January 28, 2024
REST IN PEACE
Ron Ingalls passed away on Sunday, January 28th after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. He was the son of Loretta Ingalls and Wendell Ingalls. He is survived by his brother, Jim Ingalls (Rena Ingalls), and his wife Sheila Ingalls, his daughters, Laura Seamon-Ingalls (Josh Seamon- Ingalls), Elizabeth Ahrens (Dave Ahrens), and his grandsons, Wilson Seamon-Ingalls and Matthew Ahrens. He was predeceased by his brothers, John Ingalls, Richard Ingalls and his sister, Jeanne Cote.
Ron’s life was full of a deep and profound love of learning. He was always exploring the theme of what it means to be human and to be connected. At his core, Ron was a teacher, committed to sharing the lessons he uncovered in his own study with others for the purpose of making their life, love, and connection to one another deeper and more meaningful. Ron’s curious and joyful nature led him to try his hand (and excel) at so many things. It expressed itself in a love of adventure. Ron traveled the world with his students, family and friends. Even after losing a leg to cancer at age 34, Ron never stopped exploring. He bought a boat and learned to sail. He taught his daughters to ski and ride bikes. With friends and family he went camping, hiking, boating, and swimming. For Ron, adversity was just a reason to apply his mind to finding a way to continue to live life with joy and adventure, and never a reason to stay home and miss out.
Ron’s passion for learning, growth, and adventure meant a life marked by big changes. He was born in Leominster, MA and spent his summers with his grandparents in Lubec, ME. He attended St. Bernard’s High School in Fitchburg. He left his hometown to attend St. Jerome’s College in Kitchner, ON. He then attended St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore, MD. and was ordained to the priesthood in Harrisburg, PA in May of 1960. He served in various parishes in PA and was Newman Chaplain at Franklin and Marshall and Millersville Universities.
Ron’s belief in a more modern, open, and liberal church were clear in his ministry. Rather than compromising what his heart told him was right to a church that was not ready to change, he left the priesthood in 1971 and moved back home to MA, where he earned his master’s degree in teaching at Boston College. He began a career in education at Newton North High School teaching English and Philosophy which lasted 30 years. In 1979 he married the love of his life, Sheila Corey, in a small ceremony on Cape Cod. They were married for 44 years, raising two daughters in Ashland, MA.
Despite his pivot away from the church and his entrance into secular life, Ron’s calling to the ministry led him to reclaim his priesthood as a Married Priest and served as a wedding officiant and counselor for the next 25 years. He was also committed to weddings, baptisms and other sacraments for LGBTQ, interfaith, divorced couples, and others who felt ostracized by traditional churches. This ministry was one of the great joys of his life, and he loved making connections with the members of his community who came to him for his guidance and services. He was an active member of the Emmaus Community in Bridgewater and the Holy Spirit Community in Newton.
Ron and Sheila were avid members of the Southborough Players Theater group, and participated in countless productions over the years where Ron was able to share his beautiful singing voice with the world. When Laura and Lizzy were born, they joined their parents in this amazing group and performed in shows together throughout the years.
He loved the Red Sox, sports, and computers, and his eyes always lit up when presented with a new challenge. He was an early adopter of computers and technology and extended his passion and talents to teaching computing classes in the 1980’s at Keefe Tech in the evenings. He loved to travel, take long road trips, and explore the world. He traveled to France, Italy, Australia, Switzerland, England, Lebanon, and all over the United States and Canada. Despite losing his leg to bone cancer in his 30’s, he was an avid skier and skied in the US, Canada and France. Although he was extremely active, he was also an avid reader and spent countless hours pouring over books about Philosophy, Theology, and Religion. He was always learning, and expanding his worldview through books as well as travel.
More than his love of learning, books, art, music, computers and adventure, Ron loved his family. His time spent with them playing games, cooking, laughing, traveling and learning was the greatest joy of his life. He attended sports games, school concerts, and theater performances, not only for his own children and grandchildren, but also those of his nieces and nephews, and was always so proud. His family and close friends will always remember him by his gentle, sweet nature and his profound kindness. He was man who we loved more than anything in the world.
Services will be held on Friday, February 2nd at Spirit of Life Community located at the UCC Congregational Church at 130 Newton St, Weston, MA 02493. Visitation will be from 10:00 - 11:00am prior to the service. Funeral service will be held at 11:00am with a light luncheon to follow.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Ron's name to the Alzheimer's Association - https://act.alz.org/
Ron was an active member of CORPUS for many years, attending national conferences and local events.