Ronald E. Zooleck Sr.

Ronald E. Zooleck Sr. a dedicated community leader, small business advocate and beloved family man, passed away peacefully in his home in Hingham MA on Oct 1, 2024. Ronald left a lasting imprint on many lives he touched in the world of business, politics and charitable endeavors throughout his remarkable life and career. 

Born on August 20, 1938, to Thomas and Bridget Zooleck in Waterbury Ct., a son of immigrants, he was very proud of his Albanian and Polish heritage. This would become a theme throughout his life. In 1976 during the nations yearlong bicentennial celebration Ron felt compelled to chronicle his father’s amazing immigrant story of how he fled Albania at the urging of his family. a family that he would never see again, to escape the looming communist regime and give him a life of opportunity in America. His story was quickly picked up by local papers and eventually ran in newspapers throughout the country. 

Ron spent his early years working in his father’s restaurant "The Hamilton Lunch" while attending Sacred Heart Grammar and High School in Waterbury. During his school years Ron emerged as a talented athlete and began a lifelong passion for sports particularly baseball. He was an all-star catcher for the East End Giants a team that would fall one game short of an appearance in the little league world series. A three-sport athlete in high school Ron would go on to play baseball for Cheshire Academy in Ct, Mount St Mary's in Maryland while eventually playing and graduating from the University of Connecticut. Ron loved the UCONN Huskies and could often be seen wearing is UCONN colors. When his beloved Red Sox Won the World Series in 2004 Ron, known for his sense of humor flashed his Red Sox gear around the pool of his Florida community daily in hopes of aggravating New York Yankee fans. 

Upon graduation Ron began his career at the greater Waterbury Chamber of Commerce, serving as the membership manager. It was during that time that Ron became a local leader in the Civil Rights movement. He would lend his powerful voice and commanding leadership to many worthy causes throughout his life. Ron always believed in helping people and considered it to be the obligation of all capable people to help their neighbors. In April of 1978 Ronald took over as the Executive Director and COO of the South Shore Chamber of Commerce in Quincy MA. Boasting nearly 3000 members Ron transformed the SSCC into the largest suburban Chamber in the United States and one of the most powerful lobby organizations in the state of Massachusetts. Among the many initiatives that Ron championed throughout his career he was particularly proud of helping to restore rail service to the south shore and the redevelopment of downtown Quincy. His commitment to business and community welfare was unwavering. A gifted public speaker, Ron was highly sought after in his retirement years and often traveled the country being hired to speak at local business organizations. He often donated his compensation from those speaking engagements to the local community he was visiting. 

In the late 90s and early 2000s, moved by the suffering occurring in the conflict in Kosovo, Ron joined forces with the relief organization "Americares". With the support of the local business community Ron raised money, organized and accompanied cargo planes filled with relief items for the Albanian people of Kosovo. He spent days on the ground distributing those relief items. 

In the early 80s Ronald was asked by the United States Chamber of Commerce to become a teacher and instructor at the Chamber Institute at Notre Dame University in South Bend Indiana for two weeks each year. He proceeded to instruct generations of aspiring Chamber executives for the next 30 years.

 At the age of 26, Ron become the youngest ever Commissioner of the Twi-Met semi-pro baseball league. From there Ron began his broadcast career in minor league baseball. He served as the radio voice of the single "A" affiliate Waterbury Pirates, while also hosting a comedy radio program on Sunday mornings and a cable access television talk show. 

In a lifetime filled with accomplishments, Ron always believed his greatest accomplishment was marrying his teenage sweetheart, Jane. They met at a YWCA dance and that meeting turned into a nearly 70-year love story. 

Their union epitomized love, dedication and partnership and gave rise to a beautiful family that Ron cherished above all. Ron leaves behind his wife Jane, his 3 children and seven grandchildren. Son Ronald Jr and his wife Suzanne of Weymouth and their two children Zach and Izaiah, son Michael and his wife Lisa of Lakeville MA and their three children Maxwell, Madeline and Grace, and Daughter Kristin Thompson of Sutton MA and her two daughters Bree and Sadie. 

Ronald’s legacy is not just etched in his accomplishments and accolades it is vividly alive in the hearts of his family friends and all those who had the privilege of knowing him. His incredible spirit and dedication to his community and loved ones will be remembered fondly by everyone whose life he touched. 

The services for Ronald will be private.