In Memory

Ronald B. Schram

Ronald B. Schram

RONALD BYARD SCHRAM (RON) 

1942-2023

Ronald Byard Schram (Ron), 80, of Hingham, MA, passed away peacefully on February 9, 2023, surrounded by his family, and following a year-long battle with cancer.  He was the loving husband and best friend of Carol (Anderson) Schram for 53 years.  Though his academic and professional accomplishments are many, Ron was first-and-foremost a family man.  Ron is survived by his wife Carol, daughter Laura (Schram) Page and husband Eric of Norwell, MA, their children Skylar and Sydney, and daughter Alison (Schram) Baldwin and husband Tim of Hingham, MA, and their children Caroline, Emily, Julia, and Will. He is also survived by his younger sister Janet (Rosemary) Schram and predeceased by his sister Karen (Schram) Davies.

Ron was born in Detroit, Michigan to the late Byron Canby Schram and Mary Louise (Byard) Schram.  He was raised in the city of Detroit and then moved to Grosse Point, Michigan where he graduated from Grosse Point High School in 1960 as President of his class and excelled in football, basketball, and baseball.  He attended Dartmouth College, graduating magna cum laude in Economics in 1964.  At Dartmouth, Ron was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Paleopitus, Green Key, the Undergraduate Council, and Sphinx. He was President of Beta Theta Pi and the Interfraternity Council, and a member of the varsity basketball and football teams. 

Following graduation, Ron was awarded a two-year Keasbey Memorial Foundation Scholarship for graduate study at King’s College in Cambridge, England, where in 1966 he received a Master of Arts degree in economics.  In addition to pursuing his scholarly interests, Ron traveled extensively around Europe and captained England’s entry into the World University Basketball Tournament in 1966.  After his studies were complete in England, Ron returned to his home state of Michigan, enrolled in the University of Michigan Law School, and completed three Law degrees: Juris Doctor, Master of Laws, and Doctor of Science of Law.  While at the University of Michigan, he was recognized for his scholarship and received the first George M. Humphrey Fellowship in Law and Economic Policy. There can be no doubt that Ron’s biggest accomplishment in Ann Arbor was meeting Carol on a blind date and realizing instantly that he had met his life partner.  Ron and Carol were married on July 19th, 1969.

In 1970, Ron joined the Boston law firm Ropes & Gray and founded the health care practice which he led until his retirement in 2002.  Specializing in complex non-profit organizations, Ron was at the forefront of many innovative corporate merger and acquisition transactions that shaped the healthcare provider landscape in New England. Combining his legal, leadership, and business expertise, Ron led the organization of a division called RG Advisors which combined non-lawyers and lawyers to provide integrated business solutions for clients.

Throughout his life, Ron worked tirelessly in support of the organizations and causes that touched him personally, particularly those related to health, education, and sports.  Ron served for eleven years as a Trustee of Dartmouth College, seven years as Chair of the Rockefeller Board of Visitors at Dartmouth, as a Trustee of the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, as a Trustee of Derby Academy, as Trustee for the New England Sports Museum, as Chair of the National MS Society of Massachusetts, and on the Board of Trustees for the Greater New England MS Society, among others.

Ron had an active retirement where he enjoyed spending time with Carol, playing golf, and hosting the grandchildren for family vacations at Johns Island, Florida.  Always an avid reader and writer, Ron wrote books on several subjects and continued to pen stories, poems and manuscripts until his final days.  

Ron will be laid to rest in a private ceremony in Hingham MA, where he has resided for over 50 years. A Celebration of Life service will be held in his honor at Hingham Congregational Church on Saturday, February 25 at 11AM. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

CELEBRATION OF LIFE SERVICE

Saturday, February 25, 2023, 11 AM

Hingham Congregational Church                                                                                                                  378 Main Street
Hingham, MA, 02043

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https://keohane.com/services/ronald-byard-schram/


 
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02/12/23 12:22 PM #1    

Alan D. Lang

Very sorry to learn RON has passed away. WE have been in touch the last few years and he never mentioned he was ill. SO, A little shock news today.

WE had a good friendship along with being sports teammates back to junior high days.

HIS OBITUARY lists many of his accomplishments and life success and those who knew him are very aware of all he achieved.  MY sympathy to the SCHRAM FAMILY, RIP RON

02/13/23 08:39 AM #2    

Carole Scherer (Enwright)

Ron and I were in many classes together at Grosse Pointe High School so I have many memories of him.  I enjoyed talking with him at the last reunion that he attended.  He will always be remembered by the class of 1960.  Rest in peace, Ron.

02/14/23 05:49 AM #3    

Gene F. Lambert

 

My condolences to Ron's family,  Ron's accomplishments were enviable and I am proud to say "Ron was an admired and respected friend."  I have followed Ron's posted class profile during the years which has set a benchmark for all.  Thank you Ron, RIP 

Gene Lambert

02/14/23 12:10 PM #4    

Kathleen Vestal (Logan)

Not that he ever had a clue, but I had a crush on Ron in high school. He kindly asked me to dance once at some gathering and I was speechless. Even then, he was a gentleman, sensitive to others' feelings. He more than measured up to his early promose. Kathy Vestal (Logan) 

02/15/23 09:38 PM #5    

Vicki Elmer (Grant)

What an honorable life Ron lived while achieving so much in the outside world -- and also having a warm and loving family. It was a pleasure to to learn that sometimes goodness does work in this world. Like Carole who posted above, I shared many classes with him and always thought what a nice person he was on top of all of his athletic and leadership accomplishments, and being so smart. I also remember how tall he was and I am not a short person! My condolences to his family and happy that his passing was peaceful.

 

 

02/16/23 10:39 AM #6    

Holmes Brown

An ultimate athletic accolade is to be termed a “triple threat”. And indeed over the course of three seasons, Ron starred in football, basketball, then baseball. But in a broader sense, he was also a triple threat: in athletics, academics and politics.
 
And this range of excellence continued in college and throughout his accomplished career. He was a classmate, a friend and an inspiration. We are diminished by his loss.
 
Holmes Brown

02/16/23 08:53 PM #7    

Marshall R. Noecker

My wife, Carlee, and I had the good fortune to see Ron and Carol once or twice a year through most of the last 30 years.  Ron was the truest of the true.  This week the flag on the Dartmouth Green was flown at half mast.  I only remember that being done for a deceased Dartmouth President.  His death was such a VERY GREAT loss to so many and to the Dartmouth community. 

03/01/23 01:27 PM #8    

Patricia L. Hagland (Whitledge)

 

 

 

Attached are heartwarming memories that I received from Ron shortly before his passing.

 

My church journey:

We did not live near a church when I was growing up. It was quite a long way to go and we had to cross two major highways but I do remember the day that my mother took me to be admitted to the church . I was wearing a coat and tie and felt very grown up. I knew that was where values were formed and always felt the impact of the quiet. Those were polio days so no one went to overnight camp but I did go to bible school camp.  That’s not really a popular thing to do anymore but my values were deepened and I felt secure.  When I moved to grosse point at the end of seventh grade, the church took on a different role for me and I was fortunate to have it as a social outlet.  Strange but I began to learn different things compared to what I had been exposed to . The first time I ever played basketball was in elementary school in the 7th grade. The boys had to play according to the girls rules and could not cross the center line.  It was a strange way to learn what became my primary boys game.  But when I got to grosse point, we immediately joined the grosse point woods Presbyterian church and one of my first activities was to join the church basketball team which played in a league with other churches every Sunday.  I never played the game according to regular rules but enjoyed the opportunity to learn and to be with my friends.  And I actually got pretty good pretty fast, especially when I grew 4 inches in the 9th grade.  Learning a sport through a church league seems like a strange way to develop but for me it was perfect. Not too much pressure and lots of support.  I had one other positive social experience that was unexpected. When I arrived at the end of the seventh grade, there was an evening teenage church service.  And one night they needed a sub to lead the service . The adult organizers asked if I would be willing to speak at the service and encourage participation.  I readily agreed and actually enjoyed the experience so much that when they asked me to do it the next week, I agreed as well and I became the regular organizer of the event.  One of the things I learned form that experience was how to speak in a public form . Just speak loudly and look at the people you are trying to touch and they will respond. I had one final growth experience because I went to church camp after the eighth grade.  And I learned how to laugh and dance and have fun.  With circle dances and fun music.  My friends from those days still keep in touch after enjoying a relationship for more than 65 years.
When I finished the church leadership group, my friends put me in charge of the social activities for the early high school at the war memorial association in grosse point and then later they rallied behind me with a political campaign based on “string along with schram” helping to elect me as class president. I didn’t really have any ambition to do that but they felt strongly that I was the best person and rallied to make it happen. Somehow all those church pieces fit together to form my leadership profile and I am forever grateful for the start I got when I was a little boy . Good values have always guided me and I think they resonate with other people as well.  Friendships come in strange packages and last long times but they are the most meaningful beyond your own family.  And the lessons I have learned have been immeasurable. Amen

 

 

03/11/23 12:24 PM #9    

William C. Halbert

I am much grieved at the passing of my dear friend, Ronnie  Schram.  My memories of him from junior high and high school are vivid and many.  What has struck me most and what I want to offer as a tribute, are the gifts he gave in the years after graduation.

No better picture of Ronnie could be painted than the one created for for the Service of remembrance and Celebration by his wife of 53 years, Carrol, and his daughters, Laura and Alison.  The stories they, his grandchildren and friends told were centered around loving relationships, integrity, education and sense of down right fun,

His last words to Carol were, "Marry Me".

Hi daughters said he was always there for them, never missing a game they played or a performance they gave.

His grandchildren related the fun games and traditions he created when he was with them, like earning a dollar for the first child to see a wild turkey when on family vacations.

A Dartmouth classmate and very close friend gave a wonderful talk about Ron's outstanding character and devotion to family.

Ronnie's service ended with everyone singing "You Are My Sunshine"--a song he taught his grandchildren.  As I left the service, it was clear:  Ronnie's legacy is the love he had for family and friends.

He was as fine a person as I have ever known.  I am honored to be his friend.

 

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