Ronald N. DeFino Obituary
Ronald N. Defino, 89, of Gloucester, passed away on January 14, 2022 with the supportive care of the Kaplan House, Danvers, Massachusetts a day before his 90th birthday. He was born on January 15, 1932, the son of the late Mary Capone and Rocco Defino.
After graduating from Germantown high school in 1949, he joined the Navy, serving as a radarman for four years. Upon his return he enrolled in and received a B.S. from the Philadelphia Museum College of art and thereafter taught art at Delsea Regional High School in Vineland, New Jersey and also worked as an independent marketing design consultant. He then went on to receive his M.F.A. from the Tyler School of Art and Architecture, Temple University.
In 1965 he was hired as an assistant professor in the Art Department at West Chester State College, West Chester, Pennsylvania (now WCU) where he taught sculpture, ceramics, drawing, and art history until he retired. An exhibiting sculpture, Ronald used traditional sculpting materials as well as experimented with other media and found objects in his large sculptures and on site constructions, often made of glass, stone, and steel. He was invited to exhibit his work in the Greater Philadelphia area in the 60s, 70s and 80s.
His family members characterize him as both a daily avid reader of diverse views on a range of topics or issues, determined to broaden his own perspectives on and understanding of them and an effective problem solver to whom they often turned for sage advice and support.
In the mid 1980s he and his wife moved to Gloucester, MA where they have resided since then, enjoying Gloucester's coastline and inspiring Ron's sketches of its constantly changing seascape and rock formations.
He is survived by his wife and caring partner, Peggy Maki , Gloucester, Massachusetts; two stepchildren, Elizabeth Horodowich, Las Cruces, New Mexico and Karl Horodowich, Albuquerque, New Mexico; two step grandsons, Louis Pate, Las Cruces, New Mexico, and Adrian Horodowich, Albuquerque, New Mexico; two sisters, Marianne Byrne, West Chester, Pennsylvania and Elaine Hart, North Cape May, New Jersey; two nieces, Vicki McGrogan and Melissa Goodfellow, West Chester, Pennsylvania; and his lifelong friend and uncle, Andrew Capone.
In keeping with Ron's wishes, his family will hold a private service and celebration of his life. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions may be made in his name to the Kaplan House (CareDimensions.com) in Danvers, Massachusetts or to the Gloucester Fire Department, 8 School Street, Gloucester, Massachusetts 01930 to acknowledge the support and comfort they offered him and his family during the final weeks of his life.
Arrangements have been made by the Greely Funeral Home, 212 Washington Street, Gloucester, Massachusetts.
