Ronald Paul Gravel Obituary | Same-Day Sympathy Flower Delivery to Campbell Funeral Home Beverly MA
Ronald Paul Gravel, 78, of Beverly, Massachusetts, passed away at his home on Friday, May 22.
Ron was born on January 17, 1948, in Springfield, Massachusetts, to Ronald Joseph Gravel and Doris Margaret Petersen Gravel. He enjoyed a close relationship with his sister, Christine, and his extended family throughout his life. Summers spent at the family lake house in Holland, Massachusetts helped shape his lifelong love of swimming, nature, adventure, and the outdoors.
Ron graduated from Enfield High School in Enfield, Connecticut in 1966, where he was affectionately known by friends as “Pebbles.” He went on to attend Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut, where he studied economics and mathematics, played soccer, and joined Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. He later earned his MBA from Western New England University.
Ron built a long and successful career in the insurance industry, beginning with The Hartford Insurance Company before joining Lexington Insurance Company, an AIG company. His work brought him from Boston to Los Angeles and back again, where he formed many lifelong friendships with colleagues and clients.
On August 25, 1977, Ron met Susan Cronin of Foxboro, Massachusetts. The two married on November 11, 1978, and together raised two sons, Andrew Petersen Gravel and Jordan Cronin Gravel. Ron loved being a father more than anything in the world and centered his life around family, adventure, music, and creating unforgettable memories with his boys.
Ron loved traveling throughout New England and especially cherished time spent in Maine, Martha’s Vineyard, and the White Mountains of New Hampshire. He enjoyed camping at Dolly Copp Campground, hiking the Presidential Range, swimming, skiing, bicycling, skipping rocks on the Saco River, and playing baseball catch with his sons.
Music was one of Ron’s greatest passions. He loved artists including Jeff Beck, Roy Orbison, Bryan Ferry, Bruce Hornsby and the Range, and many others. He introduced his sons to music at a young age and proudly supported them throughout their musical journeys. In later years, he became the unofficial fan club president for their band, The Gravel Project, proudly wearing band hats and shirts wherever he went.
Following retirement, Ron spent time living in Gloucester, Rockport, Sebastian, Florida, Conway, New Hampshire, and finally Colonial Gardens in Beverly, Massachusetts. He became known for his outgoing personality, trademark red apron, storytelling, and ability to make people laugh.
Ron will be remembered as a generous, adventurous, sentimental, funny, and deeply loving man who cared tremendously for his family and friends. He had a unique sense of humor, loved dogs, hated authority, and lived life fully on his own terms.
Ron is survived by his sister, Christine Gosselin and her husband Raymond; his sons, Andrew Gravel and Jordan Gravel; their wives, Leslie Gravel and Bethany Gravel; his beloved grandson, Lucas Ronald Gravel; his nephews, Darren Blaney, Robert Blaney, Jeffrey Blaney, Jonathan Gravel, and Michael Gravel; and his cousin, Donald “Donny” Gravel.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ronald Joseph Gravel and Doris Margaret Petersen Gravel, and his cousins Robert “Bobby” Gravel, Clayton “Sonny” Petersen, and Paul Petersen.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ron’s memory to the Dinner Bell in Fryeburg, Maine, a free community meal service providing hot dinners to the public.
Arrangements are by Campbell Funeral Home in Beverly, MA.
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