Ron Zaleski was born on November 11th, 1950 in Southampton, NY and attended Hampton Bays High School. At 19 years of age he joined the United State Marine Corps, serving during the Vietnam era from 1970 to 1972.
Afterward, he went on to own and operate both a scuba shop and gym. In 2006, the same year he walked the Appalachian Trail, Ron founded The Long Walk Home—a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to serving Veterans and their families.