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Ronald Halpern passed away in Orange County, California on the evening of April 17, 2026 after a lengthy illness.
Ron was born in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, on September 4, 1949. He attended elementary and junior high school at the UWEC Campus School. He then attended Memorial High School in Eau Claire where he graduated with highest honors in 1967. After high school, Ron went on to attend Princeton University where he again graduated with honors in 1971. He did post-graduate work at Tulane University in New Orleans where he received a law degree and fell in love with the music, culture, food and people of New Orleans. Ron always retained this love of New Orleans - his favorite among US cities. Ron then moved to Southern California to follow a legal career in the music industry - music being an abiding passion of his. He had a stint at Rickenbacker - famed guitar maker - but soon grew disillusioned with the pettiness of the day-to-day music business. His love of music was not diminished, however, and it was at that time that he began his extensive guitar collection.
Soon after, he decided to open his own law practice in Orange County, specializing in bankruptcy and real estate law, where his career proved long, successful and respected. Ron married his first wife, Heather, on September 2, 1984. Together they raised their daughter, Samantha, in Orange County, California. Ron remarried in 2024 to Lorraine Walker, a marriage tragically cut too short. As Lorraine has written, “We had a formidable life together while he was here on this Earth. He used to say how lucky we were to have met one another. He passed too soon. He is loved and missed so very much! We were blessed and will continue to miss him forever.”
Among Ron's many admirable and distinguishing traits was his irrepressible sense of humor and wit. He had a ready catalog of jokes that rivalled Henny Youngman's (if you remember him - ”the King of the one-liners”) or Rodney Dangerfield's and he enjoyed nothing more than eliciting a laugh (or groan) in response to one of his many jokes or wisecracks. He was not shy about bringing his humor into the courtroom often provoking jury laughter and the occasional discomfort of judges. Ron had many sterling qualities - his keen intelligence, his warm friendship that often lasted a lifetime, his generous spirit, his strong sympathy for the suffering of others, and humor in the face of adversity.
He spent many years volunteering for various organizations like the YMCA and CASA. As a true Wisconsin native, he loved the Green Bay Packers and instilled that love in his daughter from a very young age. Ron truly lived his life to the fullest through simple pleasures; watching college sports, listening to music, reading, walking his dog Sherman, playing his guitars, and catching up with lifelong friends on the phone. He will be sorely missed by all who had the good fortune and pleasure to have known him.
Ron is survived by his daughter Samantha; his grand-daughter Harper; his wife, Lorraine; her three children, Katherine, Clinton, and Genevieve, and four grandchildren; Dean, Harrison, Curtis, and Audrey; and his sister Linda (Ron) and niece Alix. He is preceded in death by his father, Sam; mother, Margery, and stepfather Ed. He touched the lives of many, and his memory will continue to live on through the family and friends he left behind
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Terry Marshall
My sincere condolences to Ron's family members. He was always there with a comment on our life experiences as revealed on the website. In that way he was a "friend" to so many of our classmates.
Ann Gunderson (Thornburg)
Ron sat behind me in a number of classes (Gunderson to Halpern). I remember him as smart and a debater (an early predicter of his legal careeer). His posts on the website were always fun - a little edgy with humor. Was glad to see his second chance at marriage. RIP Ron. All these decades behind us - where did the time pass so quickly and now more so. Reminds us every day is a gift - even with sagging skin and aching bones.
Carolyn Jackson
Although I did not know Ron, I did enjoy his thoughtful and interesting posts over the years on the class website. As fellow classmates, we all walked the earth together in a common place and time. Whether we knew each other or not, I have always taken to heart what the poet John Donne said, "Any man's (or woman's) death diminishes me because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee." My condolences to Ron's family and friends. May he rest in peace.
Sue Monty (Thomasgard)
I'm so sorry to hear aout the death of Ron Halpern. I was in a number of classes with Ron and always enjoyed him. He was intelligent and kind and an outstanding member of our Class of 1967. May he rest in peace.
Sue (Monty) Thomasgard
Vicki Lundholm (Gillett)
I was sorry to hear about Ron's passing. As others have commented, another classmate gone too soon. I knew Ron from junior high through high school, as we were in many classes together. Always such an intelligent guy. We exchanged messages several times over the years through the class website, and I appreciated his kindness and thoughtfulness. One of my best memories of Ron is the year he came to one of our class reunions wearing a red zoot suit and fedora. He was a real standout that year. I know he will be greatly missed by his family and friends. It saddens me to know that he's gone.
Art Close
Ron was always one of the first to comment about a classmates passing on our website. He truely cared about us and others. Ron and I started our journey as classmates at 4 years old in pre-kindergarten at Campus School. We were in the same class together through ninth grade. All so many old memories! We will all miss his humor and wit and sincere desire to make the world a better place. A big Thank You to John Hoeppner for keeping in touch with Ron over the years all the way to his passing. We should all be proud of the genuine good people we have as classmates and celebrate the lives they lead. Thanks Ron. You did good!
John Schaller
Ron was a great guy. Throughout high school we were debate partners. We spent every last class hour of the day together for all three years and, with our other team members and Mrs Patterson, spent weekends at meets. He was a bright guy, with a quick mind and a great sense of humor. Ron always carried his briefcase wherever he went. As sophomores I once asked him what he kept in it. He pulled out a sandwich his mom had made for him. He was so attached to it that I wouldn't be surprised if he had the same briefcase at Campus School. Maybe Art can remember. I was in LA a few years ago and we made a modest, but unsuccessful, effort to get together. Now, of course, I wish that we had tried harder. Besides all of his significant other attributes, Ron was a good friend to me and to many over the years. The world needs more Ron Halperns. We were lucky to have had him. I will miss him.
Mark Ortiz
Ron and I were really good friends during our Campus School years (grades 2-9, for me, especially grades 7-9). We had many evening phone conversations, about all sorts of things (partly as an excuse to procrastinate on our homework). Some memories that stand out for me:
RIP Ron.
Cynthia Carter (LeBlanc)
Judging from all the comments Ron clearly touched a lot of lives. He and I were born one day apart and attended Campus School together from 4 year old kindergarten on through 9th grade and then at Memorial. I remember him as always being kind and very intelligent. He was so generous in his remarks in this forum even when he had not known someone who had passed. I remember a couple of years ago he had remarried and his granddaughter was the flower girl. It's wonderful to think he had such happiness these last years. It's so hard to be losing people at this stage in our lives but the memories truly do live on.
Nancy Gericke (Horadam)
2026-4-25 Sat AM I am so deeply saddened by Ron's passing. A brilliant mind, & good guy. So happy for him that he found love again these past couple of years. My heart goes out to his wife, and children, & his sister, as well as the lady, with whom he loved and shared a life with, and was married to for so many years.My parents were friends with his mom and her 2nd husband. I kept up with Ron's doings through our parents as we all went off in our different directions in life after high school.
Your life well lived, Ron.
You will be missed by many.
Nann Gericke Horadam