Obituary: Ronald Norman Davis
Ronald Norman Davis, the vibrant and adventurous owner of VideoLab on the Boston Post Road, Orange, passed away peacefully in his sleep with family at his side on Saturday, October 5th, just two days after celebrating his 90th birthday.
He was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1934, to Henry and Marion Davis. He lived in Bensenville, IL until his family moved to southern California in 1942. His life was a tapestry of extraordinary experiences and achievements. He began his career in the blueprint industry, where he showcased his innovative spirit by building a groundbreaking electric paper-coating machine and developing automated processes that revolutionized the field. His talent for invention earned him his first patent and recognition for his work with NASA, where he created microfilm duplicators that saved invaluable historical documents.
In 1971, Ron co-founded Cannondale Corporation, where he designed the very successful bicycle trailer called the “bugger” and many bicycle products and he recommended the use of large diameter thin-walled aluminum tubing for strength that set new industry standards for bicycles. He later ventured into boat building (glass bottom boats and dive boats) stationed out of Bridgeport and had many adventures and travels delivering the boats around the Caribbean.
Ron entered the video industry, founding “Video Box Office” in Orange, CT which was the biggest video rental store in CT before Blockbuster. He advocated for expanding the first sale doctrine to cover videos and other media for rental when previously it only covered print media for libraries. He then transitioned to opening VideoLab, where he offered videography and media conversion services to help preserve family memories.
Ron’s impact extended beyond his professional endeavors. He was appointed as the Coordinator for Orange Government Access Television (OGAT) in 2000 and was Chairman of the Cable Advisory Council Area 2 since 2008. He was a passionate advocate for community access television, ensuring local government remained accessible to all residents.
Ron Davis was a caring and playful individual who had a unique ability to unite people, filling spaces with joy and laughter. He lived life to the fullest, instilling values of curiosity and ingenuity in those around him. His storytelling, enriched by his many adventures, captivated all who listened. Ron’s kindness and generosity left a lasting impact on his community, and while he will be profoundly missed, his legacy of love and creativity will continue to inspire others.
If you would like to read more about Ron’s adventures, a beautiful article was written by Trish O’Leary Treat in 2011, https://patch.com/connecticut/orange/always-on-the-go.
Ron is predeceased by his parents Henry and Marion Davis, his first wife Beverly (Ritz) Davis of 25 years, their daughter Norma (Tor) Kalleberg, and his niece Candace (James) Dwyer.
Ron is survived by his devoted wife of 45 years, Julie Davis, and siblings Jaqueline (Glen) Hunsberger and Terry Davis. He is survived by five of his six children: Daniel (Diane) Davis, John (Ellen) Davis, Jennifer (Chris) Duff, Christina Davis, and Lauren Davis, and son in-law Tor Kalleberg; ten grandchildren: Jack (Marta) Kalleberg, Connie Rose (JD) Phillips, John (Nikki) Davis, Eric (Alie) Davis, Ryan (Kristina) Davis, Alex Davis, Charlie Czichray-Davis, Oliver Czichray-Davis, Rowan Duff, Everett Duff, and four great-grandchildren: Kristian Kalleberg, Kate Phillips, Aubrey Davis, and Walker Davis. He will be missed by many family and friends including Danielle Toucedo (Archer) and Rechelle (Radcliffe) Carruthers.
We warmly welcome you to his celebration of life followed by a reception at 10 am, Saturday, November 16, 2024, Orange Congregational Church, 205 Meetinghouse Lane, Orange, CT 06477 to honor and celebrate Ronald Davis’s life. The family kindly asks that attendees arrive fragrance-free, avoiding perfumes and colognes. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to a local organization that serves the town he loved, Orange, CT to follow Ron’s community and service minded mentality.
