Obituary of Ronald Wishart Jr.

Ronald S. Wishart, Jr.; retired senior executive at Union Carbide Corporation, inspirational leader of so many charitable causes and devoted husband, father and grandfather; passed away on July 13, 2014 at age 89 from cancer.

Ronald was born in Brooklyn NY on March 1, 1925. He was valedictorian at Southside High School in Rockville Center and matriculated at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. In 1944, after being rejected for military service due to poor eyesight, Ronald volunteered for the American Field Service and drove an ambulance in Burma for the Indian Army. Characteristic of Ronald's determination, he learned to drive a manual transmission under enemy fire while navigating the region's jungles to serve the wounded and the sick.

After the war, Ronald returned to RPI and received his B. Ch. E. degree in 1948. Ronald was awarded academics honors, lettered in track and edited the sports section of the university newspaper.

While at RPI, in 1948 Ronald won the national award for his paper "History of Arc Welding." The award brought national recognition and, with it, his hiring by Union Carbide. Ronald began his career in the Linde Division of Carbide, co-authored a patent and was ultimately promoted to various senior operating positions including President of the Silicones Division, President of Coatings Intermediates and Group Manager of Chemicals and Plastics. With the energy crisis of 1973, Ronald assumed responsibility for energy policy for the corporation and headed various chemical and other industry organizations. He was named VP of Government Affairs in 1983.

In 1984, in the wake of the accident in Bhopal India, Ronald was named Chief of Staff to the Chairman. He worked tirelessly to save UCC and bring assistance to the victims. He was named VP of External Affairs, a position that he held until his retirement in 1990.

Ronald volunteered for a wide range of industry, policy and charitable organizations. He held leadership positions with the White Plains Community Chest, the White Plains Presbyterian Church, the Jenny Clarkson Home for Girls and the Westchester chapter of the Boy Scouts of America. He was actively involved with many organizations addressing important national and industry issues. Among these affiliations, Ronald founded and chaired the Electricity Consumers Resource Council, chaired the energy committee of the Chemical Manufacturers Association and served on the energy committees of the US Chamber of Commerce and the Aspen Institute. He was a member of the Environmental and Energy Policy Center at the John F. Kennedy School at Harvard, the Georgetown Center for Strategic and International Studies and the Energy Modeling Forum at Stanford University. After moving to Palm City, Ronald served as Ruling Elder at Palm City Presbyterian Church and President of Hospice of Martin and St. Lucie, Inc.

Ronald is survived by Eleanor Wishart, his devoted wife and inseparable companion of 39 years. Ronald has two children, Michael and James Wishart, from his first wife, Betty Burnup Wishart, who passed away from cancer. Ronald has two step-children, Donna and Art Dooley and five grandchildren. Positive in spirit and of good humor to the end, Ron leaves behind family, friends, and colleagues whose lives were enriched by his wisdom and devotion, and the inspiration of a life so wonderfully well lived.

Services will be held at Palm City Presbyterian Church at 11 am on July 26. In lieu of flowers, Ronald has asked that donations be made to Treasure Coast Hospice in Stuart Florida.