Ronald Gerard Fontaine, 85, of Greenville, Pennsylvania, ate some soup and then passed away peacefully with his two children at his side on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021.

Ron was born on May 8, 1935, in Boston, Massachusetts, to Carmen Gosselin and Thomas Frank Fontaine. He spent most of his childhood in Portland, Maine, and the surrounding area. He attended Cheverus High School before graduating from Deering High School, both in Portland. After high school, Fontaine enlisted in the Army and served from 1954 to 1957 as a combat engineer in the signals intelligence branch, earning the rank of sergeant. He fondly recalled meeting the singer and actress June Allyson at Waikiki Beach while stationed in Hawaii. He earned a bachelor’s degree in history and government in 1965 from the University of Maine, where he was a member of the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. He attended the University of Maine’s School of Law from 1965 to 1966. He later earned a master’s degree in library science from the University of Pittsburgh.

While at the University of Maine, he met his future wife, Carol, who had been teaching English there. Ron and Carol were married on Aug. 16, 1969, in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. They settled in Greenville and had two children, Betsy and Tom. Ron was a member of Greenville’s St. Michael Catholic Church where he served as a lector and led the Rosary. He belonged to the International Library Science Honor Society Beta Phi Mu, the Knights of Columbus and the Order of Secular Franciscans. He also served as a volunteer at Greenville Area Public Library.

A man of many hobbies and interests, Ron enjoyed playing pool, chess and golf and reading about religious history and French culture. He was fluent in French and dazzled everyone with his command of the language during a trip to France in 2000. He enjoyed watching sports and was a fan of the Boston Red Sox, Boston Celtics, Boston Bruins, New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers. He spent countless hours playing baseball with his son in the backyard and the ball fields of Greenville.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Carol and his sister, Francine Fontaine Currier, and her husband Robert J. Currier. Surviving are his daughter Betsy and her husband Nick Hildebrand, of Greenville; his son Tom and his fiancé Becki Schramm, of Chippewa Township, Beaver County; his grandchildren Ella, Max, Lily and Michael; his brother Donald Fontaine and his wife Cecile, of Portland, Maine; and several nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Michael Roman Catholic Church, 85 N. High St., Greenville, PA 16125. Arrangements have been entrusted to Loutzenhiser-Jordan Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., 366-368 S. Main St., Greenville.