Ronald Manns Seaman

Ron was born in West Orange, New Jersey to Clinton D. and Olive K. (Manns) Seaman. He was a graduate of Westfield High School in New Jersey. He earned his undergraduate degree at Hamilton College, where he also played quarterback on the football team, and received an MBA from Harvard University. He proudly served as an Officer in the United States Navy and found “seaman” Seaman humorous. Ron founded Southland Business Group, Inc., a business appraisal firm in Tampa, and ran it successfully until his retirement. Ron was an active member of the American Society of Appraisers, a multidisciplinary appraisal organization, and formally served as its president.

Ron and his wife, Mary Helen, lived in Beach Park for more than 30 years. He enjoyed yardwork and was often spotted from Lois Ave. working on his beautiful lawn. He was a long-time member of Hyde Park Presbyterian Church, participated in Bible Study Fellowship, and worked as a Stephen Minister for many years supporting people through difficult times. Ron was an avid reader and lifelong learner.

After Mary Helen passed, Ron met his second wife, Leoncia (Lee) Seaman, at a Bachelor’s and Belle’s event where they bonded over their shared love of dancing. They were married at their home in April of 2008. Throughout retirement, Ron and Lee shared many passions that included dancing, traveling, and volunteering. Always up for an adventure, Ron and Lee danced in Brazil and Egypt and hiked Hawaiian volcanoes and the Galapagos Islands.

Ron was a loving husband, committed father and friend to those who knew him. Some of his most admirable qualities included his kindness, generosity, humility and acceptance of others. Family and friends will never forget his wonderful smile and infectious laugh.

Ron is survived by his wife, Leoncia Seaman, his daughters, Kathryn Seaman (Tampa) and Pam McCormick (Olympia, WA) and her husband Michael, and son, Ron, Jr; seven grandchildren, Mackenzie and Hannah Dale, Vanessa and Holly McCormick, and Joshua, Hunter, and Sawyer Seaman, as well as Lee’s loving children, Tony, Charlie, and Michael Zayas, Zay Linn, Patty McCarthy, their spouses and significant others, her brothers, sisters, and grandchildren, and many other adoring nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife Mary Helen (Yelton) in 2003, daughter, Sue Knight in 2009, and sister, Barbara Rochat, in September 2019.

A celebration of life service will be held at a later (to be announced) date due to current events. Please choose a notification type (text or email) on this website to be informed of the date, time, and location of the celebration service once it has been finalized. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to one of Ron’s favorite charities, St. Joseph’s Indian School at www.stjo.org.