Ronald Robinson 1941-2024

He was born Dec. 22, 1941, in Youngstown.

Ron was a 1960 graduate of Girard High School, where he was known as “Mr. Ability” for his many talents. After earning an electrical engineering degree from Carnegie Tech (now Carnegie Mellon University) in 1964, Ron began a distinguished career in the emerging personal computer industry. He helped start the NEC USA company in 1981, which went on to become a leader in PC monitors, laptops and dot matrix printers in the 1980s. Ron played a key role in establishing retail distribution channels for personal computers. Prior to NEC, Ron worked as a development engineer at Lincoln Electric and in sales at Schweber Electronics. After leaving NEC in 1994, he worked in Analog Devices until his retirement in 1999.

Ron had a passion for trying new things, from taking sabbaticals to explore new opportunities to helping to build a full-scale replica of the Wright Brothers’ first airplane that actually flew and is now displayed in the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry.

In retirement, he enjoyed investing, volunteering in the community — like Scarce, a nonprofit recycling center, helping elderly neighbors and providing mentorship and scholarships to Girard High School’s FIRST robotics team, the RoboCats. In fact, the RoboCats finished in third place out of 50 teams from five states and two countries at the Greater Pittsburgh Regional competition in March — an accomplishment that gave Ron so much joy in his last days.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 45 years, Karen Van Saun Robinson.

A graveside service will be held at noon, Saturday, May 4, 2024, at Woodlawn Cemetery, Norwalk, Ohio. A celebration of life will immediately follow.

A celebration of life has taken place in Glen Ellyn.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Scarce, scarce.org/donate; or Robocats, Girard Robotics team, Girard High School, 1244 Shannon Road, Girard, OH 44420.

Ron will be remembered for his pioneering spirit, his zest for life and his devotion to his friends in Glen Ellyn and in his home state, Ohio. He not only made an outsized impact on the early personal computer industry, but on all of us fortunate enough to know him.

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