Sunday, November 19, 2023
I was friends with Ron's son Doug growing up in State College, and when we were in high school Doug and I volunteered at the Shavers Creek Environmental Center in the summers. Ron shared duties driving us the 30 minutes there and every time it was turn to drive, he would teach us a new vocabulary word or some interesting scientific fact. I was never a student who loved school, but I did fine. Learning was more of a necessary chore. But those car rides with Ron always left Doug and I laughing, having learned something new from someone who loved to share his knowledge so genuinely that, even as a jaded teenager, you knew he just wanted to make you a better person. I have honestly never forgotten that about him, and never will. I remember being a freshman at Penn State and walking into his office downtown with Doug and seeing his smiling face. I doubt we had any reason to be there other than that we knew Ron was there and we just wanted to see him. I can't think of any better tribute to someone. Ron was a parent, among all his other talents, that made me curious about this world. His kindness made a mark, and he always made me smile.
