We are sad to report that our good friend and colleague, Ron Turner, has passed away. Ron passed on Tuesday evening with his family by his side.
* Updated Service Information at the end
Ron served as an Affiliate Associate Instructor in the Department of Urban Design and Planning. He taught in several design studios, was a member of the department’s Professionals Council, and actively supported the Northwest Center for Livable Communities.
Ron moved to Seattle in 2003, after retiring from Wallace Roberts and Todd as a Senior Architect/Planner. As a practitioner, Ron led a highly accomplished career in Philadelphia. His professional experience included work in Architecture, City Planning and Urban Design. He started his own practice in 1976, providing planning and design services to dozens of public and private clients in the Mid-Atlantic region, including the State of Pennsylvania, the City of Philadelphia, Jefferson Hospital, the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Latino Community Land Trust, and the Franciscan Health System. Prior to starting his firm, Ron designed a number of buildings for educational institutions and housing developers for which he received several awards and public accolades.
Throughout his life, Ron was also an active member in his community. He served in leadership roles on nearly a dozen public commissions, advisory boards, and committees on the east coast. He continued this commitment to public service after moving to Seattle, representing his Belltown community in various planning activities and volunteering his services to the Puget Sound Regional Council and the American Planning Association, where he served on the Senior Action Council. He also wrote several articles on regionalism and housing for the APA Newsletter.
Ron was also a wonderful teacher and shared his knowledge and passion for design and planning with generations of students. He served as an Adjunct Professor at Drexel University and Temple University and lectured at the University of Pennsylvania before coming to the University of Washington. He also mentored students as a member of the Professionals Council and, to the extent that his health allowed, was an eager participant in departmental activities.
As educators and professional planners, we will remember Ron for his wisdom and deep knowledge of and passion for planning and design. But even more, we will remember him for his kindness, generosity, and patience. He was a wonderful listener and story teller, a gifted teacher, a valued colleague, and for many of us, a very good friend who will be deeply missed.
A celebration of his life will be held on
Saturday, October 27 • 2:00 – 5:00 pm
University Friends Meeting
4001 9th Avenue NE, Seattle, WA, 98105
Service to be followed by a reception with light snacks
Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to the University of Washington’s
Urban Design and Planning Professionals Council Equity Fund.
www.urbdp.be.washington.edu/support/equity/
This fund was created to provide financial support for Master’s students
who come from backgrounds underrepresented in the planning profession.
Questions or Memories: leslie@hogedesign.biz
The family would welcome stories and memories for a memory book.
Please email, mail or bring them along to the service.