Ronald G. Whittle, service and obituary

Mon, 10/18/2021 - 12:45pm

A memorial service for Ronald Gault Whittle will be held Saturday, November 6, 2021, at 11 a.m., at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, 95 Court Street, Belfast, ME.

BELFAST — Ronald Gault Whittle, 83 of Belfast, passed away on August 17, 2021, at Harbor Hill Center in Belfast, Maine, from complications of Parkinson's.

He was born on August 11, 1938, in Worcester, Massachusetts, to Walter and Laura (Gault) Whittle. He graduated from Shrewsbury High School in 1956, received his BA in history from Brown University in 1960, and MA in history from Clark University in 1962.

In 1961, he married Carol Handrich of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his son, Jonathan Whittle (Sharon) of Milton, Vermont; daughter, Sarah Stoffel of Sarasota, Florida; and grandson, Alexander Stoffel of Tampa, Florida. Six step-grandchildren, seven step-great-grandchildren, and two step-great great-grandchildren also survive him.

His career began at The Gunnery in Washington, Connecticut, where he taught history; coached football, hockey, and baseball; and became Head of the History Department. At Kathleen Laycock Country Day School in Greens Farms, Connecticut, he was Assistant Headmaster and taught history. In 1979, he and his family moved to Choate Rosemary Hall in Wallingford, Connecticut, where he taught history; coached football, hockey, and baseball; was a college counselor; and Head of the History Department.

In 1974, he and his family became summer residents of Belfast, Maine. Ron and Carol moved to Belfast full time in 1986 when he began a new career as an Associate Director of Admissions at Colby College. In his retirement, he kept his love of history and teaching alive by offering courses at Belfast Senior College.

Ron cherished the friendships he made over the years through his love of playing golf and tennis.

Due to the recent COVID outbreak, a memorial service will be planned for a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to The Frederick Gunn School (aka The Gunnery), 99 Green Hill Road, Washington, Connecticut 06793, or online at gogunn.org/makeagift; or St. Margaret's Episcopal Church, 95 Court Street, Belfast, ME 04915

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.ripostafh.com.