Ronald Petroni

Ronald L. Petroni went to sing in the choir of Heaven, on Sunday, October 15, 2017, at Forsyth Hospital in Winston-Salem, NC, of complications that arose while recovering from open-heart surgery. He was 82.
Ron was born on July 25, 1935, in Mount Vernon, New York, to Daniel and Viola Petroni and was their only son. After graduating from A.B. Davis High School in 1953, Ron enlisted in the Navy, entered submarine school and served two years on the USS Cutlass (SS478) as a quartermaster. After being honorably discharged from the Navy, he attended Westchester Community College for two years and then transferred to New York University, where he attended night courses while working a full-time job and raising a family. Shortly after graduating in 1965, he received his Professional Engineering license, which he maintained for more than 30 years.
Ron's career began as a drafter for Grand Central Station in New York City, where he developed his love of drafting and drawing. Afterwards he worked as a design and project engineer in the defense industry, then as a design engineer and bulk material handling equipment engineer in the paper mill industry and then as a plant engineer at Hills Brothers Coffee, which led to a job at the Beech-Nut Life Savers company in Canajoharie, NY. From there he moved to the original Life Savers plant in Port Chester, NY, where he worked as the plant engineer and became the production manager.
Ron was promoted to Life Savers corporate engineering department in NYC, where he managed such projects as field engineering and construction management of the final phases of the Atlanta International Airport and the reformulation of Carefree Sugarless Gum, which involved upgrading equipment and the manufacturing process. He was the interim plant manager at the largest Live Savers manufacturing plant, in Holland, Michigan; in 1994 he created and headed the Life Savers New Products Commercialization and Process Development Department, in Winston-Salem.
In 1996 Ron founded CIRTECH, INC., a consulting engineering and design corporation that offered engineering, technical and management services to companies in the peanut, candy, gum and baked goods industries.
After 12 years of travel, Ron retired. He devoted his time to woodworking, his passion, and enjoyed making toys, furniture, and other unique wooden designs for family members, friends and St. Timothy's Episcopal Church in Winston-Salem, NC, where he was an enthusiastic and active congregant.
Of all Ron's "projects " he was most proud of all the young engineers and associates that worked for or with him over the years.
Ron is survived by his loving wife of 31 years, Christine Richards, and his loving children from his two previous marriages: Kevin (Betsy), Ron (Eileen), Christopher (Aniceta) and Karen; his grandchildren, Holly, Stephanie, Samantha, Katie, Violet and Coral; his great grand daughter, Lauren; his sister, Lucille; his nephews, Vincent and Robert; and many other nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his son, Mark, his parents, his former wives, Margaret Petroni (mother of Kevin, Ron and Christopher) and Elizabeth Einhorn (mother of Mark and Karen).
Ron shared his wonderful smile with a twinkle in his eye. He loved and accepted people for who they are. He loved all types of music and, as one friend has put it, "Ron, we will carry your songs and smiles in our hearts forever with love." Ron was loved and will be missed by many.
The Requiem Eucharist for Ron will be held at St. Timothy's Episcopal Church (2575 Parkway Drive, Winston-Salem, NC) on Saturday, November 11, at 10:30 am. All are welcome. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you please donate to St. Timothy's Episcopal Church, the National Parkinson's Foundation or the American Heart Association.

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