Ronald H. Coleman

Ronald “Ron” Coleman, age 85, of Canton, MA passed away at home on May 13, 2025.

Preceded in death by his parents Leamond Coleman and Camilla "Nellie" Coleman, brother Thomas Coleman, and sister Nancy Usher. 

Survived by his wife Natalie Coleman and daughter Wendy Coleman of Canton, son Damon Coleman and wife Kathleen of Boston, niece Joan Larkin of Lakeville, nephew David Usher of Bridgewater and two beloved grandchildren, Mackenzie and Kyleigh, in addition to several brother and sister in-laws, cousins, nieces and nephews.

Ronald grew up in Quincy, MA and was a 1957 graduate of North Quincy High School, where he ran for the track team.  After receiving an Associates Degree with honors in Electronic Engineering from Northeastern University’s Lincoln College in 1963, Ronald went on to receive a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology from Northeastern in 1969.  He also completed a course in Electronic Component Engineering at Northeastern’s Center for Continuing Education in 1980.

Ronald became a Component Engineer at GTE Corporation in the Government Systems Division, where he specialized in memory and microprocessor integrated circuits for military systems such as the ELF Communications Program and the Minuteman and MX Missile Systems.  He worked at GTE in Needham, MA for 23 years until his retirement in 1995.  Prior to this, he developed a reliability test laboratory at RCA Computer Systems Division from 1970-1972.  From 1966 through 1970, Ronald worked for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), where he evaluated space flight components and contributed to the historic Apollo 11 Mission landing of the first man on the moon on July 20th, 1969.  From 1961 to 1966, he repaired and calibrated shipboard radar systems as an Electronics Technician at the Boston Naval Shipyard, where he also completed a four-year Civil Service Electronics Mechanic Apprenticeship program.  Among the awards that Ronald received were the Apollo Achievement Award from NASA in 1969, and the U.S. Department of the Navy’s Reliability, Maintainability and Quality Assurance Award for outstanding contribution to fleet readiness in 1988.  He also received multiple Superior Performance Awards from GTE’s Communications Systems Division throughout his career.

Ronald maintained an interest in investing and financial management throughout his adult life, and imparted this interest to his children at an early age.  Both of his children went on to work in the investment management industry.  Natalie, his devoted wife of 54 years, provided invaluable support to Ronald every day that they were together.

He will be missed by those who cared for him, and remembered by those whose lives he touched.

Services will be private.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

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