Ronald W. Piasecki

Ronald Walter Piasecki, 75, of Shell Point, Florida, passed away peacefully in Concord, New Hampshire on May 17, 2017, just 4 short months after losing the love of his life, Angret Piasecki. Born in Battle Creek, Michigan in 1941 to Leonard and Virginia Wattles Piasecki, Ron enjoyed a charmed childhood, being spoiled by his parents and big sister Mary Moen (whom the family recently lost). After he was voted "Most Flirtatious" and graduated from Battle Creek High School in 1959, Ron joined the U.S. Air Force and trained as a meteorologist. While stationed in Germany, Ron traveled throughout Europe as part of the Air Force tennis team. It was during a tournament in Paris that Ron met his wife of 53 years. As Angret was at first not interested in Ron, he doggedly returned to Paris every weekend he could scrounge up leave and a ride. He finally won her over and they married in 1963 and returned to Michigan in 1964. After Ron graduated from Michigan State University the family moved often as his career in the procurement field took off, first at Southern Railway and then with the University of Maryland. The family eventually settled in the Washington, D.C. area where Ron held numerous senior executive positions with the Department of Interior, GSA and Federal Supply Service. He was most proud of his work with the Federal Supply Service and was honored by then-Vice President Al Gore for helping the federal government establish its first online presence. During Ron's tenure with the federal government he took on several special oversea assignments and the family was able to spend memorable times in American Samoa and Saipan. After Ron retired, Angret accepted a post at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, and they spent 2 years traveling throughout Russia, Turkey, Italy and Germany. When Angret retired from the U.S. State Department, they discovered their perfect retirement life on the Gulf of Mexico in Shell Point, Florida. Ron, never being one to sit still (or afraid to voice his opinion!), soon became active in the community, joining the Apalachee Bay Yacht Club, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and being a founding member and longtime chair of the Wakulla County Code Enforcement Committee. They also spent many years supporting and cheering on their beloved granddaughter Rebecca throughout her high school years in Tallahassee and college years at the University of Central Florida. However, Ron's great passion (besides golf, boating, fishing, his Shell Point neighborhood and his grandchildren!) was to champion water quality issues throughout Wakulla County and the State of Florida. Ron served as President of the Friends of Wakulla Springs, President-Elect of the Friends of Florida State Parks, was the originator of the Wakulla County Infrastructure Committee, founder of the Wakulla Springs Alliance, board member of the FSU Coastal Marine Lab, founding board member of the Wakulla Environmental Institute and was a long standing member of CCOW (Concerned Citizens of Wakulla). After attending a beautiful goodbye celebration at Wakulla Springs State park this past February, Ron moved to Concord, New Hampshire where he was able to spend his final months with his daughter Tonya, son-in-law Rob and his beloved grandchildren Abby and Chad. Ron is survived by his daughters Audrine Finnerty and Tonya (Rob) Rochette, grandchildren Becky Finnerty (fiancé Chris Wright), Abby Rochette and Chad Rochette and many nieces and nephews in both the U.S. and Germany. The family would like to thank all of Ron's neighbors and friends, the caregivers at Presidential Oaks in Concord, New Hampshire and the hospice team at Concord Regional VNA for their caring support. The family will have a private funeral service later this year for both Ron and Angret, where their ashes will be laid to rest in the family cemetery in Michigan. Those who wish may make donations to the Concord Regional VNA https://15892.thankyou4caring.org/tribute-donation-form, Friends of Florida State Parks (Learning in Florida's Environment) LIFE and Yellow Buses LIFE program https://friendsoffloridastateparks.org/Donate-To-FFSP-Now/, or to the Friends of Wakulla Springs State Park http://wakullasprings.org/.