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<p><em>Ronald Edward “Ron” Loveland </em>was born in Bristol, CT to Robert Edward Loveland and Eleanor Gladys (Peckham) Loveland. His father was a self-employed building contractor from whom Ron gained his drive and strong work ethic. Ron has three brothers: Ed, Jack, and Ken. He is survived by his wife, Victoria J. (Lunn) Loveland, whom he met in high school and to whom he was married for more than 45 wonderful years. Ron was raised in a devout Christian family that placed the values of faith, family, and service to community uppermost. He lived these values throughout his life.</p>
<p>Ron grew up in Bristol and graduated from Bristol Eastern High School. Ron was active in sports and activities, including football, baseball, track, Latin and German clubs, marching band, stage band, pep band, and Boys’ State. His musical talents led to selection for the All-Connecticut band and All-East band. In addition, he was in Boys Club and played in recreational basketball and baseball leagues. He received a congressional appointment to West Point from Senator Abraham A. Ribicoff of Connecticut.</p>
<p>Ron’s love of an active life carried on at West Point, where he participated on the Pistol and Volleyball teams; in the Ski, Rugby, and Glee clubs; and with the Ring and Crest Committee and Cadet Band. He was assigned to companies C-1 and E-1 and was company commander as a First Classman. Ron remained active in sports throughout his life and was an avid water and snow skier.</p>
<p>During the Lake Frederick encampment at the end of Beast Barracks, Ron sought out Marc Gunnels, as they had competed against each other in high school football. Ron recalled Marc running over him en route to scoring a touchdown during his final high school football game. Marc and Ron would become roommates during First Class year, and they and their wives would remain lifelong friends.</p>
<p>Mike Campbell recalls fighting Ron in plebe boxing: “Ron and I did pretty good in boxing. As we progressed, we were inevitably matched in a bout. I ended up losing to Ron and to this day remember stumbling back to the barracks with my head buzzing. Ron had hit hard!”</p>
<p>Many classmates fondly remember going to the Loveland family lake house to enjoy water skiing and a weekend away from West Point, even if they got pressed into manual labor for house maintenance tasks. Above all, his classmates remember that Ron was always warm, cheerful, and smiling. Steve Gravlin summed it up best: “Ron was a friend to all of us. He was blessed with a constant smile, a hearty laugh, and a certain insouciance to the rigors of West Point that was envied by many.” </p>
<p>Ron was one of those rare individuals who met their spouse before attending West Point and married soon after graduation. Ron and Vicky were married on June 18, 1977 in the Cadet Chapel. They have four children: Jason, Justin, Benjamin, and Sarah Loveland Meyer; and 11 grandchildren. Ron was a devoted father and grandfather who never outgrew the joy of being a child himself and delighted in playing with his children and grandchildren at every opportunity.</p>
<p>Ron branched Field Artillery and, after the basic course at Fort Sill, OK, he was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 6th Field Artillery at Fort Bragg, NC. Here he held positions as the reconnaissance and survey platoon leader and aerial observer. Subsequently, he was the 18th Field Artillery Brigade athletic officer and assistant personnel officer. After the advanced course, Ron was assigned to the 21st Field Artillery Detachment in Corlu, Turkey from 1981 to 1982. This was a remote, austere assignment with responsibilities to train and support Turkish artillery units. While there, he trained for and ran the Greek Marathon over the original marathon route. Ron left active duty in 1982 and accepted a commission in the Army Reserve. He served several additional years, including an assignment as a company commander in the 3rd Battalion, 385th Infantry Regiment. He was promoted to major while in the Army Reserve.</p>
<p>Following active duty, Ron retuned to Connecticut, where he worked for Sikorsky Aircraft for 13 years in positions of increasing responsibility, culminating as Korean Black Hawk program manager. During this time he earned an MBA from Rensselaer. Eventually he and Vicky settled on Long Island, New York. </p>
<p>After Sikorsky, Ron held leadership and management positions in several engineering and technical businesses until joining Long Island Forum for Technology in 2005. Here he assisted Long Island businesses to become more agile, reduce cost, and improve competitiveness. This fired his drive to open his own consulting business, Summit Safety and Efficiency Solutions, in 2010. In this, Ron achieved his true business passion, working tirelessly to assist small and medium manufacturing companies achieve success. He became a well-known and respected business leader on Long Island, a thought leader in manufacturing, a mentor, and an educator. He relentlessly worked with community, business, and government organizations to educate about and promote manufacturing opportunities on Long Island. He also served as co-chair of the Hauppauge Industrial Association (HIA). His business leadership led to wide recognition on Long Island as the “Mayor of Manufacturing.” Ron’s legacy is now honored by the HIA with a pavilion named after him.</p>
<p>Beyond business, he tirelessly volunteered his time and resources to assist those in need through his church, local charities, and as a friend and neighbor. Emblematic of this community leadership, Ron was ordained as an elder in the Setauket Presbyterian Church.</p>
<p>His classmates, family, and community mourned his untimely passing but cherish Ron’s legacy in the countless lives he influenced, supported, guided, and touched.</p>
<p><em>— Classmates and Family</em></p>
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