Meet Ronald LaPread's Wife, Farideh, From A Flight Meeting To 40 Years In New Zealand With Children

The Commodores co-founder, Ronald LaPread, has recently passed away. The news was confirmed on May 30, 2026, by his daughter, Soraya LaPread, who shared an Instagram Story about it. Ronald reportedly died from a medical event, as stated by the New Zealand Herald. However, further updates on Ronald’s health issues and the circumstances leading to his demise are currently awaited.

According to Page Six, Ronald LaPread was a resident of New Zealand for around 40 years. Notably, he had a family, which included a wife named Farideh. Keep reading to know more!

Ronald LaPread was the father of three children from his wife, Farideh

Although Ronald LaPread was a popular face in the music industry, he preferred to keep his personal life away from the spotlight. For the unversed, he was married to Farideh. The pair reportedly tied the knot in the ‘80s, and they first met on a flight from Sydney to Auckland. Ronald and Farideh had three children. While Soraya is currently active in the music industry, the identities of the other two children have not been revealed.

Back in 2018, Ronald and Farideh were also in the headlines after two people were found dead at the Dryden Lodge, located near Grey Lynn Park. The lodge was owned by Ronald and Farideh, as stated by the New Zealand Herald. The deceased were identified as Tania Ellwood and Timothy Kerr Hamilton. Although Ronald and Farideh did not comment on the matter, the lodge was well-known for providing shelter to those who were dealing with housing problems. The lodge was also popular for its ban on drinking.

Ronald LaPread’s first wife died of cancer many years ago

Ronald LaPread was previously married to Kathy Faye, who passed away from cancer. Back in 1977, the Commodores released a self-titled album, which was dedicated to Kathy, as stated by the Independent. Notably, the album was in production when Kathy died. A portion of a single from the album features Ronald saying:

“I may be a foolish dreamer, but I don’t care. ‘Cause I know my happiness is waiting out there somewhere.”

According to Soul Tracks, the Commodores was working on the self-titled album when Kathy started having stomach pain. Kathy had to undergo surgery. Ronald once recalled that he waited for almost two hours for his wife to come out of the operating room. He further stated:

“I missed two planes but wasn’t leaving. About 12:10 p.m. the doctor came out and told me that she had massive tumours in her womb. He gave her about two months to live. She was 23 years old.”

Ronald LaPread continued to perform despite his exit from the Commodores

Ronald LaPread left the Commodores in 1986 and arrived in New Zealand. However, he did not give up his passion for music since he continued performing for the next few years. He was also the leader of a band that appeared on the TV show, Mike King Tonight, during the early 2000s. Ronald LaPread became a bassist for the Commodores in 1970, contributing his skills to their albums such as Machine Gun, Caught in the Act, Movin’ On, Hot on the Tracks, Natural High, Midnight Magic, and more.

What are your thoughts about Ronald LaPread’s personal life and his marriage to Farideh? Let us know.

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PC: Olivia Hemus, sorayalapread/Instagram, thecommodores/Instagram, InMemoriamX/X

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