By TOM MARINER //
It was a drop-the-phone moment.
“Ron Loveland is gone?”
A shock. A huge hole, not only in the lives of his wife, Vicky, or their four children or their 11 grandchildren. For all of us on our Island.
Ron was valuable to many in our innovation industries and local governments, with whom he kept in regular contact. Exclamations of surprise at his passing this week were universal.
“I talked with him two days ago.”
“He went skiing last weekend.”
All remembered fondly his self-effacing integrity, helping the HIA-LI both as co-chairman of its Manufacturing Committee and with its annual Trade Show. Many commented on his passion for helping younger generations understand the value of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Family man: Remembered best as “Grampy,” “Papa” and “Boppop,” depending on whom you ask.
“Wow, he just visited my kid’s school.”
“Saw him last year at the Cradle of Aviation’s Manufacturing Day event, his presentation in front of the huge planetarium screen.”
Ron invited people who helped him plan and execute that Manufacturing Day event to a thank-you dinner at the waterfront home in Asharoken he and Vicky designed and remodeled about a year ago. Inside the stunning house were spaces absolutely devoted to family, to kids and grandkids – playrooms, cozy corners inviting sleepovers.
There was also the elevated office, from which he ran his Summit Safety & Efficiency Solutions, renowned for helping manufacturers save money and become more agile and effective. Behind his desk hung his West Point dress uniform, which is visible in the background of many of his social media posts – all those calm, smiling updates about regional manufacturing events and success stories.
Ron’s engineering education at the U.S. Military Academy not only solidified his technical skills, but amplified his senses of duty and command – skills augmented by his 13 years at Sikorsky Aircraft (now part of Lockheed Martin), where he managed most aspects of the Black Hawk helicopter line, from marketing to manufacturing.
A Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute MBA in international business, which he earned while at Sikorsky, closed the circle on making Ron a powerful manager. And at Summit Safety & Efficiency Solutions, he honed his consulting skills, bringing modern efficiency to the Long Island Forum for Technology and other organizations – he even helped me lay the groundwork for Long Island Bio, over a decade ago.
These accomplishments made him valuable. But what made Ron essential was his core drive and honesty – when Ron gave an opinion, we listened, and when he directed, we followed.
Ron lived well and left us far too soon. While short, his time with us can – and will – be an inspiration to his family, to all those STEM kids and to our Island. That happens sometimes with honest, lifelong contributors.
We all miss you deeply, our buddy!
Tom Mariner is the executive director of Bayport-based Long Island Bio and the chief historian of Innovate Long Island’s Voices library.
