September 4, 2022 at 11:26 am

After a brief illness, Richard “Dick” Ronan died at dawn on Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022, in the arms of his wife Cathy. He was born in Tulsa, Okla. in 1933, the second son of Thomas and Susan (Driscoll) Ronan. His parents, originally from Ithaca, N.Y. moved to Tulsa when Thomas took a position with the Ethyl Corporation’s gasoline research division. After Susan’s untimely death in 1936, the young family returned to the east coast, settling in Larchmont, N.Y. Thomas’ sister Mary mothered the two boys.

As a youngster Dick learned the art of sailing from the yachting icons Arthur Knapp and Cornelius Shields at Larchmont Yacht Club. The sport became a passion that shaped his life. He became an avid competitor in many different classes including distance racers, Shields, 210s, Finns, Interclub Dinghies, and an America’s Cup campaign aboard Columbia. Through the years he reached out to newcomers to the sport and he was always willing to share his experience and tactical knowledge with fellow competitors. He was committed to good sportsmanship which was acknowledged by Larchmont Yacht Club when he was awarded the Barker Trophy for sportsmanship on three separate occasions. In 1991 he was the first recipient of the David Pryor Trophy (the YRA of Long Island Sound Sportsmanship Award).

Dick graduated from Dwight Prep in Manhattan and Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa., where he was a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity and the ice…