Ronald Charles William Ade, 93, passed away on June 2 in Cumming, Georgia.
Ronald Ade passed away on June 2. A memorial service has not been scheduled.
Ron, as he was called by family and friends, was born March 24, 1926 in Brooklyn, New York and was raised in the Chicago area. His father was Charles William Ade, his mother was Helen Meyer Ade, and his sister was Jeanne Lillian Ade.
Ron led a full, productive life. He served as Quartermaster of a troop transport ship, the U.S.S. Admiral W. S. Sims, during World War II. One of his proudest moments was when he steered the ship under the Golden Gate Bridge while carrying prisoners of war back home from the Pacific.
After an honorable discharge from the Navy and after graduating from Northwestern University with a business degree, he worked as a vice president for AMRECO (American Mutual Reinsurance Company) in Chicago.
He married Marguerite Mary Froelich in 1953. Their daughter, Patrice Jeanne Ade, was born in 1954; a second daughter, Susan Marguerite Ade, in 1956; and son, John Ronald Ade, in 1962.
— This obituary previously was published in the Aiken Standard
A move in 1971 brought the family from Wilmette, Illinois to New Canaan. Ron was hired as president of Puritan Insurance Company, a subsidiary of GE Capital.
He and Marguerite were avid golfers and travelers who visited every continent except Antarctica. Ron and Marguerite also enjoyed an active social life; they loved to dance, play bridge and host dinner parties. They were longtime members at Woodway Country Club in Darien.
In 1980 he and Marguerite moved to Mendham, New Jersey, where he served as vice chairman of the board for Beneficial Corporation. From there they moved to the Landings on Skidaway Island, Georgia and then back to New Canaan. From there back to Skidaway Island, then a few years in Roswell, Georgia and eventually Woodside Plantation in Aiken, South Carolina to enjoy retirement and be closer to Susan and John and their families. The final stop was Alpharetta, Georgia in a senior living complex.
Ron was happily married for 66 years. His Sunday morning pancakes before church were legendary. He will be missed dearly by his family and friends. Ron was a hardworking, kind, loving, caring, generous man always there for his family and friends. He had a great sense of humor and the family could temper any situation with laughter.
Ron is predeceased by Patrice (64) who died in December 2018 after a long battle with breast cancer. Surviving Ron are Marguerite, Susan, John, son-in-law Bob and daughter-in-law Bonnie. Also, four grandchildren: Christopher Richard Vidal, Robert Charles Potenza, Jeffrey Byron Potenza, and Nicole Elizabeth Ade; and two great-grandchildren: Alexavier Hildreth and Liliana Belle Potenza; a sister-in-law, Elizabeth Froelich; and brother-in-law, Bob Froelich; niece, Teresa Austin; and nephews Robert Froelich, Gregory Froelich and Edward Froelich.
No service is scheduled at this time.
Ron’s favorite charity was St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. For more information, please email Susan at susan_potenza@yahoo.com.