Ronald R. Wilmore
David Roscoe remembers: On February 2, 2019, I flew from Savannah to DC to join a hundred friends and family who’d gathered to celebrate Ron Wilmore’s exceptional life. There were warm memories of his student days at Hopkins School and Yale, his years of teaching at St. Albans, and his inspirational tenure as executive director of the Northwest Settlement House. Ron’s intelligence, pride, gritty determination, disarming candor, biting humor, and fierce loyalty to friends and family shone through. (Ron was one of only four Y65 classmates with a perfect attendance record at Y65 reunions.) Two particularly moving highlights: the affection and respect expressed by our own Danny Parker, another of the five black Y65 classmates; profound appreciation from LaRue Gibson Y85, a black DC St. Albans student whose life changed forever to the good when Ron pushed, prodded, and encouraged him to attend Yale. The fondest words were for Sandy, a tower of strength, a deeply committed partner, and and a motivating force in Ron’s life for over five decades. As one observed, ‘Ron-and-Sandy’ has long been a single word, recognition of an inseparability that began in New Haven, that grew in depth throughout his career of service, that found meaning in their cherished monthly African-American Sunday Book Club meetings, and that culminated in care and love in his last years of suffering. In addition to Danny, others attending from our class were Simian Allison, Ward and Penny Barman, Peter Gross, Jon Grouf, Joel and Barbara Papernek, David Ruffin, and Bob Trupin.’
Died at his home in Springfield, VA, on January 12, 2019. A native of New Haven, CT, he graduated Hopkins Grammar School, ’61 and Yale University, ’65. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Sandra Mitchell Wilmore, nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends. He loved people and devoted his professional life to teaching and social service, most recently at the Northwest Settlement House in Washington, DC.A Life Celebration will take place in Washington on Saturday, February 2. Contact wilmorecelebration@gmail.com for details. Memorials donations may be made to Ronald R. Wilmore Scholarship Fund, Hopkins School, 986 Forest Rd., New Haven, CT 06515 or Northwest Settlement House, 1739 7th St., NW, Washington, DC 20002.
Published in The Washington Post on Jan. 27, 2019
Eulogy remarks by Barrington D. Parker, February 2, 2019.
Please enjoy the speech he delivered at our Class Dinner in the fall of 2009.
Ron and Sandy in 2011