Ronald Douglas Vaughan

Ron is survived by his daughters, Vicky Case and Jennifer Vaughan Maanavi; his sons-in-law, Robert Case and Dariush Maanavi; his sister, Phyllis Terrey; his grandchildren, Alec, Presley, Halle, and Cameron; and his extended family of close nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Betsy.

Born and raised in New Rochelle, NY, the son of Gwyn and Lavinia Vaughan, Ron was a lifelong resident of Scarsdale, NY. Ron proudly served in the United States Coast Guard from 1957 to 1959 in Nantucket, Massachusetts. Ron and Betsy divided their time between Scarsdale and North Palm Beach, FL, from 2002 until 2020, when Ron settled full-time in North Palm Beach after Betsy’s passing.

Once Ron’s parents relocated to North Palm Beach in 1973, he and Betsy quickly fell in love with the area. When they retired there decades later, they became active members of the community, especially the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), the Palm Beach Junior League, and Lost Tree Chapel. Ron’s passion for history, and especially for the Gilded Age, found a special home at The Flagler Museum, where he served as a senior docent for 20 years. He adored sharing stories of Henry Flagler and Florida’s early days, and he found great community amongst the museum’s staff and volunteers. Ron was also active on his condominium board, serving as President and in various leadership roles.

Ron was a senior marketing executive at the encyclopedia and educational publishing company Grolier, Inc. He later concluded his career at Kensico Cemetery in Valhalla, NY. With decades of experience in the education industry, Ron never lost his love of learning or teaching. His family and friends will remember his engaging stories, his encyclopedic recall, and the way he brought history alive with humor, warmth, and impeccable timing.

He was affectionately known as “Mr. Palm Beach,” a nickname that reflected not just where he lived but how fully he embraced his community. He had a remarkable ability to bring conversations to life with his quick wit, gentle humor, and richly detailed stories he loved to share. Ron was a natural storyteller, a brilliant orator, and a man with a contagious laugh. His kindness, friendliness, and generous spirit left a lasting impression on everyone who knew him well.

A celebration of Ron’s life will be held at Lost Tree Chapel at 11149 Turtle Beach Rd, North Palm Beach, FL, on Saturday, December 27th at 11am. The family invites all who knew Ron to attend.

Memorial donations in memory of Ron may be made to the Lost Tree Chapel at https://www.losttreechapel.com/donations/