Ronald E. Baptiste

Ronald Eugene Baptiste, (84) of Francestown, NH peacefully passed away while surrounded by his loved ones at his home on Friday, October 14, 2022.

Born in Somerville, MA on May 31, 1938, the son of Manuel “Curly” Baptista and Florence Dias, Ron graduated from Somerville High School (1956) and Tufts University (1960) with an BA in History and Secondary Ed. While at Tufts, he was a member of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) and the Delta Upsilon fraternity. Ron was an avid varsity athlete in high school and college, competing in track and cross-country. He received his M.Ed., in Educational Administration from Northeastern University (1962) and attended the Shakespeare Institute at the University of Birmingham, England as a Ph.D. candidate in Elizabethan History.  In 1969, Ron completed his Ed.D., in Educational History and Philosophy with a specialization in International Education at Boston University.

Ron’s experiences in international travel, domestic unrest during the student riots against the Vietnam War, and the turmoil of the integration of the Boston school system profoundly impacted his methodology and philosophy as an educator. He began his path as an experiential educator teaching history at Haverhill High School in Haverhill, MA, (1960), and then as a Social Science Instructor and Residence Hall Director at Dean College in Franklin, MA, (1964). In 1968 he joined Northeastern University as an Assistant Professor in the Foundations of Education department where he taught for twenty years.

During his tenure at Northeastern, Ron began combining his passions for experiential education and the natural world. This was solidified after seeing examples of this during a yearlong sabbatical in Europe with his wife, Moe. As a testament to their love of nature and its beauty, Ron and Moe decided to raise their children in a rural area settling in Francestown, NH.

This connection to nature encouraged Ron to become the oldest Outward Bound “Watch Officer” trainee at the age of 44. He developed his lifelong motto of “pushing life to the limits” during these adventures. Outward Bound embodied so much of what he valued that he continued instructing “Youth at Risk” in a wilderness setting and developed the academic semester programs for the Hurricane Island Outward Bound School. Ron’s love of nature and wilderness was contagious, he and his family enjoyed summers camping and canoeing the Machias River and Grand Lake Stream Corridor and the coast of Maine. The many summits of the White Mountains of NH beckoned Ron, his family, and friends as they “bagged” several of the 4,000-foot peaks, carrying their tents and supplies on their backs.

Ron adopted the Outward-Bound School’s motto, “To strive, to serve, and not to yield” as a personal mantra. This can be seen in his tireless activism in national and local politics. He worked as a volunteer on many local and national Democratic campaigns and took an active role in town politics. He was particularly passionate about preserving the rural character of Francestown and controlling indiscriminate development. He served as a member of the Francestown planning board and spent countless hours each morning at the local store discussing his opinions with anyone who would listen and engage.

In 1988 Ron accepted a position that he would hold for twenty years at Franklin Pierce University, Rindge, NH, where he achieved full professorship and was the coordinator of the Education and Secondary/K-12 Teacher Certification Program. Ron believed in “full experiential immersion” and created two off-campus teacher education centers where students lived during their sixteen weeks of student teaching. During his tenure at FPU, Ron became the Founder and Director of the Graduate Summer Institute of Teacher Certification, which was a post-bachelor, accelerated secondary teacher certification program.

In 1994, Ron founded and directed The Marine Awareness Research Expedition Center, (M.A.R.E.), a multi week, off-campus, credit bearing, marine program. Students lived aboard schooners, sailing waters of the Caribbean, or the Maine and Nova Scotia coasts, or paddling sea kayaks through the Florida Keys. Ron’s life-long love of sailing, the ocean, history, literature, and teaching were combined in this most ideal, experiential platform for his students.

If Ron had an idea, he was fearless in its pursuit and would not rest until his idea was fully achieved. This was the case when he realized the imbalance of men’s versus women’s athletic teams at Franklin Pierce University. In 1995, he resurrected the field hockey program, recruiting a head coach and team of women to compete in the next year’s Division II, (Northeast 10) field hockey season. For ten years Ron immersed himself in the game and the team as assistant coach, goalkeeper coaching specialist, and recruiter.

Friends and family who knew Ron understood his love and dedication to his career and teaching generations of students. What he did not publicize was his selfless acts of generosity to his friends, family, and community. He would be the first person to congratulate a friend on a personal success, to stand up for the underdog, or to offer counsel to one in need. He had countless conversations with young people discussing the process of applying to college and often wrote heartfelt letters of recommendation. 

Ron had a competitive streak where he showed his true colors in a fierce devotion for games, especially for charades and the game of poker. He adored the arts, especially museums, the Boston Ballet, musicals, opera, and movies. His days sailing fostered a love for sea shanties, while his family and friends ignited his interest in other music genres. 

He was an avid consumer of news and current events, spending many hours with his cats curled up on his lap and his dogs at his feet. He was always up for an adventure, which included working out with his Zumba class buddies, bird watching, taking drives along the coast, and enjoying time with his grandchildren. 

Ron relished a strong argument as much as a quick wit. He loved practical jokes and entertaining others with stories of his adventures. In short, Ron was a man of passion, wisdom, integrity, creativity, and a true “good soul”.

Ron is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Maureen (Moe) (Dailey); his daughter Danielle Baptiste (Kevin Baptiste), and granddaughter, Emilia Baptiste of Halesowen, England; his daughter Megan Baptiste-Field (Daniel Field) of Francestown, NH; his daughter Erica Baptiste-Ahlborn (Brian Ahlborn), and grandson, Nolan Ahlborn of Poestenkill, NY.

The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the Home Health Care and Hospice team of Keene, NH for their care and compassion.

A Celebration of Life will be held on June 17, 2023, at 2:00 PM, Francestown Cemetery #3, 761 2^nd New Hampshire Turnpike South, Francestown, NH.  All are welcome to attend and share memories of Ron.  Reception to follow at Francestown Town Hall. 

Memorial contributions may be made in his name to:  Animal Rescue League of NH, 545 Route 101, Bedford, NH, 03110,https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/BXbwEiWuwxBsHXqqrbNkiw; Tall Ships America, PO Box 1459, Newport, RI 02840, https://tallshipsamerica.org/donate/; Hurricane Island Outward Bound School, PO Box 800, Camden, Maine, 04843, https://www.hiobs.org/donate/ or the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Floor 17, Chicago, IL, 60601, https://www.alz.org/?form=alz_donate.