Ronald C. Hillegass ’60

Ron was an enthusiastic athlete and outdoorsman. Baseball, basketball, and football at Westmont High School in Johnstown, Pa., led to four years of varsity football at Princeton. He majored in economics, joined Cap and Gown, sang in the Glee Club, was a Chapel deacon, and joined the Pre-Med Society.

Ron earned a medical degree at the University of Pennsylvania in 1964, the year after he married Peggie May. They spent three happy years in Europe courtesy of the Army, serving in Germany and beginning their lifetime enthusiasm for hiking and trekking-related travel.

After a residency in orthopedics at the University of Pittsburgh Hospital, Ron began his more than 30-year practice in Providence, R.I., at Roger Williams Hospital. He served as an assistant professor at Brown University Hospital and was active in Rhode Island orthopedic medicine associations. He saved some time for golf, tennis, and squash.

Retiring in 1996 gave Ron and Peggie more latitude for international travel, challenging trekking (summiting Kilimanjaro and Mount Everest Base Camp for Ron), skiing Whiteface Mountain in New York, and sailing their Cal 24 Tigress.

Though planning to attend our 65th, Ron suffered a succession of health setbacks and died Jan. 27, 2025. Peggie and son Kent predeceased him. He is survived by two sons; three daughters-in-law; and eight grandchildren, to whom we send our condolences.