Ronald Kornblum

Ronald N. Kornblum (December 5, 1933 – September 23, 2008) was an American coroner who served as Los Angeles County Coroner from 1982 to 1990.

Early life Kornblum was born December 5, 1933, in Chicago. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of California, Los Angeles and earned his medical degree at the University of California, San Francisco. From 1960 to 1961, Kornblum was a Navy medical officer in Saigon.

Ventura County In November 1973, Kornblum was named Ventura County's first full-time Chief Medical Examiner-Coroner after the county adopted a new system. He took office on January 1, 1974.

Los Angeles County In 1980, Kornblum left Ventura County to become the top assistant to Los Angeles County Coroner Thomas Noguchi. In 1982 Noguchi was demoted to physician specialist for speaking too freely to the media, moonlighting, and alleged mismanagement. Kornblum was appointed acting coroner. In 1987 he was appointed to the job outright after the Supreme Court of California declined to hear Noguchi's legal challenge of his demotion. Outside of his capacity as coroner he testified in the Preppie Murder trial as an expert on chokehold deaths. Kornblum stated that he agreed with most of the 154 changes called for in the audit and had begun to implement some, but certain changes were impossible due to the "limited size of the department's budget and the overwhelming workload".

Death Kornblum died on September 23, 2008, at his home in La Cañada Flintridge, California.