Ron was born Aug. 16, 1940 in Columbus, Ohio and moved to Sarasota in 1948. He graduated from Sarasota High School in 1957 and continued his education at Manatee Junior College and the University of Florida. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics in 1967 from the University of South Florida.
After three years working in Illinois for the Allis Chalmers Corp. and International Harvester, Ron returned to Florida in 1970 as the Director of the Computer Center at Manatee Community College, a position he held for 18 years. He then served as the Director of Information Services with Sarasota County Schools from 1988 to 2000 and later became Technology Division Director with the Florida Department of Education. He retired in 2004.
During his professional career, Ron was a leader in the development of data collection systems for schools and community colleges across Florida. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Florida Association of Educational Data Systems and previously served as the organization’s president.
Ron led an active life, playing golf in the L3 League, Pedaling with Parkinson’s and watching the University of Florida Gators’ athletic teams. He especially loved camping and traveling in retirement, taking trips to Nova Scotia, Ireland, South America, Alaska and Quebec.
He was also very involved in the activities of his children and grandchildren. He spent time as a baseball coach in the Central Sarasota Little League and served on its board of directors, was an active member of the Kiltie Band Boosters at Riverview High School, supported the Sarasota Vo-Ag FFA chapter and participated as a grandparent with Fruitville Elementary School’s Dad’s Club and Running Club.
Ron was the beloved husband of Pat McCord, his wife of 54 years. He leaves behind three children, daughter Knetha (Sean) Wallace; son Keith (Nancy) McCord; son Kylie (Adrian) McCord; four grandchildren, Christopher (Shannon) Ruscitto; Kaitlin McCord; Lily McCord; and Ryan McCord; and one great-granddaughter Madelyn Ruscitto.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Floyd C. “Tate” and Jean E. McCord (Sautter); brothers Richard McCord and Charles McCord; and sister Barbara McCord.
The family will be holding a Celebration of Life July 23, 2018 at 11 a.m. at Robert Toale and Sons Funeral Home at Palms Memorial Park, 170 Honore Ave., Sarasota, FL 34232.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Tidewell Hospice online at www.tidewellhospice.org or the Sarasota FFA Alumni, P.O. Box 20455, Sarasota, FL 34276.
