, 2026, Ronald Milton Lydick passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by family and friends, at the age of 77, after a courageous battle with appendiceal cancer.

Ron was a founding force behind Military Animal Project and a man whose life was defined by service, generosity, and an unwavering belief in second chances, for both people and animals.

He and his wife, Mardu Lydick, built a life and mission together for nearly 30 years. What began as a love story grew into a shared purpose, one rooted in helping others and creating meaningful change.

Ron and Mardu spent nearly three decades volunteering with local shelters and private rescues, fostering, training, and placing dogs and cats into loving forever homes. They experienced firsthand the powerful bond between people and animals, and the way that bond could change a life. They did this together, as a team, long before Military Animal Project or Pets for Vets existed. It was simply who they were. And yes, along the way, they became proud “foster fails” more than once.

A successful business owner for over 46 years, Ron built Marathon Services, a copier and printer rental and service company based in Southern California, into a trusted name in the entertainment industry. He never treated success as the finish line. He treated it as a platform, quietly supporting organizations that served veterans, animals, and the community at large.

Though not a veteran himself, Ron’s commitment to those who served ran deep. While attending college during the Vietnam era, he participated in ROTC, preparing to serve. When the Draft Lottery came in 1969, his number was high enough that he was not called, but his respect for the military community never wavered. As an Associate Member of the Marine Corps League, active in Detachments 597 and 672, Ron stayed closely connected to that world and dedicated to supporting the people in it.

He was also a proud and longtime supporter of the Gary Sinise Foundation. In 2011, when Ron received a call from their newly opened office requesting a copier, he asked, “What is the Gary Sinise Foundation and what do you do?” After hearing their mission, he didn’t hesitate. “I’ll do you one better. I’ll donate the copier, supplies, and service.” That gesture grew into a lasting commitment to their work and the veterans they serve.

That moment reflected exactly who Ron was. He continued supporting the foundation through Marathon Services and later had the opportunity to meet Gary Sinise several times. He deeply respected Gary’s dedication to our nation’s heroes, and that shared mission further fueled Ron’s own commitment to giving back.

Ron was more than a founder of the Military Animal Project. He was a builder of relationships, partnerships, and community. Whether working alongside fellow volunteers, veterans, or close friends, he brought people together with authenticity, humor, and heart.

He also had a gift for saying the wrong thing at exactly the right time. Mardu lovingly called it his “foot-in-mouth disease,” often stepping in with a smile to explain, “You’ll have to excuse him… he’s having a flare-up.” It was part of his charm. Completely genuine, unfiltered, and unforgettable.

Ron believed that veterans and animals could heal each other, because he saw it happen again and again. That belief became Military Animal Project. After he and Mardu relocated from Ventura County, California to Carson City, Nevada in 2020, they expanded that mission into a new chapter, establishing a 22-acre dog training and equine facility in Reno in August 2022, a place of healing for veterans and animals alike, made possible through the generosity of a Ventura County World War II Navy Seabee veteran.

Ron’s legacy lives on through this organization, through the veterans whose lives he helped change, and through the countless animals who were given a second chance because of him.

A life built on love, service, and second chances—lived fully, given freely, and never to be forgotten.

A Celebration of Life will be held in June in honor of Ron, near what would have been his 78th birthday on June 13. Ron made it very clear he didn’t want a traditional funeral. What he wanted was something far more fitting: a gathering surrounded by friends and family, with good food, good drinks, and a lot of laughter.

More details will be shared soon.