Ronald Charles Fettig

Born and raised in New York City, Ron graduated from Fordham Prep High School and Fordham University (Psychology, 1956) and entered Fordham Law School. But life—and love—had other plans. In 1958, he met Carole and the two began what would become a remarkable marriage of 65 years. They started their family in NYC, but true to their adventurous spirits, left the city to build a new life in the Washington, DC metropolitan area—and Ron completed his JD from George Washington University Law School. He also proudly served as a Captain in the US Air Force, a Navigator in the Strategic Air Command.

After college, a tour of Europe by commercial ship inspired what would become Ron's lifelong career in international shipping. He entered the industry in NYC in the late 1950s with Simpson, Spence, & Young, then the world's largest dry cargo ship brokerage. When his family later moved to DC, he joined Charrier & McAteer as a partner—a firm focused on food aid programs under the US Food for Peace Program—which would eventually evolve into Fettig & Donalty Inc.

Ron enjoyed a decades long reputation as a charming, tenacious, creative, and savvy ship broker. His ingenuity in delivering life-saving food aid to countries in crisis under complex scenarios was legendary.

Through a career spanning more than 50 years, Ron had a front row seat to many of the major events of the second half of the 20th century. He helped move millions of tons of rice to post-war Vietnam and critical US food aid to countries rebuilding after the collapse of the Soviet Union. In the late eighties, under Ron's leadership, the company was invited to join the prestigious United Nations World Food Programme broker panel, where it remains an active member today.

An excellent lunch or dinner companion, Ron could regularly be found dining with clients or partners downtown. His favorite restaurant in DC was The Prime Rib, where he would hold court from a banquette near the piano. To the chagrin of his dining companions, he knew every tune by heart and was not afraid to sing along at the table, especially after a couple glasses of his beloved Glenfiddich.

Later in life, Ron and Carole ventured into farming. After honeymooning in Jamaica and beginning lifelong friendships there, they eventually purchased land to begin a coconut and cocoa farm—proof that, for Ron, retirement was simply another adventure.

Outside work, Ron embraced life with enthusiasm and good humor. He was an avid golfer at Congressional Country Club for decades and later throughout Florida's Treasure Coast—always convinced the next round would be his best. "Talented" might be stretching it, but he could hold his own with the putter!

He loved his family and friends, the sun on his face, hot fudge sundaes, long road trips, and classic film noir detective movies.

Ron is survived by his wife, Carole, his children, Blaise (Emily), Jennifer, Matthew (Kathleen), Tara, and Graham (Eva Jacobs), and his beloved grandchildren Emma and Jed Ryan, Drake and Roan Fettig, Kahla Fettig, and Taryn and Quinlan Fettig. Ron was predeceased by his sister Gloria and his brother Norman.

He will be remembered for his kindness and steady presence, ability to sleep standing up, and an unwavering love of his family. He taught the importance of working hard, staying loyal, and finding humor in life's imperfections.

Family and friends are invited to attend visitation on Wednesday, March 25, from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm at Joseph Gawler's Sons Funeral Home, 5130 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington, DC. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, March 26 at 12:00 noon the Church of the Little Flower, 5607 Massachusetts Avenue. Bethesda, MD.