Jan. 12, 2021
Ronald A. Stewart died this morning at his home in Middleboro, MA, while in hospice care, after a brief illness. He was 86.
Ron was born in So. Plainfield, NJ on June 30, 1934 to Augusta (Miller) and Arthur Stewart. He served in the Army and was stationed in Germany during the Korean War. He moved to Mansfield, MA with his family in 1973 to begin a successful career as a graphic arts supplies salesman for various companies before finally retiring from the W. Oliver Tripp company in 2003 as their top salesman. It was because of this status that Ron found his love for Bermuda. As an award for his sales accomplishments at Tripp in 1983, he won a vacation in Bermuda and from then on he was hooked. Ron was well traveled but Bermuda was his love and he returned almost yearly up until his last trip in 2017. After his retirement from the Tripp Co. Ron worked for over 10 years as a grounds keeper at the Ridder Farm Golf Course in E. Bridgewater, MA. During his retirement years Ron discovered his love of cooking and enjoyed preparing meals for Debbie and himself but really excelled when it came to cooking up holiday meals to share with his extended family.
Ron was also well known as an avid gardener. At the age of 12 he was given an orchid plant and thus began a lifelong passion. He was a member of the Cape Cod & Islands Orchid Society for more than 28 years and his talent for growing them was known far and wide, winning him many awards and blue ribbons. His homes were filled with dozens of beautiful orchids of various species and at any time of the year you would always find something in bloom. No matter where Ron called home, the outside was surrounded by beautiful shrubs and flowers and inside was full of color.
Ron is survived by his wife of 28 years, Deborah (Smith) Stewart, of Middleboro, MA; his daughter Robin Crocker of Howland, ME.; his steps sons and their families; Greg and Cathy Smith and their daughters, Ally and Ashley, of Bridgewater, MA and Jason and Michelle Smith, of E. Bridgewater, MA; his granddaughter Alexandra (Leary) Hatch and her husband Jacob and his great-grandchildren Robert (RJ) and EmmaJean Hatch, all of Greenbush ME.; his grandson Jason Leary of Dighton, MA.; nieces Patricia Hoover-Hagan and MaryAnna (Stewart) White, and nephews William and Robert Stewart, and their families.
Ron was predeceased by his first wife Jean (Nesbitt) of Rochester, NY; his son Douglas of Hampden, ME.; and his brothers Arthur and Robert Stewart of NJ.
There will be no service at this time. A memorial service/celebration of life followed by a private burial will be held sometime later this spring or early summer.
Donations can be made to his favorite charities – St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Shriners Hospitals for Children.
