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Nicholas J. Sekela posted a condolence
Wednesday, January 18, 2023
The state of NJ won the probate rights to Ron Northrup’s collection, apparently went up or is going up for auction with a company in Reading PA…any idea which? I would like to see if I can get something in memory of Ron
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Sharon Posted Dec 5, 2023 at 11:46 AM
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Sharon Posted Jun 6, 2024 at 9:54 PM
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Sharon Drysdale uploaded photo(s)
Thursday, December 8, 2022
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The best historian I ever met. There will never be anyone quite like him. I learned so much from him. He will be greatly missed. Thank you for everything Ron.
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Nicholas Sekela uploaded photo(s)
Friday, July 29, 2022
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Ron appeared onthe cover of this Bruce Catton book...he is the one in the center, falling backwards, feigning an injury.
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Elizabeth Cleary posted a condolence
Friday, July 22, 2022
Ron has my dear friend since 1994, we met at work. I've been trying to reach him for a few months and only just learned of his passing. I would love to adopt his beloved cat. Please reachout to Liz @ 609.261.6050.
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Herb Olson uploaded photo(s)
Monday, June 27, 2022
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I sang with Ron in an a cappella group called "Spare Parts" for 40 years... His passing has been devastating for the guys in the group. We pray our brother in harmony is at peace
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Elizabeth Cleary Posted Jul 22, 2022 at 2:24 PM
Ron always spoke warmly about the guys from the singing group. I know he treasured the bond he had you all. Thank you for making a part of your extended family.
Also, is Bagera alright? He wanted me to take him if he passed before me. Liz 609.261.6050
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Sharon Drysdale uploaded photo(s)
Sunday, June 26, 2022
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Sharon Drysdale Posted Jun 26, 2022 at 9:36 PM
A great lover of animals. Didn’t treat me very good but my late husband felt he was a god. Rest In Peace Ron. Never forget there is no Sharon without Ron. Inside joke. Chicken soap to you always Ron.
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Eugene Schaefer posted a condolence
Monday, June 20, 2022
What can I say? My best friend of the last half century, more of a brother, really. We almost couldn't look at each other without laughing. I can never forget the warm, funny, rewarding friendship we shared from our teenage years into our old age. Until we meet again, dear friend. Eugene Schaefer.
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Nicholas Sekela uploaded photo(s)
Monday, June 13, 2022
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As hard as it is to reduce a man's life to a few paragraphs, equally difficult is to capture the scope of friendship. It is the aggregate of shared comraderie, humor, disappointments all of which are never appreciated until they are over. Of the near half century that I have known Ron, I have seen so many sides to him, ranging from carefree silliness to intense technical knowledge, that it is hard to complete the catalog in one sitting. Many of us had almost identical friendships with Ron, sharing the same warm embrace, unfailing sense of humor, but none would dispute that friendships, and his inner spark hovered around his defining characteristic of limitless generosity in sharing his knowledge of historical material culture.
Clearly, the source of the greatest humor was the interactions between Ron and Rick Bilz. The good humored jabs that they exchanged, still makes me laugh decades later. Rick once related that Ron was going to take up volley ball...saying, "I am all for exercise, but...THAT is a GIRL'S game". Another time, Rick had transposed letters on a reproduction Civil War sign that he had made, but could not, for the life of him, see the mistake. He stood there with this bewildered look on his face, and not missing a beat, Ron got behind him and duplicated the same look. I could barely compose myself.
Ron was altogether famous for buying and driving cars that were by any measure, inoperable. Most notable of these was his Ford Rambler. In direct contrast was Rick, who lavished attention on his cargo van; buying one with the most powerful engines that available. Ron was in his Rambler, following Rick to some event. Both Rick and Ron drove fast, and Rick had said that he could not see Ron in his rear view mirror. When he looked close, he could barely see the back tail of Ron's Rambler...Rick said, "well, I guess that he wants me to speed up, so stepped on the gas". Ron kept up, so Rick sped up again, until Ron finally hung back. When they arrived, they both said "WHAT WERE YOU DOING?" Ron said, "I was trying to keep up as much as I could, and the windows in the Rambler were vibrating and going BA-DA-DA-DA, I thought that the car was going to explode". Rick said "you were driving so close, I was ready to open the back doors of the van and have you drive right in".
There was a time at the reenactment in Monroe New York, and everyone was around the camp fire...Ron began singing the theme to the Good the Bad and the Ugly, when he suddenly lost his balance in his camp chair. He flailed his arms, but landed on his back...without missing a beat, completed the whole song, including the "Me Hoo Ha Heee Ha"
The funniest story that both Rick and Ron shared was when they had gone to an 1812 event in Canada, but Ron had forgotten his wallet in New Jersey, and had no identification with him. When they went to the border checkpoint, the US Customs officer asked Rick how long he was in Canada, and if he had bought anything. Rick said, "two weeks, and I bought a couple of blankets, and a few nicknacks". "OK" said the officer. "And how about you?" when he asked Ron... Ron said,"two weeks, and I didn't buy anything"...The officer's suspicion was raised, and he repeated, "you mean to tell me you were here two weeks and didn't spend any money?" Ron said "that is right". Then the officer said, "let me see some ID". Ron said "I don't have any", at which point Rick noticed how Ron was dressed....ragged cut off jeans, a tee shirt with holes and HO Chi Minh sandals. Rick said that he looked like someone running from the law...The officer then asked, "Where were you born?"..."Buffalo New York" (right over the border to Canada). The officers pulled them out of the van, with guns drawn, and separated them...Rick explained that they had gone to an 1812 event, and showed them the shakos. Meanwhile, Ron was in the US Customs office, getting interrogated, what his address was, his phone number...then there was this pause. The officer said "recite the flag salute"...Ron rattled it off, and the officer tossed Ron the items they took from his pockets, and told Ron to "get the hell outta here, and don't ever leave the US without ID". Rick's version of this story was absolutely hilarious.
Ron's generosity with his collection is unmatched by any others I have ever met. Where others may deign you to view it, Ron would unhesitatingly share what he had, with no strings attached. If you were doing research on an item, he would either have, or know where you could lay hands on an example. He was a collector that truly enjoyed sharing his knowledge, with pure modesty. When I was adding some 1880's items to my line, he DROVE to Gettysburg with his entire collection, allowing me to photograph and measure every aspect of it. There truly has never been anyone like Ron.
Conventional religion asserts the notion of souls, as winged, harp playing versions of ourselves, stretching out on clouds. Ron was never a religious person, in fact, he got thrown out of a ceremony at a reenactment, because he burst out in laughter when the preacher cautioned the flock not to covet thy neighbor's ass. I just don't see Ron's immortal soul as classical art figure reclining on a cloud. We all are taught that our deeds are assessed when we depart, and through good deeds, a place is secured in Heaven. In looking back and thinking over his life, I doubt that his soul is transformed from the Ron that we knew into a being of painfully extreme piety. Even if immortality is the measure of the good things that a person does, it can very well be that the soul lives on in the memories those that loved him. To that end, Ron's soul will live on to all that knew him, in the continued laughter and the passing along of the information that he shared. The true loss is among those who did not have the immense, good fortune to have had Ron pass through their lives. It will be the task of those that knew him, to pass that part of his soul that still lives in his closest friends.
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christopher T curran planted a tree in memory of Ronald Northrup
Thursday, June 9, 2022
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So there will always be a shade tree for you during the lull in the action. God speed Old Friend.
Please wait
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christopher t curran posted a condolence
Thursday, June 9, 2022
This world is a lesser place without you. We shall , all, miss your presence. Until we can hoist a Magners again Old Friend. Your Adopted nephiew, Chris.
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Rich V posted a condolence
Thursday, June 9, 2022
Ron, you were gentlemen and a great guy from the minute I met you as a young lad many years ago. I looked forward to our path crossing at the different shows and and our great conversations. Until we meet again, Rich V and family!
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Michelle Mahon Farinelli posted a condolence
Wednesday, June 8, 2022
Ron, you always brought laughter and smiles to our dinners and BBQs. It was a true honor to be a part of your world. You will be dearly missed by so many.
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Richard Farinelli posted a condolence
Wednesday, June 8, 2022
Ronnie I will you everyday brother. I have known you 43 years and you were a member of the family. It was an honor to call you a best friend. We used to watch movies and change the words and plot as we watched. It was hilarious. I am heartbroken and sad. Until we meet again bro. Love ya buddy Rich Farinelli
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Paul M Zinskie posted a condolence
Sunday, June 5, 2022
In gedenken an meinen geliebten freund.
Ruhe sanft in Frieden
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Frau Marcie DelVecchio planted a tree in memory of Ronald Northrup
Saturday, June 4, 2022
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Ron, I shall miss you dearly. You truly were my best friend! Love, your "Schatzi"
Please wait
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Marcie DelVecchio posted a condolence
Saturday, June 4, 2022
Ron, I will miss you dearly my friend. Our get together's were always so enjoyable; antiquing ( wow, you knew so many things!), Chinese buffet, bookstore, movies, and of course a parting dessert at Dairy Queen! Your kindness to me, along with some very clever teasing, was throughly enjoyed! You called me your "Schatzi" and I shall forever remain your Schatz. Goodbye and I shall never forget you. Take care. Love, Marcie D
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