Ronald William Melicher

Ronald William Melicher, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and esteemed educator, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 11, at the age of 85. Born on July 4, 1941, Ronald devoted his life to family, scholarship, and the advancement of financial education.

Ronald is survived by his wife, Sharon, their children Michelle, Sean (Brooke), and Thor (Vickie), and their grandchildren Chelsea, Jasper, Steven, Jayden, and Ryan.

A distinguished member of the University of Colorado Boulder faculty for 45 years, Ronald joined the Leeds School of Business in 1969 and retired as Professor Emeritus of Finance. Throughout his long and accomplished career, he served in several key leadership roles, including Chairman of the Finance Division, Director of MBA/MS Programs, and Academic Director of the Executive MBA Program. His dedication to teaching earned him numerous honors, among them the President’s Teaching Scholar designation, the W. H. Baughn Distinguished Scholar Award, and multiple campus and college teaching excellence awards.

Ronald’s scholarly contributions were widely recognized in the field of finance. He published extensively in leading academic journals and became known for his work in mergers and acquisitions, banking, and financial markets. He co-authored several influential textbooks—most notably Introduction to Finance and Entrepreneurial Finance—which continue to be used in business programs across the country. In 2020, he received the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award, honoring his exceptional career-long impact as a scholar and educator.

Ronald will be remembered for his sharp intellect, dry sense of humor, and deep love for his family. His legacy endures in the thousands of students he taught, the colleagues he mentored, and the family who will forever cherish his memory.