On June 2, 2009 Ronson began his final attempt at detoxification. He was successful, and for the next five months continued his travels, drug-free. However, in mid-October a bump in the road presented itself as the death of a close friend of Ronson's. A few weeks of mourning passed, until Halloween night Ronson had a relapse. The following morning, he had a fever, flu-like symptoms, and his arm and hand were swollen twice their size. After admittance to the hospital, he spent a few days there before getting a diagnosis: necrotizing fasciitis. He went into emergency surgery immediately.

After one day short of exactly two months in the hospital, nine surgeries, quarantine, and hyperbaric chamber treatments, Ronson finally lost the battle on January 2, 2010. The previous night they finally removed his arm and much of his back and shoulder, but coagulation failure soon followed, preventing his blood from clotting. He began to bleed everywhere and after five hours in surgery, the doctors made a last-pitch effort at saving him by a major blood transfusion. However, he was too weak and the infection had spread to his blood. Multiple organ failure was the result and the point where we finally made the decision to stop the life support. He held on for a few hours longer, but at 4:04 PM he finally had to let go.

Ronson was a beautiful, strong willed person who touched the lives of many. Despite an addiction that took him down in the end, he was always there when you needed him and would go to great lengths for those he loved. He had a very colorful spirit and will never be forgotten. Rest in peace Ronson, July 11, 1983 - January 2, 2010.