Fitchburg State professor, veteran, former resident
Ronald E. McGuire of Westminster, 64, died unexpectedly in Bermuda on Sunday, June 16, 2013, while on vacation with his family. He was born December 28, 1948, in Long Branch, New Jersey, son of Ernest and Leona McGuire, and was raised in Harvard. Ron attended St. Mary’s Elementary School in Ayer and graduated from Lawrence Academy in 1968.
As a Boy Scout, Ron achieved Eagle rank. After enlisting in the Army, he served in a medical lab unit at Cutler Army Hospital until 1972, with a brief tour to Vietnam. Ron earned a B.A. in music psychology from the University of Mass. Amherst in 1975 and an M.Ed. in science education from Fitchburg State University in 1998.
An Associate Professor at Fitchburg State, Ron taught life science and lab courses, as well as a music and physics continuing education course. Ron had a passion for music, playing keyboards and saxophone with many local bands. He was described as an energetic entertainer. He was an active member of St. Edward the Confessor Parish in Westminster and its church choir.
Ron is survived by his wife, partner, and best friend, Joyce; his son Jason and wife Shelly, of Topanga Canyon, Calif.; his daughter Megan, a recent Oakmont Regional High School graduate; his younger sister Barbara Bradley of Jacksonville, Ala,; and his loyal and faithful “Fuzzy Mutt” Koda.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Westminster Town Benefit: Neighbors Helping Neighbors, P.O Box 63, Westminster, MA 01473. A funeral service was held Thursday, July 27, at the Silas F. Richardson & Son Funeral Home in Leominster, with a mass at St. Edward the Confessor Church in Westminster. Burial was in Woodside Cemetery, Westminster.
