A FAREWELL TRIBUTE TO OUR DEAR FRIEND, RON ACKERMAN
by Laura Sampson, NFPB Trustee and Volunteer at Rocky Mountain PBS
Photographs courtesy of the Rocky Mountain PBS "Station's Archived Memories"

     Every once in a while, a person comes along who deeply touches your heart and enriches your life. Ron Ackerman was one of those people.  
     Ron, an Air Force retiree since 1988, began his volunteer career for public broadcasting at his local beloved station, Rocky Mountain PBS (Denver) in 1991 by helping with the annual televised auction. 
A few years later, Ron volunteered regularly to help on a popular weekly local production, "Senior Showcase." Ron was the program "gofer" helping to set up the "green room" for the guests appearing on the show.
     Ron had a brief break (1993-1998) from his volunteer work when he moved to Arabia for work purposes. Immediately upon his return to Colorado, he returned to volunteering and stepped back in with the Rocky Mountain PBS Membership Department and the Volunteer Board. In mid-1999, he became the Volunteer Chair for Membership Pledge Events and held that position until July 2004.  
    Ron worked nearly full time as a volunteer and ultimately received several pretigious awards.  In 2000, Ron and his Millenium Pledge Team at Rocky Mountain PBS were honored with National Friends of Public Broadcasting's Charlotte Hill Volunteer in Fundraising Award. In 2001, Ron was honored with the Rocky Mountain PBS Diane Papedo Award for "possessing the qualities of outstanding leadership, effectiveness and unselfish service as a Rocky Mountain PBS volunteer."     In 2008, Ron received the Summit Award at Rocky Mountain PBS honoring
     
     

him for contributing 10,000+ hours of volunteer service. Many people assumed Ron was on staff because he was always at the station helping out in some way, shape or form.
    A former staff member at RMPBS affectionately recalls when Ron was helping with a Channel Six Garage Sale: "Ron hauled. He schlepped. He bought lunch. He bought dinner. He bought snacks.  He remembered birthdays. He was incredibly willing and ALWAYS pleasant and happy to help. We felt very lucky to have him around."
    After completing several years as the Membership Chair for Rocky Mountain PBS, Ron served as a committee chair for a wide variety of station events including the televised auction.  
     Beginning in 1999, Ron began attending (at his own expense) the Annual PBS Development Conferences. He truly loved being a part of national public television and believed strongly in its goals and mission. 
     In 2006, Ron was elected to serve on the Board of Trustees for National Friends of Public Broadcasting (NFPB) and immediately developed another circle of friends from all across the country.  Ron's fellow NFPB Trustee, Judy Dunson, said that she will remember Ron as a person that "had a certain spirit around him that captured your own enthusiasm as you celebrated life right then and there.  I'm so glad the volunteers at Rocky Mountain PBS got to share his life and dedication; they are richer for that time together."  
    NFPB Chair, Dorothy Pacella stated, "Ron was so proud of his 
    

volunteer work at Rocky Mountain PBS and was always ready to say he was a Volunteer.  I'm so glad I had the opportunity to work with him -- his insight and wisdom always prevailed when we were grappling with a difficult issue on the National Friends board."
    NFPB Vice Chair, Penny Zent, remembers that "Ron was wonderful to NFPB and went out of his way time and time again to be of service. [Ron was] always willing to go that extra mile!" In 2008 a videotaped interview was conducted of Ron by Laura Sampson, a fellow NFPB Trustee and fellow volunteer at RMPBS.  When Laura asked "What is it about Rocky Mountain PBS that has become so appealing and endearing to you?"  Ron's reply was "Wow.  The station itself.  The staff and the volunteers. The equal love of any group of people I've worked with in my life. The sense of camaraderie, the sense of colleagues working with colleagues and the challenge that there's always something that we have to do here.  I am doing something for my community and it is a responsibility that gives great meaning to my life."
    Ron passed away on October 3, 2013.  On behalf of his friends at National Friends of Public Broadcasting and Ron's fellow volunteers at Rocky Mountain PBS, we extend a heartfelt "Thank You, Ron" for sharing so much of your life with us.  Our lives have been enriched and the future of public broadcasting is better because of YOU. You made a difference!  You will be missed . . . and always remembered with great fondness.