Ronald P Torok

Ronald Paul Torok, died in Winchester, New Hampshire on January 7, 2025, from complications of Parkinson’s disease. He was born in Youngstown, Ohio to Mary and Zolton Torok, on May 25, 1941. Zolton was KIA in 1944, and Ron was raised by Mary and Anthony Deptula.

Ron was the oldest of five. He is survived by his siblings Randall Torok, Linda Deptula, and David Deptula. Walter (Larry, Smokey) Deptula is deceased.

Ron was a talented musician and played the saxophone in his youth. In high school he was asked to join Bobby Vinton’s band, however, he chose to go to college. He graduated from St. Vincent’s college in 1963 with a Bachelor of Psychology, and from The University of Connecticut School of Social Work in 1969 with a Master of Social Work.

He is survived by his wife Debra Gode, whom he met on the dance floor in 1989 when they danced to “Lady in Red.” Their dance continued for 35 years.

Ron’s children are Aaron and Shana Torok, and his grandchildren are Otto, Ava, Kai and Parker.

He was a passionate and devoted social worker who always fought for the rights of underserved and marginalized communities. Part of his practical graduate research was in group dynamics as it pertained to gang activity in the city of Hartford, Connecticut in the early 1970s. He worked for twenty years in the city of Hartford. He started as an Aide at the Institute of Living, and subsequently worked in the community at Catholic Family Services and then Hartford Neighborhood Centers. His social work continued at Friendly House in Worcester Massachusetts, and Community Health Center in Middletown Connecticut. He returned to Hartford in 1998 as Director of the Open Hearth and retired from there in 2007. Then Mayor of The City of Hartford, Eddie Perez proclaimed January 10, 2008, as “Ron Torok Day”. As a youth, Eddie Perez attended some of the programs that Ron directed at Hartford Neighborhood Centers decades earlier.

Ron and Deb moved from Connecticut to Winchester, New Hampshire in retirement to be in nature, and Ron worked part-time at Catholic Medical Services in Manchester, New Hampshire in outreach with the homeless. Ron loved animals and was a great supporter of Deb’s non-profit Winchester Wildlife Rehabilitation Center.

Ron was loved by all, he saw all people and beings as equal and treated all with kindness, compassion, generosity, respect, and love. His sense of humor could disarm a soldier and befriend any living soul.

In lieu of flowers, we request a donation be made in Ron’s memory to “The Michael J. Fox Foundation.”

The Cremation Society of New Hampshire has been entrusted with arrangements. To view an online tribute, leave a message of condolence or for more information please visit www.csnh.com.