He came to Princeton from the Cranbrook School, near Detroit, where he was the smallest varsity football center in the greater Detroit area and captain of the wrestling team. With us he forswore football but continued wrestling to become captain of the freshman team and later of the varsity team. He majored in public affairs in the Woodrow Wilson School, joined Cap and Gown, and roomed with a dozen friends in Patton. He graduated from Harvard Business School in 1962 and joined General Foods Corp. He worked there for 27 years, rising through a number of its divisions and retiring as director of long-term planning in 1989.

In retirement, Ron continued his interest in nature and became a volunteer natural history, hiking, and birding leader in Sonoita, Ariz., his retirement home; and in Cornwall Bridge, Conn., his New England retreat. Ron also created and grew the Friends of Sonoita Creek to protect its ecological diversity and educate schoolchildren.

Ron is survived by his wife of 55 years, Anne; their three children and spouses; and seven grandchildren, to all of whom he imparted his love of all aspects of the outdoors.