It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Ronel John (Ron) Poppell. Ron passed away on Tuesday, December 6, 2022, at Fleet Landing in Atlantic Beach. He was 84. Ron was a lifelong resident of Jacksonville and the Beaches and attended local schools. He was a proud graduate of Robert E. Lee High School where he was an outstanding athlete. He later returned to Lee as the school’s principal.
Ron enrolled at Jacksonville University, and it was there that he met and married his college sweetheart, Judy Bockel. Ron was captain and an All-American soccer player at JU and rowed on the University’s crew team. Ron and Judy were married for 62 years and had two children. Ron earned a bachelor’s degree from Jacksonville University and a master’s degree from Western Carolina University. He served as a teacher, coach, and administrator at Fletcher High School for 16 years. His championship athletic teams and the Interact Club for which he was advisor were sources of great pride. Ron was also a founder of the Beaches Five Mile Run which continues today as the Beaches Summer Run and founded the Beaches Youth Soccer Association.
Ron served as principal of five Duval County high schools – Robert E. Lee, Nathan B. Forrest, Terry Parker, Edward H. White, and Sandalwood. He held leadership positions in the Florida Association of School Principals, Florida Association of School Administrators, Florida High School Activities Association, and the Florida Committee of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. He was selected as Florida’s High School Principal of the Year in 1995.
Ron was a member of Congregation Ahavath Chesed, Selva Marina Country Club, and Atlantic Beach Country Club where he enjoyed playing tennis with longtime friends. He is survived by his wife Judy Bockel Poppell; sons Rick Poppell (Jim Chin), and Jeff Poppell (Joanna); and grandchildren Jack Poppell and Jenna Poppell.
A Celebration of Ron’s Life will be held at a later date. Memorial donations may be made to Congregation Ahavath Chesed (The Temple) or Community Hospice of Northeast Florida.
A graveside service for Ronel will be held Thursday, December 8, 2022 at 3:00 PM at Greenlawn Cemetery, 4300 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32207.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hgmandarin.com for the Poppell family.
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