Ron Gister

Ronald Samuel Gister, 81, of Charlotte, NC, died on Monday, July 18, 2016, in Hospice care at the Novant Medical Center, Huntersville, NC. He was born in Jersey City, New Jersey on August 15, 1934, son of Milton E. Gister and Gladys May (Kramer) Gister. He graduated from Pasadena City College, Pasadena, California, continuing his studies for his BA in English and his MA at the University of Southern California.

His professional career focused on education, as an English teacher, Student Advisor and later the Vice Principal of Arcadia High School in Arcadia, California. He was a strong advocate for students and had the people and political skills to make wonderful things happen for them. While in California he made a bucketful of memories that he loved to share about adventuring in the abandoned mines of Calico, CA and hiking and camping in the desert hills.

Ron moved to Hartford, Connecticut in the early 1970’s for a position at the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education (CABE), later rising to be its Executive Director. He worked creatively with leaders in CT’s supporting industries (e.g. insurance) to make new services available and in the CT legislature and Governor’s office as the voice for Boards of Education.­ He loved the beauty and the history of the Northeast and the artistic offerings of “big” city life in Hartford.

In the early ‘80s Ron and his wife, Kathy, bought an Art and Framing franchise store. Owning and running the store was a real education for them both and Ron eventually shifted his focus to smaller framing projects. He had a beautifully creative eye for enhancing and/or highlighting art with the use of framer’s materials and tools.

Always willing to explore new things, Ron, Kathy and their son, Joshua, later spent eight years living in Worthing, England on an amazing UK and northern European adventure, nine years close to family in Deep River, CT, and the last dozen years in Charlotte, NC. No matter where he went, Ron always found something interesting to learn and the time to share a book recommendation or a great story. His library is testimony to his voracious and, almost, omnivorous love of reading. He touched many hearts and will be deeply missed.

Survivors include: his former wife, Natalie Lindstrom; his wife, Kathleen Seymour Gister, whom he married in 1980; daughters Lauren Gister and Margaret Gister of Chester, CT; daughter and son in law Juliana and Gerhard Brandner of Newburg, NY; and son Joshua Gister of Seymour, CT.

He also leaves six grandchildren: Alexandra Brennan, Sophie Gold, Maya Gold (Lauren); Joseph Gister (Margaret); and Sebastian and Nicholas Brandner (Juliana). Additionally, he is survived by his sister Carole Starkes and nieces Jena Starkes and Clea Starkes.

Ron was cremated. There will be no Funeral or Memorial Service in Charlotte but there will be a Celebration of Ron’s Life to be held in CT at a later date. Suggestions for gifts in his memory include contributing to either of his most ardently supported organizations: