I never knew you Ron, but your life has changed me, through your loving sister Jeanne. I looked you up today to help make sure of your last name. I’m ordering 10 trees to memorialize people who’ve touched my life. You really have.

While attending Fort Hays State University, I had not declared a major. After taking Ron's geology class, I decided that was what I wanted to do.  I was his first advisee.  He made learning fun and his door was always open to students. He will be greatly missed.

I was saddened  today when I learned of Ron's passing. I can vividly remember his enthusiasm while discussing geology at FHSU. Outside of my major I have found memories of about 4 professors, he was one of them. RIP my friend. 

Ron was my host when I was a perspective graduate student at the University of Wisconsin. I slept on his couch and he made pancakes for breakfast- in addition to showing me and a gang of others around the department, and taking us on a great field trip to central WI.  A big part of what made UW such a great place to go to grad school for me was Ron’s welcome, and having him as a friend and colleague.  Ron loved geology, and he loved teaching, and he was always generous with his time.  He was always in the undergraduate petrology lab helping students with microscope work, or deciphering their lecture notes, or telling stories.  Ron especially enjoyed telling semi-mythic stories about his undergraduate years at Colgate University, and the cast of characters there.  When I joined the department at Colgate I wasn’t surprised to find that they still told stories about Ron! We will miss him, his enthusiasm, and his kindness.

Ron Schott was an adjunct professor at Fort Hays State University.  For his time there, he was and advocate of integrating technology into the classroom.  We watched live streams of Mt St Helens when its dome started to grow and increased in activity, and always had fond memories of his classes and labs.   We often talked about technology and I saw the joy in his eyes when he talked about his profession and his hobbies.   Due to his expertise we came to him with many questions regarding petrology and mineralogy.  He will be greatly missed. 

 At UW-Madison, Ron obtained both an M.S. and Ph.D. with me. He was very dedicated to the department - his customized license plate on his red Jeep was "UW ROCKS". One of the things that stands out about Ron was his love for sharing the excitement he felt about geology. He was well known as an exceptional TA, and he continued as an instructor for several courses in his last year as a graduate student. At UW-Madison, Ron started what would eventually become a very large and national online presence with the first incarnation of his "Geology Home Companion", and Ron's use of the web and social media for advancing geoscience education has become very well known to geoscience educators. 

Ron was always one of those former students that when he crossed your mind, one just smiled. His love of geology was boundless and he was exceptionally generous with his time. He will be greatly missed.



Ron was the “Dean” of graduate students in the Geology department at UW-Madison in the 90’s.  He was an honest guy, a good friend, and a great geologist to spend time with in the field.  He certainly had a big impact on my professional career.  I have always, and will continue to, cherish my memories of Ron in the department, in the field, driving across the country in a van, at a football game, and at the Essen Haus.  Prost Ron, Prost!  

I was very sorry to hear of Ron’s passing. He was my TA in mineralogy and petrology over 25 years ago. He definitely played a part in my choosing to make a living as a geologist. I will think of him every time I use the Rockd app he did so much to enrich. 

OBITUARY

Ronald Christopher Schott

November 22, 1968 – May 28, 2018

Becker Funeral Home

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