We are saddened by the sudden passing of Loren Ralph Strong on January 7, 2026, at age 72. Loren is remembered as a caring, thoughtful and loving husband, father, son, brother and community member who was generous with his time and resources. Loren was born on June 2, 1953, in Walla Walla, Wash., to W. Kenneth and J. Shirley Strong. He was the second of five children.
The family made a series of moves from Oregon to Idaho to Illinois before moving to Santa Barbara County, in Southern California, where Loren attended junior and senior high school. He graduated from Santa Ynez Valley Union High School in 1971, where he made the honor roll every semester, as well as competed in football and track for four years. His childhood was filled with camping, beach trips, seasonal work, lapidary, woodworking and scouting activities, including earning the Eagle Scout rank at age 14.
Following high school, Loren attended the University of California, Santa Barbara, and graduated with honors in three years with a major in American history. His deep interest in geology led to an early career as a jeweler, earning his Gemological Institute of America certificate in 1977 and working as a jeweler in Santa Barbara, Calif. While house-sitting for a friend, Loren read several articles in Flying magazine and was immediately intrigued. He began taking flying lessons and became a private pilot. Besides enjoying the California coast from the air, Loren loved sailing and spent many hours on the water. Skiing kept him occupied during the winter.
In 1979 Loren spent six months touring and photographing Western Europe and the Mediterranean. This trip brought on a lifetime passion for traveling and capturing experiences in photographs. Loren loved sharing these experiences with family and friends.
Loren returned from Europe determined to become a commercial airline pilot. He earned all of his pilot ratings, including certificated flight instructor (CFI), which gave him the ability to teach student pilots. While job seeking as a CFI, he met private pilot Livy Olson in Novato, Calif. Livy immediately decided that she needed an instrument rating from this new flight instructor, and the relationship began. Loren and Livy were married on January 9, 1982.
Loren was hired by West Air Inc. in Chico, Calif., to fly commuter planes throughout California. This change of company and location coincided with the birth of their daughter, Marisa Anne Strong, on September 18, 1983. Another move was required about a year later to Modesto, Calif. Following a commercial airline interview, Loren was hired by a major airline, USAir, which was based in Pittsburgh, Pa. Almost simultaneously, a second child was born, named Michael Allan Strong, on June 3, 1985.
Loren loved flying and relished being a captain for many years, a career which took him and his passengers to many parts of the world. His interest in sailing and Livy’s desire for a more rural lifestyle brought the family to Jericho, Vt., in 1993. Loren spent much of his free time restoring his home, which needed much attention. He also returned to sailing, purchasing a Pacific Seacraft sailboat named Resolute. Many summer months were spent with the family on Lake Champlain.
Loren was a true Renaissance man with a wide variety of interests and incredible knowledge. He read books extensively, observed and cared for nature, was an expert woodworker, loved music of many kinds, and created new food recipes. Most of all, he dedicated his life to his family, as his fatherhood was an invaluable treasure for his children.
Loren is survived by his wife of 44 years, Livy; his daughter, Marisa Strong, and her husband, Matthew McNair, with their daughter, Natalie McNair, of Las Vegas, Nev.; his son, Michael Strong, of Burlington; and his four siblings, David (Cindi) Strong, of Redding, Calif., Lisa (Gary) Scott of Gresham, Ore., Murray (Sami) Strong of Helena, Mont., and Erica Strong of Redmond, Ore.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the charity of your choice in memory of Loren Strong.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Ready Funeral & Cremation Services. To send online condolences to the family, please visit readyfuneral.com.
There will be a gathering of family members and the scattering of ashes this summer on Lake Champlain.
What a wonderful tribute. He was a great cousin too. His mother and my mother, Idelle Beamer, were sisters in Eugene, Oregon. Loren spent time there visiting family. His first airplane ride was in my father’s plane when he was a young child.
He loved family and always had a smile. He was so excited when he became a grandpa!