Dr. Ronald Hunt, Dds

Ronald Hunt was a man truly blessed with so many gifts, so many talents, and so many loves. His was a life full of successes, of beauty, and accolades. But these alone did not make the man. Ronald was defined by what he did for so many, openly, willingly, and graciously. More than anything, Ron taught us that the greatest gift of all was always giving to others. Ronald was born November 23, 1938, on a cool Wednesday in Indianapolis, Indiana, the only child of George II and Kathleen (Cruse) Hunt. George was an engineer for General Motors, and had met Kathleen when they attended Purdue University together. The family lived in the little town of Speedway, which sprawled outward from its namesake, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Like so many in that town, the races were an integral part of their life. Ron's grandfather George once drove the pace car for the Indy 500 in 1929, quite an honor, and Ron's family would often host the drivers and crew in their home during race time, before it became so commercial. Ron was of course captivated by the race, and he and his buddies would often sneak into the Brickyard to watch those cars zoom by. Ron was a gifted youngster, with a natural talent for music he acquired from his mother. He took piano lessons for 10 years, forming a lifelong love for the instrument he played his whole life. At Speedway High School he was also a member of a singing trio called "The 3 Lemons," which was going to reunite this year for his 50th reunion. After graduating from Speedway in 1956, Ron enrolled at Indiana University in Bloomington, where he majored in pre-dentistry. He was a brilliant student, and was accepted into Indiana's Dental School after only 3 years of undergraduate studies, and completed his undergrad degree while attending his first year of dental school in Indianapolis. While he was in Bloomington, he met a gorgeous young woman named Patsy Newhouse, on a double date. Well, Pat wasn't Ron's date, but that couldn't stop him, it was love at first sight. The next day he called her up, and they were together ever since. Ron was a Junior in college and member of Phi Gamma Delta (Fiji) Fraternity, while Pat was a Sophomore and in the Alpha Chi Omega Sorority - not to mention a beauty queen, voted Miss Indiana University in 1959. The next year, the happy young couple was married, on April 2, 1960 in Speedway, while Ron was still in dental school. And in 1961, Ron and Pat were blessed with the first of their three children, when son Greg was born in December, 1961. After Ron graduated from dental school in 1963, he joined the U.S. Navy as a dentist, along with some friends from his dental school. He was stationed in Newport, Rhode Island, at the Naval War College, and he and Pat loved it there. They fell in love with the beach in the summer, and loved to snow ski in Vermont in the winter. Their second son, Todd, was born there in Newport, while son Scott was born in 1967. In his second year in the Navy, Ron was sent overseas, first in Newfoundland and later Cuba, while Pat and the boys returned to Indiana to await his arrival. After his two-year commitment to the Navy was finished, he wanted to return to his Indiana roots, but he and Pat decided to find a place that offered as much as Newport, with both beaches and skiing. That place was Muskegon, a place that gave them so much, and a community so fortunate to have them call it home. The family rented office space from Dr. Irwin Ochs on Peck Street, for just $100 a month. Ron eventually took over Dr. Ochs' practice, keeping the business there for five years. Then together with another physician, Ron built the Norton Medical Center, which has grown and flourished in the Muskegon community for 40 years, housing many successful medical and dental practices. Always a gracious and giving man, Ron was a very generous dentist, never charging high prices and providing more than his share of pro bono work. His very first patient was a young girl named Sharon Veltman, who became an integral part of his business and his life. She ended up being a Co-op student for him in high school, then his office manager for 40 years. She spent nearly as much time with him as his wife, and was one of the big reasons Ron's practice was so successful. That, and Ron's warm heart and generosity, which inspired such uncommon loyalty in his patients and his staff, which had very little turnover. But Ron was so wonderful at whatever he did, and was such an amazing and loving father. He was very involved in his boys' lives, coaching their Little League teams, and supporting them as they swam on the YMCA swim teams, played tennis and snow skied. He even built them a tree house. The family had a gorgeous home on Lake Michigan most of their time in Muskegon, and had to move the home back 200 feet from shore in 1986, due to chronic erosion. The family spent so many wonderful times together, and every year for 15 years, they would load up the motor home in the winter and head out west to Colorado to ski, with the Bob and Troy Kassing family from Indiana, Ron's old friends from college. Bob and Ron were great friends, and had a big backgammon rivalry, playing well into the night when the Kassings visited Muskegon in the summertime. Ron and his family also owned many boats over the years, and enjoyed those sunny days on the water together. Their last boat was a 38-foot Chris Craft, which Ron skippered around to various ports along Lake Michigan. Ron was also a wonderful husband, and he and Pat had such a fulfilling life together. They loved to entertain, in their home and on stage, and were active in Port City Playhouse, performing in several productions together. And with Pat's beauty-queen background, they later became involved in the Miss Michigan Pageant held each year in Muskegon. Ron always had a keen eye for beauty, and was the Judges Chairman of the event and also judged several other pageants in the area. He and Pat also opened their home to several of the Miss Michigan contestants over the years, developing some close friendships along the way. Ron's hobbies didn't stop there, of course. He was a brilliant card player (and competitive, just ask Bob Kassing), and was a champion Bridge player, earning the rank of Life Master. He had a real passion for the game, and formed and managed "duplicate bridge" clubs while in dental school and throughout his life. Ron played in bridge tournaments all over the country, even against famous people like actor Omar Sharif and financier Warren Buffet. Ron also had a passion for golf, and was a member and past board member at Muskegon Country Club since 1966. Every year he and his golfing buddies would take a golf vacation somewhere, often incredible trips to Ireland or Myrtle Beach or elsewhere. He was also a deeply religious man, and a longtime member of First Congregational Church, where he served on the board of deacons. Each of his children was baptized at Church Camp in Big Blue Lake. Ron truly believed in the Golden Rule, and was active in Cursillo and served as Rector of Decolores No. 1 and also Rector of Decolores at the Muskegon Correctional Facility. Not surprising for a man who read his Bible almost nightly, and loved to study theology and doctrine. Ron was also a proud and devoted grandfather, who loved talking up his grandkids every chance he got. He loved to tease the kids about their boyfriends or girlfriends. But Ron's greatest passion was for helping others. He was an uncommonly compassionate and honest man, who always looked out for the "little guy." Ron was a little shy at first, but once he got to know you, he loved to tell his many stories of his adventures. Ron had so many stories, from a full and wonderful life, a life full of love and beauty and success. He died of a heart attack January 19, while playing golf near his condo in Florida. But his legacy lives on today, a legacy of a life lived helping others, of giving back so many of the gifts he was given. Ron gave us all so much, but sharing his life with him was the greatest gift of all. He will be greatly missed. Dr. Ronald A. Hunt, DDS, age 67, died Thursday, January 19, 2006 in Florida. He was born in Indianpolis, IN, on November 23, 1938 to George & Kathleen (Cruse) Hunt and married the former Pat Newhouse on April 2, 1960. Dr. Hunt was also a life member of Ambucs and the Muskegon District Dental Society. He was active in Cursillo/DeColores, a member of First Congregational Church and had served on the Board of Deacons. Members of his family include: Wife, Pat; 3 sons, Greg Hunt of CA, Todd (Anna) Hunt of Muskegon, Scott (Kerri) Hunt of Green Bay, WI; 8 grandchildren SERVICE: Tuesday, January 24, 2006, 11 a.m. at First Congregational Church with Rev. Tim VanderHaar officiating. Interment in Lakeside Cemetery. VISITATION: Monday, 6-8 & 3-5 p.m. at Clock Funeral Home. MEMORIAL: American Heart Association.